Danley Sound Labs and Western Carolina University Announce Partnership

	"As marching bands and drum corps have adopted professional audio on the field, it's only logical that we at Danley build solutions to meet those needs directly," says McCoy.

Danley Sound Labs and Western Carolina University announce a new partnership beginning this fall, supplying an audio system for Western Carolina University's Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, offering improved clarity and intelligibility in outdoor performance environments.

The Danley system will be featured during the Pride of the Mountains' exhibition appearance at the Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis in November. The new system is the first phase of this relationship as both organizations envision a partnership extending well beyond the field.

"At Western Carolina, we have always believed in pushing boundaries, embracing innovation, and giving our students opportunities that go far beyond the marching field," says Matt Henley, director of athletic bands at Western Carolina University. "The role of professional audio in our activity has grown tremendously, and this partnership with Danley Sound Labs is an exciting next step for the Pride of the Mountains. Not only will our students perform with some of the finest audio technology in the world, but they will also be able to learn from the incredible people behind it. That combination of innovation, education, and real-world experience is what makes this partnership so special. We couldn't be more excited about what we're going to accomplish together!"

Other collaborations between Danley and the university will include developing educational content for current and future music educators, directors, and designers on understanding the role professional audio plays in contemporary marching music. Danley engineers and technical professionals will work with university faculty in the Commercial Music and Audio program to explore opportunities for interaction with students, including guest lectures, demonstrations, technical discussions, case studies, and other educational experiences. The partners will also develop sessions for the WCU Summer Symposium on demystifying audio technology, offering practical education useful for attendees' marching and performing arts programs.

"After 37 years as a band director and 45 years in drum corps, I've seen firsthand how important audio technology has become to the marching arts," says Alan Armstrong, music market manager at Danley Sound Labs. "This partnership with Western Carolina gives us a unique opportunity to combine performance, education, and innovation while helping current and future educators make the most of that technology. Most importantly, it allows all of us at Danley to give back to a music education community that has given so much to each of us over the years."

"Danley loudspeakers, subwoofers, and technologies can be found in educational institutions around the United States," says Chris McCoy, director of sales at Danley Sound Labs. "As marching bands and drum corps have adopted professional audio on the field, it's only logical that we at Danley build solutions to meet those needs directly."

"Long before I ever thought about loudspeakers, I was a trumpet player at Western Carolina," says Mike Hedden, chief steward in charge at Danley Sound Labs. "That's where I learned that great sound is built by people working together. At Danley, we've always believed in innovating, never imitating, but innovation means the most when it's put in the hands of students. Partnering with Western Carolina lets us give band programs, from high schools to drum corps, the clarity their performers have earned."

Additional details about the partnership and upcoming educational initiatives will be announced as the collaboration develops.