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Braves call on Southern Pride to perform on opening night
Georgia Southerns Marching Band to play at Turner Field
GSU BAND 090112 file
The Georgia Southern marching band, Southern Pride, performs their signature scramble before kickoff during a game against Jacksonsville on Sept. 1, 2012. - photo by SCOTT BRYANT/file

   Georgia Southern University’s Southern Pride Marching Band has been invited to be part of opening night with the Atlanta Braves. The band will march onto Turner Field and perform on Monday, April 1 at 7 p.m. as the Braves face the Philadelphia Phillies to begin the 2013 season.
    “We are very fortunate to have a Georgia Southern alumnus who works for the Atlanta Braves and suggested to someone in the ticket office that Southern Pride would be great pre-game entertainment,” said Colin McKenzie, director of Southern Pride. “Everyone is so excited about this opportunity to be on the field and play in front of a crowd of nearly 50,000 people. This is great exposure for our band and a great opportunity for us to represent Georgia Southern. We plan on giving the Braves and the fans a memorable pre-game concert.”
    The band will perform songs from various Southern Pride shows from this past season including some Motown selections as well as the Georgia Southern fight song. Then after playing, members of Southern Pride will line up and form a tunnel that the Braves will run through and onto the field as the 2013 team is introduced.
    This is just the latest high-profile performance for Southern Pride. Two weeks ago, four drummers joined Georgia Southern alumnae and singer Elizabeth Cook for her appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. “Our students have so much talent and spend so much time practicing and performing that it is really encouraging to see them get the recognition, attention and praise they deserve.” said McKenzie.