NFL Quarterback Robert Griffith and All-Time Great Lynn Swann presented Murray High School Marching Band senior Prashant Chakradhar a Most Valuable Player Award in January. Chakradhar earned it performing in the U.S. Army All American Band at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. Chakradhar is the son of Kala Chakradhar, who is assistant professor in social work in Murray State's College of Education and Human Services. He speaks with Kate Lochte about his experience on Sounds Good.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is one of the most elite high school football games in the country, pitting the best players in the nation in an all-star game of East vs. West. While most of these players have already selected which universities they'll attend, it's the last high school football game they'll ever get to play. In 2008, the games and the U.S. Army thought to include not only the best players, but an all-star marching band to perform during halftime. They held auditions, requiring interested students to send in videos of themselves describing who they are and playing musical selections. Of the over 2,000 musicians who auditioned, 125 were selected to go to San Antonio.
Prashant Chakradhar says a lot of work goes into the music and coordination of a marching band. What would typically take six months was expected to be accomplished in four days by a group of 125 strangers. But he says he learned that what was thought impossible became possible.
"Musicians in their true sense are used to playing in a group. They just have a sense of being able to play with someone else that plays an instrument and instantly have a connection that just works. I personally attribute it to that. When we got together, it wasn't like we were speaking a different language or anything. We were all speaking the same language. We all knew how to play the same way. We knew how to play together as a group. We knew the terminology necessary to put everything together in a very short amount of time. And we were always on top of our game and we had to be in order to put things together. Rehearsals were very efficient."
He says the day of the performance was surreal. Before the game, they played the national anthem and in the stands were roughly 30,000 soldiers, all standing while they played. "Getting to play for them was phenomenal," he says.
The experience taught him how to be a better musician, how to work more efficiently, how to work with new people. He's also grateful for the alumni network and the friends he's made on the trip. What's next for Chakradhar? He says he plans to major in economics.
Murray High senior marching baritone Prashant Chakradhar was selected to perform at the elite U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas this past January. There were 2,000 applicants for the 125 slots comprising the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band of top high school senior marching musicians from across the country. Chadradhar earned the Most Valuable Player award among band members.
