History
Before the Green Machine
From the late 1960’s through the late 1990s, athletic bands at Mason operated mostly as student-led and populated ensembles with little faculty assistance or leadership. For a period in the 1980s, the pep band was referred to as the "Mound of Sound." There were also instances of George Mason Athletics collaborating with local high school bands when they were not able to constitute bands of Mason students. This was the case until the 2005-06 season.
George Mason University Indoor Drumline Forms
The competitive drumline, formed in 2008, quickly won a series of regional and international competitions. Most notably, they won the 2012 Winter Guard International (WGI) Open-Class World Championship, and placed 8th in the 2013 WGI World-Class World Championships.
The Beginning of Mason Madness
Basketball’s annual kick off event Mason Madness, starting in 2008, features a large production piece as the opening performance. The consistent idea has been to have choreography set to a live musical performance. Over the years it has become an increasingly inclusive collaboration of multiple ensembles dedicated to school spirit, athlete support/encouragement, and entertainment at basketball games.
The Green Machine Begins
The Men’s Basketball run to the 2006 NCAA Final Four ignited school spirit and an optimistic outlook on the future of sports and spirit at Mason. As the student-run pep band won the Final Four Battle of the Bands, a collaborative approach between Andrew Flagel (then Dean of Admissions), William Reeder (then Dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts), and Andrew Ruge (then Associate Athletic Directer, Marketing), among others, led to the establishment of a full-time position in the then Department of Music. The position was charged with taking the existing student-led ensembles (Pep Band and Winter Guard) and building an even greater program of lasting strategic impact and significance.
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The new energetic, boisterous, contagious performance style of the Green Machine Pep Band perfectly fit the overwhelming unifying enthusiasm for the unexpected run to the Final Four and the continued success of the Men’s Basketball team under Coach Larranaga. Assisted by an expanded budget, scholarship allocation, a one-credit course offering, and continuing basketball success, the pep band saw overall participation grow from 30 to over 200 members between 2006 and 2010.
Summer Clinics with DCI
3-day summer clinics for high school-aged students were held in 2008 and 2010. The 2008 clinic focused on Drumline and Colorguard performance techniques and included attending Drum Corps International’s (DCI) “Drum Corps in Fauquier” competition as spectators. In 2009, “Drum Corps in Fauquier” became “Drum Corps in Fairfax (DCIF)” held at George Mason Stadium. In 2010, DCIF was again held at George Mason Stadium in conjunction with the 3-day summer clinic focusing on Drumline performance techniques. The 18-time DCI World-Champion “Blue Devil’s” (Concord California) collaborated with our summer clinic instructors joining corps members and clinic participants in a joint educational experience.
Mason's 2010 Holiday Greeting Video
The Green Machine Pep Band and Drumline, alongside other featured performers from the School of Music, performed the soundtrack for Mason’s 2010 Holiday Greeting video. Green Machine Director Dr. Michael W. Nickens composed the featured song “Love, Peace, and Joy”. The video won a bronze “Telly Award” as well as a “Special Merit Award” from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District III.
Going Viral
An amateur-recorded video of the pep band in rehearsal playing a medley of songs by Rage Against the Machine was posted to YouTube (and later, to Facebook) in February of 2011. To date, various posts of the video have been viewed millions of times on several different platforms, totaling over 100 million views! Click the video to the right to see one of the many versions in circulation.
Breakfast with the Bands
”Breakfast with the Bands” was a showcase of pep bands in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) at the annual men’s basketball conference tournament in Richmond, VA. 2011 featured bands from Mason, Old Dominion University (ODU) and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and the music for the combined performance was arranged by Green Machine Associate Director Jeremy Freer. 2012 featured Mason, ODU, VCU, Northeastern, William & Mary, Towson, and Georgia State University, and the music was arranged by Green Machine Director Dr. Michael W. Nickens.
Starting a Ceremonial Corps
In 2012, Members of the American Legion Post #177 in Fairfax, VA made donations to purchase colonial period rope drums towards the formation of a fife and drum corps. The then “Ceremonial Corps”, performed in Governor McAuliffe’s Inaugural parade in 2014. The corps leads Mason’s annual Spring Commencement parade of graduates from George Mason statue to EagleBank Arena and appears at various university functions such as Mason Madness, Men’s basketball games, and George Mason’s Birthday celebration. A one-credit elective class has been offered in the School of Music since Spring of 2016, and an Auxiliary Enterprises grant went towards purchasing uniforms and fifes.
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The Next Big Step
In 2014 the Green Machine Ensembles became an official department at George Mason University. Shortly thereafter in 2015, NCAA.com named the Green Machine “The #1 Pep Band in College Basketball”. As a result, the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates passed matching resolutions recognizing the Green Machine “for the band’s work to pep up the athletes and fans of George Mason University and to represent one of the premier universities of the Commonwealth.”
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Live at Jiffy Lube
The Green Machine Pep Band had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform with Lady Antebellum, now Lady A, at WMZQ Fest in June 2017. The performance was at Jiffy Lube Live and featured the Pep Band in front of a sea of energetic audience members.
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Fundraising Milestone
In February 2018, Green Machine Ensembles joined forces with Enterprise Rent-A-Car for their newest corporate sponsorship. Just a few months later on George Mason University's Giving Day (April 5, 2018), Green Machine Ensembles hit a major milestone by raising approximately $19,000 in a single day to support the then 9 different ensembles.
Live at The Anthem
In September 2019, the Green Machine had the opportunity to join another major performing act on stage when they accompanied GRiZ at his electrifying show at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.
Mason Vision Day
In April 2021, Mason had its first Vision Day; a day of giving dedicated solely to one University-wide cause or organization. The Green Machine was chosen to be the recipient of this generous support and, thanks to the generosity and support of the Mason community, was able to raise over $150,000!
The White House Easter Egg Roll
In April of 2023 the Green Machine Pep Band was invited to perform at the festivities for the White House Easter Egg Roll under the Biden Administration. The Pep Band electrified the crowd as they transitioned through the festivities and onto the South Lawn. The performance was so well received, the Pep Band was invited back in 2024 to continue sharing their unique sound and spirit with the energetic audience. In 2024 they shared the stage with the incredibly talented Jonesboro High School Majestic Marching Band.
Gulf Coast Showcase
In 2016 the Green Machine Pep Band accompanied the Mason Men's Basketball team to the sunny Fort Meyer, Florida for the Gulf Coast Showcase pre-season tournament. Despite losing in the quarterfinals, the team rebounded and won the consolation bracket.
While at the showcase the band enjoyed beach football, a luau, flying kites on the beach, and of course performing and cheering on the basketball team!
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The Charleston Classic
In October of 2015 the Green Machine Pep Band accompanied the Mason Men's Basketball team to the Charleston Classic pre-season tournament. The team made a great run, making it all the way to the finals where they fought a hard battle against the Virginia Cavaliers, with an ultimate final score of 66-83, UVA.
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Aside from enjoying performing at the electrifying games in Charleston, the band enjoyed performing for Charleston in a local park, volunteering at a food charity, and exploring the historic city!
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