NORFOLK, Va. — Of all the accomplishments and accolades earned by Norfolk State University's "Mighty Legion" marching band, William Beathea believes a new milestone ranks near the top of the program's storied history.
“This is like the Grammys, for a professional musician," Beathea told 13News Now.
This week, the percussion section of the Spartan Legion will travel to Indianapolis for the 2023 Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC).
Beathea, NSU's Director of Bands, said it's the equivalent of the mountaintop for the percussion world. As an international convention that features drummers and percussionists from across the world, only the "best of the best" are selected to perform and demonstrate their abilities on this stage.
From a recognition standpoint, Beathea said he sees it similarly to how the band was honored by performing at the 2023 Rose Bowl parade.
It's the first time in Norfolk State's history it's been selected to perform at PASIC and a testament to the direction and credibility of the program's prestige and reputation.
“If you are a percussion student or major, and you get asked to perform, there is nothing bigger," Beathea said.
“Something we’ve never done before, it's like breaking tradition and history so it’s kind of dope," said Fredo Turner, a senior and sectional leader for the Legion.
There, the students making up the snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbals of the Legion will perform and host a percussion clinic.