About
ɫֱ Spartan "Legion" Marching Band
- Founded in 1975, the award-winning ɫֱ Spartan "Legion" Marching Band of ɫֱ, Virginia, has established itself as one of the premier marching bands in the country.
- Mr. William Beathea and Ms. Stephanie K. Sanders were distinguished band directors at rival SWAC schools before joining ɫֱ in 2000.
- ɫֱ's signature piece, "BEHOLD," was composed by Mr. Paul Adams.
- ɫֱ was founded in 1935 with an initial enrollment of 85 students, growing to over 6,000 students today.
- The NSU Spartan "Legion" band comprises over 250 staff and student musicians, dancers, and flags from the United States, Virgin Islands, and Bahamas.
Highlights
ɫֱ Spartan "Legion" Marching Band Highlights
- Our Bandfest Show features music from the 1990s New Jack Swing Era.
- Our head drum major is known as Mr. Spartan.
- Our second drum major is known as Captain Soul.
- The entire band staff, comprising 34 people, are all former students of the band, except for William Beathea (Director), Stephanie Sanders (Associate Director), and Chikeita Jones-Elliot (Operations Coordinator).
- This is the Spartan "Legion's" first Rose Parade appearance.
- The band program has grown by 125 members since 2014.
- The Spartan "Legion" performed for Missy Elliot, a four-time Grammy Award winner and Virginia native, in November 2022.
- The Spartan "Legion" also performed for Grammy Award winner and Virginia native Pharrell Williams in 2021 at the Something In the Water Festival.
- The Spartan "Legion" has performed for Grammy Award winners Lalah Hathaway and Karen Clark-Sheard during the university’s Homecoming Festivities.
- Regally attired in forest green uniforms with shimmering contrasting overlays, capes, and helmets, the "LEGION" is truly a sight to behold!
- The "LEGION's" precise marching styles, reflective of its fierce look and demeanor, include synchronized high-step marching, the rigid strut, and "The Glide Step" – better known as military-style marching.
- The "LEGION's" presence exudes pride, coupled with its robust and magnificent sound.
- The Spartan "Legion" drumline, known as the Million Dollar Funk Squad, performed for Pharrell Williams, a 13-time Grammy Award winner, in November 2022.
- William Beathea is an accomplished percussionist endorsed by Dynasty Percussion, Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets, and Remo Drum Heads.
- Stephanie K. Sanders is a performing artist who has worked with artists such as The O’Jays, Jennifer Holiday, Peabo Bryson, Jill Scott, Teddy Riley, Kirk Whalum, Will Downing, and "Slide" Hampton.
- Ms. Quiara Jackson made history as ɫֱ's first female Drum Major.
Awards