Panther Band Auditions
Panther Band participation is open to any admitted GSU student, or any student from an institution that does not have a marching band program, following a successful audition. Students may audition before they have received their official acceptance. Those who major or minor in Music undergo different audition procedures than students in other areas of study.
You do not have to be in the School of Music to participate!
The Georgia State Panther Band is a world-class organization that has performed in Super Bowl LIII, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the 57th Presidential Inaugural Parade for President Barack Obama, the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade, made television and movie appearances, and been awarded top national honors as one of the best bands in the country by the College Band Directors National Association. Don’t miss out on a chance to make lifelong friends and share the fun of college band!
Panther Band General Information
Panther Band 2024 Fees:
Fees for Panther Band 2024 members are as listed below.
$100 for wind players, percussion, and rock band
$300 for panther guard members
Below is the payment schedule that will be used to collect Panther Band 2024 fees:
Wind/Percussion/Rock Band fees ($100 total) is due by the first Monday of band camp — July 30th
Panther Guard fees ($300 total):
- Installment 1: $100 due May 30th
- Installment 2: $100 due June 30th
- Installment 3: $100 due July 30th
All instruments and major performance equipment required to participate in Panther Band are provided by Georgia State Bands. Instruments and equipment will be available for checkout beginning July 1st. Procedures for checking out instruments and equipment will be communicated to members via email throughout the summer.
WINDS
Georgia State Bands will provide:
- Instrument
- White performance gloves
- Panther Band Uniform & Shako
- Panther Band Member Hat*
- Panther Band Member T-Shirt*
- Panther Band Water Cooler*
- Viper Marching Shoes*
You are responsible for providing:
- Mouthpiece (large bore for trombones and baritones)
- Instrument Accessories: Reeds, Valve oil, Slide grease, Cork grease, Neck strap
- Full length black socks
- Instrument Lyre
- Ear plugs
PERCUSSION
Georgia State Bands will provide:
- Instrument, harness and stand
- Drum Heads
- Sticks & Mallets
- Cymbal gloves
- Panther Band Uniform & Shako
- Panther Band Member Hat*
- Panther Band Member T-Shirt*
- Panther Band Water Cooler*
- Viper Marching Shoes*
You are responsible for providing:
- Full length black socks
- White stick tape
- Ear plugs
PANTHER GUARD
Georgia State Bands will provide:
- Performance flags
- Performance sabre
- Poms
- Warm-Up Suit & Shoes
- Performance Uniform & Shoes
- Performance Jewelry
- Panther Band Member Hat*
- Panther Band Member T-Shirt*
- Panther Band Water Cooler*
- Panther Guard Backpack*
You are responsible for providing:
- 37.5″ white King rifle with black bolt
- Equipment tape
- Ear plugs
ROCK BAND
Georgia State Bands will provide:
- Drum Set
- Keyboard(s)
- Instrument Amps & Cables
- Sticks & Mallets
- Panther Band Uniform
- Panther Band Member Hat*
- Panther Band Member T-Shirt*
- Panther Band Water Cooler*
- Viper Marching Shoes*
*Provided to first year members. Replacements may be purchased as needed.
You are responsible for providing:
- Guitar & Bass Guitar
- Instrument accessories: guitar strings, straps, capos, stands, pedals (as required)
- Full length black socks
- Ear plugs
All members are required to register for MUS-1063 (all Perimeter Campus students) or MUS-3063 (all Atlanta Campus students) and attend all rehearsals (class). Class meets 4:00-7:00pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. You should plan to have your classes prior to Panther Band end by 3:00pm so you have time to change and get to the stadium.
New members to the band are expected to register for the class at orientation. Please identify your need to be registered for this class to your advisor and ensure you are placed into a Freshman Learning Community (FLC) that does not obstruct your registration for Panther Band. To that end, we expect you to set your schedule so that you can arrive at Panther Band on time and be ready to start by 4:00pm each Wednesday and Friday.
NOTE – ALL CLASSES ARE ON THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS. TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM THE DOWNTOWN CAMPUS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH STUDENT. Perimeter College students who are in the Music Pathway must coordinate with the Perimeter College Music Area for clearance to register for Panther Band. Speak to your advisor for more specific information.
If you attend another institution, contact your Cross Registration office to register for the class IMMEDIATELY. If your institution does not offer cross-registration with Georgia State, please apply to be a transient student.
Panther Band Camp 2024 will be August 18th-24th: 12:00-10:00pm daily. Attendance at camp is required as outlined below.
- Color Guard: Sunday, August 18th – Saturday, August 24th
- Percussion: Sunday, August 18th – Saturday, August 24th
- Rock Band: Sunday, August 18th – Saturday, August 24th
- Leadership: Sunday, August 18th – Saturday, August 24th
- Wind Players: Monday, August 19th – Saturday, August 24th
Weekly rehearsals (classes) are on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:00-7:00pm at Center Parc Stadium. The address to Center Parc is 755 Hank Aaron Drive, Atlanta, GA 30315.
Panther Guard and Percussion may have sectionals scheduled in addition to the full ensemble rehearsals on Wednesdays from 7:15-8:30pm.
In addition to weekday rehearsals, the Panther Band rehearses on game days. The call time for rehearsals on performance days is typically 6 hours prior to kick-off.
Each member who auditions for and is accepted into the Panther Band is expected to participate in all aspects of the fall season. Please review the Season Schedule in the Member Area before deciding to participate.
Wind players auditioning for the Panther Band will be expected to:
- Provide proof of college or university acceptance (acceptance letter or university student identification card)
- Participate in a group visual/marching evaluation
- Complete an individual musical audition consisting of:
- Technique Warmups #3
- Alma Mater
- Fight Song
Panther Band 2025 Audition Camp Dates
Winds | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Percussion | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Rock Band | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Panther Guard | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Center Parc Stadium
755 Hank Aaron Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Percussion players auditioning for the Panther Band will be expected to:
- Provide proof of college or university acceptance (acceptance letter or university student identification card)
- Familiarize yourself with the music materials found in the audition packet linked below. All evaluations, however, will take place in an ensemble setting. You should expect to demonstrate your skills individually. Potential members are evaluated on their consistency in technique and sound quality as well as tempo control and rhythmic accuracy.
Panther Band 2025 Audition Camp Dates
Winds | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Percussion | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Rock Band | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Panther Guard | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Center Parc Stadium
755 Hank Aaron Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Students auditioning for the Panther Band Panther Guard will be expected to:
- Provide proof of college or university acceptance (acceptance letter or university student identification card)
- Demonstrate body control through movement. It is recommend that you have guard or dance experience
- Demonstrate the ability to learn flag choreography on a 6ft pole
- If applicable, demonstrate technical abilities on a 37.5” rifle and 39” saber
- Demonstrate the ability to learn choreography and communicate via an online platform
- Demonstrate physical fitness in the form of a one-mile run
Panther Band 2025 Audition Camp Dates
Winds | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Percussion | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Rock Band | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Panther Guard | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Center Parc Stadium
755 Hank Aaron Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Students auditioning for the Panther Rock Band will be expected to:
- Provide proof of college or university acceptance (acceptance letter or university student identification card)
- Play one solo excerpt displaying your musical ability and style
- Prepare and perform the selected audition music
- Display great showmanship and energy
Panther Band 2025 Audition Camp Dates
Winds | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Percussion | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Rock Band | May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Panther Guard | May 2 (5:00 – 9:00pm) & May 3 (9:00am – 5:00pm)
Center Parc Stadium
755 Hank Aaron Drive SE, Atlanta, GA 30315
Those who audition for the School of Music as a music major will still be required to participate in the Panther Band audition camp but will not need to complete an individual musical audition (unless you are a percussionist or intend to be in the color guard).
Please refer to your prospective section’s tab for more detailed information.