In June 2024, Lafayette Band Directors Brad Balog, Andrew Reader, and Kevin Lowe began the design process for a change to the Lancer Regiment, a change that hadn’t been made in eight years: brand new uniforms. But, unbeknownst to the three directors, an even bigger change was in store for the 2025 season.
For the first time in program history, the Lancer Regiment will have over 100 members.
“We were 92 total last year, and that was with 18 color guard,” Balog said. “Now, we are sitting at 104 committed members with ten color guard, but guard auditions still to come in May.”
Junior Ella Nolan has been in the Lancer Regiment since she was a freshman, and was selected as one of two drum majors for the 2024 season. She plans to audition once again for the position in 2025, and is looking forward to next year’s membership expansion.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m definitely excited to see what happens with the program and how much it will expand and grow over this next year,” Nolan said.
Reader is also looking forward to next year’s high membership, and is preparing for the challenges he and the other directors may face in the coming season.
“There’s going to be some growing pains for sure,” Reader said. “We’ve had a really tight-knit group in the past, so as a leadership team we’ve been discussing how to keep that close feeling which is what makes the Lancer Regiment special.”
Along with their record-breaking membership, the Lancer Regiment will debut new uniforms during the 2025 season.
“We were going for something more on the contemporary side, but not way out there because it has to age over eight years,” Balog said.
Every eight years, the Rockwood School District gives a high school’s marching band program the funds needed to purchase all new uniforms. 2025 was Lafayette’s turn.
“In the summer we were sent two or three different mock-up drawings, and this design was one of them,” Balog said. “But we weren’t sure if we liked the jacket, so we were sent a fabric sample.”
The fabric sample featured the main black and white crisscross design that is now on the new jackets, which directors Balog, Reader, and Lowe ended up choosing partially because of its uniqueness.
“That type of jacket design hasn’t been given to any other band in the country,” Balog said. “So that’s cool for us that you’re not gonna go out and see that exact same uniform design anywhere.”
The new uniforms are not just limited to one look, but instead feature multiple new features that make them customizable.
The new black and white vest-style jacket allows for a flexible undershirt to be worn underneath that can be easily switched out for another if show-themed customizations are needed.
Additionally, the jacket features a diagonal Velcro section, called the baldric, that can currently either be gold or white, but can also be swapped out for future show themes.
Such a change allows the uniforms to keep up with current trends, while still displaying school colors.
“Black and white are such neutral school colors, so we very purposefully designed the modular vest piece to be black and white so then anything else can be changed to match a show design,” Balog said.
The shakos (hats) were also changed to feature a Velcroed open-top wrap design.
“That’s gonna be really great for the kids because they’re gonna breathe, and be way more comfortable for them to wear,” Balog said.
Students who are already enrolled at Lafayette and are committed to the Lancer Regiment next year had their uniforms specially fitted. And since they were revealed on March 13, some students have already had the opportunity to try the new uniforms on.
“I like how they are way easier to move in,” sophomore percussionist Charlie Henson said. “We’ll be able to get more dynamic poses for choreography.”
Whether it’s more members or new customizable uniforms, the Lancer Regiment’s possibilities have greatly expanded, and only time will tell where these changes will take them as they march into the future.
