CofC Athletics Band Chucktown Sounds is Back

After a nearly two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the College of Charleston’s athletics band, Chucktown Sound, is back in the game. The band returned courtside at TD Arena for the basketball season in January, 2022, bringing back live music and extra energy to the men’s basketball games.

“I am so happy to finally be back,” says senior biochemistry major Jayda Carroll-Deaton, who plays alto saxophone with the band and has been part of the group since her freshman year in 2018. “I have missed playing music and getting hyped up for our team! It feels like we are starting to gain a sense of normalcy as we start to bring live music back into TD Arena.”

“It feels like we never missed a beat,” says Christopher Gongora, CofC’s director of athletics bands. “Fans have been receptive, and we are looking forward to growing and engaging with them as we continue to rebuild.”

The ensemble is currently focused on recruiting new student-musicians for the remainder of this season as well as for the fall 2022 semester. And that means for the next several weeks, anyone with a background in music who would like to sit in with Chucktown Sound can do so without an audition. The band rehearses every Thursday and Sunday from 7 to 9 p.m. in TD Arena.

Chucktown Sound performs at TD Arena. (Photo provided)

“We have a few more home performances left this season and then look forward to traveling for post-season action with the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association) and NCAA tournaments in March,” says Gongora. “We are looking at anyone and everyone with previous music experience. So, anyone looking to give it a try just needs to fill out the interest form and discuss joining.”

In addition to playing at all men’s basketball home games, Chucktown Sound has begun playing at women’s basketball games this month, too. The group features a drum line and plays a variety of songs ranging from classic rock and ’80s hits to contemporary pop and hip-hop.

“The energy at games is much higher when CTS (Chucktown Sound) is there,” says senior computer science major Alex Bailey, who has played sousaphone with the band since 2018. “We help hype up both the team and the fans when we play.”

Bailey and Carroll-Deaton have both been active this semester in sharing their passion about the band and recruiting others to join. Besides the social benefits of joining, members of Chucktown Sound can receive scholarships for participating and potentially travel with the basketball teams for conference tournaments.

“You don’t have to be a music major or minor to join, but you can earn class credit by joining,” adds Carroll-Deaton.

“We are very much a family,” says Bailey, who is the band’s social media coordinator and webmaster. “Everyone is very kind and welcoming. We try our best to plan fun events outside of performances, so we all get the chance to get to know each other. If you’re looking for somewhere to fit in while also having fun playing music, CTS is the program for you!”