Georgia Southern University’s Southern Pride band received an opportunity to send four of its members to New York City to perform live on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Junior music education major Sergio Arreguin, senior exercise science major Trey Exley, senior communication arts major Jose Morales and junior nursing major Jimmy Rotureau will leave GSU on March 12 and travel to New York City. Country music singer-songwriter Elizabeth Cook will join the students on Wednesday to rehearse “If I Had My Way, I’d Tear This Building Down.” This song will be performed Thursday night on the Late Show with David Letterman.

The show will air on Thursday, March 14at 11:35 p.m.

“I talked with Dr. McKenzie last Monday morning, and he told me that Elizabeth Cook was going to play on the Late Show if she could get a percussion section from a marching band to perform with her. He asked if I was interested, and of course I was, and things progressed from there,” Exley said.

Colin McKenzie, director of Southern Pride, chose four members of the Southern Pride Marching Band’s drum line to represent GSU on the Late Show.

Seniority, leadership and academic performance were all factors in McKenzie’s decision.

“We walked into his office and shut the door, and he asked me straight forward.  I thought I was dreaming or he was joking. It still doesn’t seem real. I don’t feel much emotion right now, but I’m sure that once we hit the road north, I will get really excited,” Arreguin said.

Morales said, “Elizabeth Cook could have chosen any other drummers in the country, but she requested the Georgia Southern drum line. I think that’s pretty awesome.”