Mustangs' Marching Band Makes Its WNBA Debut with Halftime Show

The Monroe University Marching Band electrified the Connecticut Suns’ audience with a fun, hip-hop and R&B half-time show at the WNBA game on September 24th.

Trumpet player Marvinette “Marvie” Adderley and trombone player Caitlyn Solomon were among the 55-member band that played that halftime show at the Mohegan Sun Arena. It was the largest audience that either woman had ever played for, and the first time seeing a professional basketball game for both Monroe University students. 

Caitlyn, who has played her trombone for nearly a decade, called the experience “surreal.” 

“It was an amazing opportunity and definitely one of the biggest and best experiences I have had so far in my music career,” she said. 

The Monroe Marching band delighted the audience with songs like “This Is How We Do It” by Montell Jordan, “Rock With You” by Michael Jackson, and other classic hip-hop and R&B hits and accompanying choreography. Marching Band Director Dr. Gary Hollander said they call that set “The Cookout Show” or songs that are commonly heard at cookouts. 

Dr. Hollander said the Marching Band is an experience that many students can be successful with, if they put in the effort. 

“Students just need to have a positive attitude and a willingness to put in the time and work at their craft,” he said.  

The Suns performance adds another high-profile performance to the Monroe Marching Band’s history. Since the Marching Band was started in 2015, it has played at the PlayStation theater in Times Square and performed the National Anthem at Citi field for a New York Mets game. 

Both Marvie and Caitlyn received scholarships to attend Monroe. Caitlyn, who is studying Culinary Arts, said she hopes to bring together her love for cooking and music by opening a restaurant of her own someday that creates space for Black artists to perform. She has not decided if that space will be in NYC or in her hometown of Dover, Delaware. 

Marvie, who plays trumpet for Monroe, said she plans to absorb all she can while at Monroe University. She is studying Hospitality Management, a major that will help her get ahead in her career when she goes back home to Exuma, Bahamas.  

“It was such a blessing to even be at a WNBA game, and being there and doing something that I love, which is playing my trumpet, I was really excited then and, to this day, I'm still thankful,” said Marvie. 

To learn more about the Monroe University Marching Band, email Dr. Gary Hollander at ghollander@monroeu.edu. 

What a fantastic experience!