History – Green Machine Ensembles

Pre-2006

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.

2006

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.

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.

Dr. Michael Nickens directs the 2007 Green Machine Pep Band in a white suit. His right hand is raised in the air to direct a musical accent. The band is in gold basketball jerseys and is playing a song.

2008

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.

Members of the GMU indoor drumline stand outside during a pep rally near EagleBank Arena. They are all wearing green track suits with yellow stripes running down the sleeves and pant legs. They are chanting and clicking their drum sticks together. Several have snare drums. One member has quad drums.

Members of the Green Machine, the Mason cheer squad, and the Masonettes dance team are dancing on the basketball court in EagleBank Arena during the Mason Madness pep rally in 2011. Doc Nix is leading the group in a light green and white three-piece suit. Professor Jeremy Freer is wearing yellow chuck's, mint green pants, a yellow basketball jersey and a cardboard box "robot" mask with glowing green eyes. The arena is dark but the floor is lit.

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.

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.

Members of the audience at a competition are in the blurred background. In the foreground, four snare drummers in the GMU Indoor Drumline are mid-performance. Their arms are in sync and moving so fast that they are blurred as they play the drums. They are wearing green sequined uniforms with purple accents and face paint.

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.

2011

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.

2012

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.

It is morning on the GMU campus. The Patriots Fife and Drum Corps is leading a processional of faculty and students. There are three fife players and three snare drummers mid-performance as they march in formation. They are wearing green and white colonial-era military uniforms with tricorn hats and playing colonial-era fifes and snare drums.

2014

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.”

2015

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.

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!

This image is aerial above the green machine with a drone. Below the green machine and Doc Nix are performing a square in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. The band is at the bottom of the image in yellow jerseys with Doc Nix conducting in the center. The audience is at the top of the image. It is overcast outside.

2016

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!

2017

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.

Jiffy Lube live is dark. The stage is lit up with red lights. A gigantic audience is to the right in front of the stage. On stage members of the Green Machine perform with the band Lady A.

2018

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.

2019

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.

After the show, the anthem audience is in full lights. At the bottom of the image, Griz and members of the Green Machine stand for a group photo smiling on stage. Behind them is a gigantic audience cheering. The band is in black.

2021

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!

2023

The White House Easter Egg Roll

In April 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.

The Green Machine stands on the south lawn in front of the White House in Washington, DC on an overcast day for a group photo. The band is wearing yellow jerseys with green accents.

2024

Mason Korea 10th Anniversary

In June 2024, The Green Machine sent a small collection of faculty/staff, students, and alumni to Mason Korea to celebrate their 10 Year Anniversary! While there, The Green Machine had the opportunity to perform for Mason Korea staff and students at celebratory events including the Mason Korea 10 Year Celebration Party and this year’s Mason Korea graduation commencement! Other performances in the country included being part of the DMZ Open Festival and the Nami Island Acoustic Festival. To get a taste of our amazing trip, check out the video below or access our YouTube channel to see the full list of videos!