NETFLIX Award: University of Tennessee Marching Band Bags Best Music Strength Award: Award Confirmed by the US President in the White House
A proud moment in both music and university history has just been officially confirmed — and it’s making waves across the country. The University of Tennessee’s famed Pride of the Southland Marching Band has won the prestigious **Best Music Strength Award**, an honor recognized and confirmed by none other than the President of the United States in a formal announcement at the White House.
The award, presented as part of Netflix’s growing cultural honors initiative spotlighting musical excellence in media and performance arts, celebrates unmatched strength in musical arrangement, performance impact, and cultural contribution. For the University of Tennessee marching band, this represents not just national recognition, but a monumental milestone affirming decades of commitment, passion, and precision.
The news was met with thunderous applause on campus and across the Volunteer State. Known for their electrifying halftime performances, crisp formations, and powerful sound, the Pride of the Southland Band has long been a cornerstone of Tennessee athletics and spirit. Now, with this award, their work resonates far beyond the football field.
In a ceremony held in the East Room of the White House, the President personally praised the band’s artistry, discipline, and cultural importance. “The University of Tennessee Marching Band represents the very best of American musical tradition,” he stated. “Their dedication, excellence, and spirit remind us how music can unite us, inspire us, and lift us higher.”
The selection process for the Netflix Best Music Strength Award involved a panel of music directors, cultural critics, and entertainment professionals. The University of Tennessee band stood out not only for its musicality but for its unique ability to infuse traditional southern heritage with contemporary power and energy, a blend that consistently leaves audiences in awe.
Dr. Don Ryder, Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee, expressed both pride and humility in response to the honor. “This award belongs to every student who has ever worn our uniform, carried an instrument in freezing rain, marched in a 90-degree stadium, or practiced until their fingers were sore,” he said. “To receive this recognition at the national level, and to have it affirmed by the President himself, is beyond anything we could have imagined.”
The documentary produced by Netflix, which captured the behind-the-scenes life of the Pride of the Southland Band during the 2024 football season, played a pivotal role in bringing attention to the ensemble’s excellence. The show revealed the rigorous training, personal sacrifices, and sheer willpower it takes to be part of a university marching band at the highest level.
With this accolade, the University of Tennessee marching band has not only elevated its own legacy but also shined a bright spotlight on the essential role marching bands play in American culture — blending music, pageantry, and school pride into a stirring art form.
