How many students at Illinois State University can say they had the opportunity to march in the 2008 Inauguration Day parade? Honors student and Presidential Scholar, Kyle Barshinger, could share the details pertaining to “one of the most incredible things” he has ever done. Plus, he could show you the security badge he wore to prove it!
Kyle is currently a freshman, majoring in Music Education. In January of 2008, Kyle was contracted as a member of the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps out of Dubuque, Iowa. The Colts Corps is a summer based program, and is one of about twenty international and world-class drum and bugle corps. Kyle began his rigorous schedule the week before Memorial Day and rehearsed between 12 and 16 hours per day over four straight weeks! Soon after, the Colts went on tour, which consisted of 8 hours of practice each day followed by a performance at night. “We traveled everywhere from South Dakota to Texas to Florida, up to New York and pretty much everywhere in between,” Kyle mentioned.
In December of 2008, some of the Colts’ Alumni put together a package to apply the Colts to march in the Inauguration Day Parade, and they got the bid. Nearly 200 members applied to go, but only about 119 members were chosen to march in the parade and about 30 of those members were alumni. The Colts put together an outstanding group of marchers, but getting to the parade was not an easy process. “We had to go through a ton of fundraising, send in names, and do full background checks on everyone in the parade,” Kyle said.
Once all of the members were cleared, Kyle and the rest of the Colts hit the road (the Saturday before the event) for twenty-eight straight hours of driving to Washington, D.C. Once they arrived in D.C., the group rehearsed Sunday night, rehearsed all day on Monday, and then woke up at 4:30 AM on Tuesday morning to be at the Pentagon by 7:00 AM. After going through a security screening, Kyle and the rest of the Colts found out the parade was going to be delayed, and they had to wait in the frigid weather for two hours. “It was about twenty degrees and windy. We just had our uniforms on so we were FREEZING!” Eventually, the long wait was over and the Colts finally got their opportunity to march in the parade. “As we turned onto Pennsylvania Avenue for the last time, the President was right there where we could see him. Even though we were supposed to be looking forward, we could still see where he was and he was smiling and waving the whole time,” Kyle described. “That may have been one of the most incredible things I’ve ever done.”
Aside from the Drum and Bugle Corps, Kyle is also part of the Symphonic Winds at Illinois State and recently recorded a CD with composer David Maslanka, which will be produced by Albany Records (a major label company) and will be distributed world-wide. Kyle had the opportunity to work directly with Dr. Maslanka to make the music and to gain his insight about the music. “It really gives you a deeper look into the music that you really never noticed before,” Kyle mentioned.
Overall, Kyle has really enjoyed his experience thus far with the Honors and Presidential Scholars Programs. These programs have really enabled him to settle into Illinois State by providing him with additional resources and networking opportunities on and off campus. “I like the personal connection that you get with your advisors and the people there because you’re a small group amongst 20,000, and also through Honors I am taking some music courses with some really brilliant musical minds which makes those classes a lot of fun,” Kyle commented. When Kyle has a free moment, he may be found participating in the Presidential Scholars Club as well as in the Co-Recreational Sports Leagues through the Student Recreation Center. This summer (2009), Kyle will be back marching with the Colts, but he hopes to be able to study abroad in Austria during an upcoming summer.
His advice for future students? “Be prepared and organized. The first few weeks you’re going to feel overwhelmed because it’s your first time away from your parents for a while. If you have the homesickness or something like that, just know that it does get better. Always be prepared and get things done ahead of time, because it stinks having to stay up really late working on papers and homework.”
written by: Sasha Boheme