Often heard before they are seen, members of Band Company are the musical ambassadors for VMI, performing dozens of times each year—not only on post but also across the country at events such as the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, and the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, among many others.
For most of the past four decades, the band and other iconic VMI musical groups, such as the Jazz Band, the Institute Brass, and the Glee Club, have been led by a tireless faculty member beloved by generations of cadets: Col. John Brodie (Hon), who retired at the end of the 2023–24 academic year.
On Friday, April 19, 2024, approximately 325 Band Company alumni and their families, plus friends of Brodie and his family, gathered on post to honor Brodie’s 36-year tenure at the helm of all things musical at VMI. The Band Reunion, organized by the VMI Alumni Association and informally dubbed Brodiefest by some alumni, was held in conjunction with the Retirement Parade at which Brodie and other retiring faculty members were honored.
Attendees came from all over the country to honor the longtime band director—and Brodie’s daughter, Rachel, flew in from Taiwan just for the occasion.
Tony Gelormine ’01 made the much shorter trip from Winchester, Virginia, to honor Brodie. As a cadet, Gelormine played the same instrument as Brodie—the trumpet—and he also played the herald trumpet, used for ceremonial occasions on post, and the bugle. Over two decades later, Gelormine can still recall how Band Company was the glue that held everything else together. “The thing about [Brodie] was that he made us all want to belong,” he noted. “Coming in, especially as a rat, when you don’t know which direction you should be running in … you’re trying to figure everything out. But Colonel Brodie made it seem like band was home—a home base for everything.”
Brodie’s clear leadership also made a big impression on Gelormine. “He always gave clear guidance and direction,” he said. “We never wondered where we stood with him.”
Over the years, Brodie’s commitment to the Institute and the Corps of Cadets has been recognized many times over. He was honored with the Distinguished Service Award in 1991, the VMI Achievement Medal in 1999, and the Faculty Mentor Award in 2004 and 2005. In addition to being an honorary alumnus of the Institute—a status bestowed upon him by the VMI Alumni Association Board of Directors in 2008—he is also an honorary brother rat of the Class of 1992.
On the day of the Band Reunion, a sunny and warm Friday, those gathering to honor Brodie were welcomed at a reception in Moody Hall before the Retirement Parade. After the parade, Band Reunion attendees went to Memorial Garden for a group photo, breaking out into chants of “Brodie! Brodie! Brodie!” as the retiring band director appeared. In brief remarks, Brodie noted he was “overwhelmed” by the attendance and admiration of those who’d come from near and far to celebrate the conclusion of his musical journey at VMI.
And although the 2024–25 academic year will open without Brodie in Shell Hall or elsewhere on post, Brodie’s legacy will continue in the form of a scholarship established through the generosity of his wife, Sarah Brodie. The scholarship will support 1st and 2nd Class cadets who are members of the Regimental Band. “In just a few months, more than 155 donors gave outright gifts and commitments totaling $135,000,” said Meade B. King ’85, VMI Foundation chief operating officer and VMI Alumni Agencies director of advancement. “This amount included a challenge gift, which was met within less than 2 weeks of its mention. Sarah Brodie envisioned surprising John with the gift of a legacy scholarship. What she gave him, and all who joined the fun, was one more unforgettable memory from a VMI great.”
Ed Johnson ’79, VMI Alumni Association chief operating officer, noted that the impressive turnout for the Band Reunion highlights music’s importance to life on post. “The band was an all-volunteer group starting in 1947, meaning they agreed to serve as musical ambassadors for the Institute during their time in barracks,” he stated. “To see alumni representing classes as far back as 1957 to the present was an amazing sight to see.”
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Mary Price Development Writer/Communications Specialist
The development writer plays a key role in producing advancement communications. This role imagines, creates, and produces a variety of written communication to inspire donors to make gifts benefiting VMI. Utilizing journalistic features and storytelling, the development writer will produce content for areas such as Annual Giving, stewardship, and gift planning.
