The Clemson University Tiger Band has been selected to appear in the Juried Marching Band Video Presentations at the 2026 College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Southern Division Conference. The ensemble was chosen through an anonymous adjudication process conducted by college band directors from across the region. The presentations will showcase Tiger Band’s “Wicked” halftime show, originally performed during the Clemson vs. Florida State game in the 2025 football season.
This year, the University of South Florida in Tampa will host the conference, with marching band presentations on Saturday, February 21, at 8:30 a.m. The presentations will offer conference attendees the opportunity to engage with exemplary marching band performances from across the Southern Division. Clemson University Tiger Band was chosen alongside a small group of peer institutions, including the University of Georgia, the University of Tennessee, Western Carolina University, and more.
“Our selection for performance at the CBDNA Southern Division represents the pinnacle of achievement in the eleven states that comprise the division,” said Mark Spede, director of bands at Clemson University. “This is not the first time Tiger Band has achieved this recognition; in 2007, 2011, and 2019, we were selected for the national conference, and in 2008 and 2011 for the Southern Division.”
The Clemson University Tiger Band is under the direction of Mark Spede, Timothy Hurlburt, and Caroline Wright Pfisterer. The ensemble’s “Wicked” performance will be presented as a video performance at the conference.
About Tiger Band
Known as “The Band That Shakes the Southland,” the Clemson University Tiger Band maintains a national reputation for its dynamic sound, precision marching, engaging performances, and strong Clemson spirit. The ensemble includes more than 350 students representing majors from across the University. It performs for nearly one million football fans each year.
In recent years, Tiger Band has appeared at major postseason events, including the Orange Bowl, Citrus Bowl, Hall of Fame Bowl, Peach Bowl, Gator Bowl, and the 2016 and 2019 College Football Playoff National Championship games. The Color Guard, Tiger Twirlers, and Tiger Dancers serve as integral components of the band’s performances.
As an ambassador for Clemson University, Tiger Band provides spirit and entertainment for the campus community and audiences beyond Clemson. Through its commitment to creative and disciplined performance, the program also offers students opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, and professional skills both on and off the field.
Tiger Band Staff
- Mark Spede, Director and Music Arranger
- Timothy Hurlburt, Associate Director and Drill Design
- Caroline Wright Pfisterer, Assistant Director
- Hannah Skinner, Graduate Assistant
- Paul Buyer, Percussion Instructor
- Lance Curry, Drum Line Instructor
- Emily Curry, Twirler Instructor
- Marilla Riggs, Dancer Instructor
- Jennifer Crowe, Color Guard Instructor
- Dusty Coleman, Assistant Drumline Instructor
- Terry Kent, Visual Consultant
- Larry Sloan, Videographer
- Morgan Oliver, Videographer
- Aaron Joseph Villanueva, Videographer
- Christopher Sloan, Photographer, Imagine Studios
- Tamara Sloan, Photographer, Imagine Studios
- Timothy Willis, Announcer
