Marching Royal Dukes Records

The Marching Royal Dukes (MRDs) are the marching band of James Madison University. The MRDs were formed in 1972 simultaneously with the JMU football program. The first director was Malcolm Harris who assembled the original band; they performed for the first time during the 1972 football season. After Harris stepped down, the band was directed by Ken Moulton and later Mike Davis. Davis stepped down as director and former MRD drum major William G. “Bill” Posey was hired as interim director. In 1982, John Patrick “Pat” Rooney took over as director and remained in the position until 2007 when Scott Rikkers became director. Bill Posey remained assistant director from 1982 until 2012 when Chad Reep took the position. Reep served as assistant director of the Marching Royal Dukes and director of the JMU Pep Band until he was replaced in 2017 by Amy Birdsong. The band staff has also been assisted since 1987 by long-time administrative assistant Connie Driscoll, a former recipient of the College of Arts and Letters Staff Award. Driscoll appears in various documents throughout the records, organizing and planning events such as the Parade of Champions, Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade trips, international trips, and day-to-day activities.



The MRDs grew from early enrollment of 100 members to its peak in 2012 with 495, the largest marching band in the country at the time, university or otherwise. Over the course of its existence, the MRDs have been awarded various trophies and recognitions for competition and exhibition performances, garnering the nickname “Virginia’s Finest.” These awards culminated in 1994 with the awarding of the Sudler Trophy, often described as the “Heisman Trophy of marching bands.” The MRDs act primarily as an exhibition band, focusing primarily on performances for the public, acting as headliners at events such as the Bands of America Grand National Championship and National Football Championship (NFC) title games.

The band has represented JMU on multiple domestic and international trips in its history including performances at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade in 2001, 2008, and 2013, Virginia gubernatorial parades, the inaugural parades of Presidents Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and have traveled to Athens, Dublin, Monaco, London, and Rome for tours and parades.

While at JMU, the MRDs make regular pre-game, half-time, and post-game performances for JMU home football games, and travel to select away games. The MRDs also host the annual Parade of Champions, a high school-level marching competition that attracts over 50 bands annually from Virginia and surrounding states. All members of the band assist in the event and perform show selections for participating bands. In addition, the MRDs host the week-long JMU Summer Band Camp for high school marchers to instruct basics, instill leadership, and perform a joint show with all participants.

The annual shows of the band typically follow a similar routine each year, usually memorizing two shows consisting of three to four pieces each. The JMU Dukettes dance team typically perform alongside the band for at least one piece. They practice five days a week for 90 minutes in addition to the week-long pre-season band camp.

In addition to football games, the JMU Pep Band acts partially as a branch of the Marching Royal Dukes and is represented at men’s and women’s basketball games in the late fall and early spring semesters. They perform primarily at the JMU Convocation Center and were awarded by President Carrier for their outstanding performance and energy in the 1983 basketball season. The Pep Band has also traveled with the men’s and women’s teams to Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) playoff tournaments. The Pep Band has been directed by Pat Rooney (1982-2007), Scott Rikkers (2007-2011), Chad Reep (2011-2017), and Amy Birdsong (2017- ).

The service fraternity and sorority of the band are Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. They provide essential assistance in day-to-day operation of the band. The founding of the JMU Tau Beta Sigma branch was sponsored primarily by Pat Rooney during his years as director.