A look into the life of a halftime crowd favorite

Many know Troy University’s “Sound of the South” Marching Band as a source of entertainment. Kamden Levi, a senior Music Industry major from Wetumpka, Alabama, is no exception.

For Levi, hearing the band’s “1965 Fanfare” while at a high school band competition was the moment he moved Troy University to the top of his list in his search for a college.

"I remember the first time I ever heard the fanfare; I jumped,” Levi said. “I actually kind of jumped out of the bleachers.”

Hearing it left him with one dream, and nine words.

"I want to be a part of that band."

After high school graduation and acceptance to Troy, Levi's dream came true. In fall 2022, Levi became a member of the band.

Fast forward to this fall, Levi is making an impact on high school band members across south Alabama in a big way.

Each performance, Levi’s time to shine comes during the show’s opener. It includes "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin and "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen. Levi's solo comes at the climax of the second chorus in “Stairway to Heaven.” The solo then turns into a duet when Brian Moore, an alto saxophonist, joins.

The roars and high-pitched altissimo notes of the saxophone duo have been known to get crowds to their feet. The entertainment doesn't stop there; Levi's choreography adds to the performance. Audience members can expect anything from Levi falling to his knees, to famous moves that mirror Michael Jackson.

"I really, really love dancing," Levi said. "Being able to be a walking show for the audience is something that brings me so much joy... anyone who knows me, knows that I am an animated person.”

The Saxophonist's performance is no exception to his animated habits.

With a video of the duo's performance being posted to social media, getting thousands of views, many high school-aged musicians and adults alike express that Levi's solo is something to look forward to during halftime.

Similar to every show that Levi has marched, his time here at Troy has reached a big finish and is now coming to a close. The senior is grateful for the opportunity to perform for the band every time he gets the chance.

"It feels sentimental to me and I also kind of feel like it's neat in a way," Levi said. "I also had a solo in my last year of marching in high school."

With another solo as he closes out his collegiate career, Levi is looking back on his past.

"I know the time is coming- when I'll have to play it one last time, and I'll have to leave it in the past," Levi said. "That day, is going to be a sentimental day for me."

Levi noted that this will be the last season he will march in a band for the rest of his life, after eight years of dedication.

"It makes me think of the legacy that I've left behind,” Levi said. “It makes me look back and say, ‘dang, look how far I've come.’

“From having absolutely no idea how to play a saxophone properly to being a feature player in not one halftime show, but another halftime show in college."

Recognizing his talent, Levi credits his maker for all that he has accomplished.

“I ultimately believe that no one else in all of creation could have come up with the things that I do in that solo if it were not for God putting them on my mind," Levi said. "I give all of the attention that I get, the praise, all of it to God."

Looking ahead, Levi is excited to go to London and march in the New Year's Day parade. Following the trip, he plans to graduate in the spring and start a career in the music industry.

As Levi and Moore perform their duet with the Sound of the South, they hope to inspire young musicians and, hopefully, future members of the "Sound of the South."