Pride of the Southland EXPLAINED: Black Suits, Circle Drill & the Rocky Top "Woo" | Dr. Michael Stewart (UTK)

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. We head to Knoxville with the Pride of the Southland Marching Band (UTK). Director Dr. Michael Stewart breaks down the Black Suits leadership model, keeping the iconic Circle Drill fresh, audition growth and yearly re-auditions, tuning for power (why “in tune” = “sounds bigger”), and the eternal Rocky Top “Woo” debate. UT students Madelyn Bowman (guard) and Austin Kerr (tuba/Black Suit alum) jump in for Water We Doing?! and Gush & Go on band culture, travel, and show design.Segments 32-Count Life Story — Dr. Stewart Interview Pt 1 — UT system, grad staff, Black Suits Interview Pt 2 — Circle Drill refresh, audition numbers, tuning philosophy, the “Woo” Water We Doing?! — Away-game guard travel, visiting-band courtesy, design clarity Gush & Go — Pride momentum, Tokyo Disney, guard growth, rest & self-carePanel & GuestsHost: Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs) • Panel: Alicia Sharp (@aliciaoninsta2)Guest: Dr. Michael Stewart (Director, Pride of the Southland — UTK)Band: Pride of the Southland Marching Band (UTK) — Website: utbands.utk.edu/marching-band/ • IG: @utbands • X: @POTSBand • FB: /utbands • YouTube: University of Tennessee BandsStudent Guests: Madelyn Bowman (@madstopbowman) • Austin Kerr (@austin_kerr)Find On A Water Break• Website: onawaterbreak.com• Linktree (all platforms): • Be a Guest / Submit a Topic: • Email: [email protected] Group Travel (@peak.group.travel) • Guard Closet (@guardcloset)Call to ActionSubscribe, rate & review, and share this episode with your band fam. Follow #OnAWaterBreak and watch more on our YouTube channel.