One of Auburn’s oldest groups is still keeping swing music alive.
The Auburn Knights Orchestra, Inc. is a professional big jazz band composed of approximately 25 members. The band started in the 1930’s in Auburn on Alabama Polytechnic Institution's campus at the time. The Knights of Auburn is primarily student led, which makes it an official student organization under AU Involve.
Ryan Blackwell, a senior in mechanical engineering, and Richard Nelson, a senior in aerospace engineering are both members of The Auburn Knights Orchestra.
Blackwell, who plays trumpet for the ensemble, explains how it’s a big band swing group that not only plays music from the 30’s, but also plays music from every decade. The group plays their version of the hit’s “You Are the Best Thing” by Ray Lamontagne and the classic hit “Sweet Caroline.”
Blackwell said he loves being able to play music professionally.
“It’s not something you want to give up, and I have a love for jazz music," Blackwell said. "It’s probably the music I listen to the most.”
Blackwell originally heard about The Auburn Knights at an exhibition when he was in high school.
Nelson, who plays bass for the band, was a member of band all through high school.
“I discovered an Auburn University band, but that’s a class you have to take and you don’t get paid for it," Nelson said. "So when you find out that you actually get paid to play as a college student, it’s very motivational. It’s also more challenging. Which I love. When you’re assigned a new song in the band, you need to know everything and you need to know it well.”
Blackwell said the ensemble hosts a large summer concert every summer, called 'Reunion'. The event welcomes those that performed with the band back in the day.
“All of our alumnis will come back and say if they played in the band in the 60’s, all of the members get together and play their music from their decade," Blackwell said. "At the end it ends with the current members and we play a little bit of everything from Ella Fitzgerald to Bruno Mars. It’s all good dance music regardless.”
Besides playing at weddings, private parties, dances, and concerts, sororities and fraternities are able to book them for a social or dance if they are interested for a swing dance theme, Blackwell said. The group has preformed at Greek events before.
“For whatever reason, people here in Auburn love to swing dance," Nelson said. "They swing dance to music that’s not even real swing music, so why not just swing to the real thing.”
“There’s not another swing band in Auburn, and people don’t get to hear that kind of music, especially not played live," Nelson said. "I think it’s unique that we have this mission that we’re taking care of by ourselves promoting swing music. People don’t understand that while they’re swing dancing to music, we’re having just as much fun as they are.”
The Auburn Knights love to play arrangements, Nelson said. An arrangement is a song that you already know with a little twist.
Blackwell said The Auburn Knights team up with Auburn University Swing Dance Association.
The Auburn Knights will be hosting is The Back To School Dance on Sep. 9, 2016 at The Clarion Inn on South College, Nelson said. The AUSDA will be there from 7–8 p.m. to teach people to swing dance.
The Auburn Knights hold auditions year round.
“Anyone who shows interest in playing their instrument for us can always give one of us a call or contact us on Facebook," Blackwell said. "Just be prepared to read music, because that’s how we learn most of our stuff.”
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