Turner Gray, a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Tuba Performance and Wind Conducting, has revitalized the La Salle University Pep Band as its new director. Under his full-time leadership, the band now energizes basketball games and special events, bringing music and spirit back to the La Salle campus after a three-year hiatus.

There has been some type of pep band presence at La Salle over the years, but not always in a full-time capacity. The band had been dormant on campus since 2021, and in 2024 Gray was the first person to be brought on in a full-time role for the director position. With that responsibility comes some challenges as well as obstacles, Gray said.

“Working in this role full-time has really given me the ability to devote the necessary time, effort, and resources into building this program into one that represents the university and the city of Philadelphia in the best way possible,” Gray said. “We do not have a music program here at La Salle, so the students who choose to participate in the band are doing so out of pure desire. Despite not offering a music program, my vision for this program stems from my desire for students to learn how to be the best musicians they can.”

Gray’s vision for the La Salle band is simple, he said: Create and cultivate a program that allows students the ability to continue music after high school while representing the university in a positive and exciting light.

“I envision a band that is filled with curious, engaged, and excited students that participate in music for the love of it,” Gray said. “When starting a program essentially from scratch, it’s easy to decide what direction you want it to go in. I believe in students also having a say in that direction–a collaborative effort to achieving success both on and off of campus.”

Based in Philadelphia, La Salle is a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The La Salle Explorers played in the Tom Gola Arena as their main home stadium from 1998 to 2024, and now play in the newly renovated John Glaser Arena. The new arena is a 3,000-seat multi-purpose venue which opened October 24, 2024.

The new arena has put the band front and center with the athletes, Gray said. The band occupies the first few rows of the student section, with the drum set player being directly on the baseline next to one of the baskets. It gives the band some much needed visibility and “inserts us into the game in a much better position than they had in the old arena,” Gray said.

Gray believes the band can have a direct outcome on sporting events. The band being so up close and personal with the players helps reinforce the atmosphere fans come to expect from a college basketball game, he said, and simple tunes bring the fans together to cheer, sing, and make noise during close-game situations.

“Lots of folks would shake my hand or pat me on the back as they leave the arena, telling me ‘thanks for being here,’ ‘it’s so good to have the band again,’ or ‘the band sounds awesome,’ and it’s true, they do sound awesome,” Gray said. “There is some exciting energy surrounding the La Salle Pep Band–the students are excited to be here and are eager to grow as musicians and people.”

He also thinks that–maybe unintentionally–the arena features an acoustical design that heavily benefits having a band present. Even with a sold-out crowd, the band cuts through the crowd noise clearly, he said.

“My parents were texting me throughout the home opener saying they could hear the band on the TV broadcast when we were playing, which was pretty cool,” Gray said. “Small but mighty, we are loudly and proudly representing at the basketball games.”

Membership in the band is all-inclusive for any La Salle student, staff, or faculty member, and the ensemble operates with an open instrumentation with no audition required.

Gray wanted to have as many students involved however they could participate, even if it meant a different instrumental makeup than most pep bands. The result has been “close to what you typically see in most collegiate pep bands.”

“I believe that, especially when starting a program with zero students, it is important to open the group to all, evaluate what you have to work with, and then go,” Gray said. “Everyone is capable of learning, and anyone who comes in with an open mind and the desire to be involved is someone I want to teach. I have been telling students here on campus that if you’ve played for five minutes, five years, or anything in between, we want you in the band.”

Gray believes that your ability to play an instrument might not directly translate to your day job, but what will translate are the skills you learn as a result of participation in the band: collaboration, time management, and the discipline and dedication it takes to do something in addition to what you are in school for.

Gray is seeing a lot of interest from potential students due to several investments in their future on the La Salle campus. For instance, La Salle is offering new band, cheer, and dance members a renewable scholarship for participation in the group starting in the Fall of 2025.

“It’s reassuring to be at a program that shares my values on the importance of investing in your students in order to see a program succeed,” Gray said. “The prospective students I speak to and meet each week can’t wait to be on campus next year. I’m thrilled to be one small part of helping build this program up to what I know it can be, and I can’t wait to see who comes with us on the journey.”

Since it is a “special topics” course, students are receiving a general credit towards their graduation requirements, and it is graded like many other pep band “classes” based on participation.

Gray was a teaching assistant for the UW–Madison Band program where he worked with the Varsity Band and Concert Band. One of the biggest things he took away from Madison and brought with him to Philadelphia is the idea of meeting students where they are.

“My time with Badger Band saw me standing in front of mostly non-music majors with the goal of making them really great musicians,” Gray said. “I’m having to do that every time I get in front of my students here, since none of them are at La Salle specifically to study music and I want them to be great musicians. It really goes back to my idea of everyone is teachable and deserves the opportunity to receive a high-quality education and experience.”

Gray also learned how to better interact with people on the operational side “who don’t really know much about how a band operates.”

“Dr. Corey Pompey and Dr. Alexander Gonzalez always emphasized preparation–whether it be for teaching or for meetings, especially with non-music folks. I think that has really helped me face all of the challenges that have been put in front of me.”