MTSU band makes history with Space Force anthem performance [+VIDEO]

MTSU adjunct songwriting professor and Air Force veteran Jamie Teachenor, center, waves to the crowd Saturday, Nov. 12, as he represents the Space Force as part of MTSU’s 40th annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans football event at Floyd Stadium. He is joined by accompanied by MTSU Air Force ROTC cadets and cadets from the Smyrna squadron of Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force’s civilian auxiliary. Teachenor wrote the new Space Force anthem, “Sempre Supra,” which was played by MTSU’s Band of Blue for what is believed to be the first time by a marching band. (MTSU photo by Cat Curtis Murphy)

Middle Tennessee State University became the first collegiate marching band to perform the anthem of the U.S. Space Force, the newest military branch established in 2019 as a part of the U.S. Air Force.

Jamie Teachenor served as a member of the U.S. Air Force band at the Air Force Academy before joining MTSU as an adjunct professor of songwriting (photo provided) — Dr. Jamie Teachenor, shown here during his service as a member of the U.S. Air Force band at the Air Force Academy, now teaches at MTSU as an adjunct professor of songwriting. (photo provided)

The Space Force officially adopted “Semper Supra,” written by MTSU adjunct songwriting professor Jamie Teachenor, in September.

The Pentagon expedited an arrangement of the anthem in time for the Band of Blue to learn and perform Saturday, Nov. 12, at MTSU’s 40th annual Salute to Armed Forces and Veterans football event.

It’s possible MTSU is the first marching band to perform the anthem.

No veterans of the new Space Force were at Saturday’s game. Teachenor, an Air Force veteran, marched on the Floyd Stadium field in their honor, accompanied by MTSU Air Force ROTC cadets and cadets from the Smyrna squadron of Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force’s civilian auxiliary.

— Andrew Oppmann (Andrew.Oppmann@mtsu.edu)