Traditions run deep at Colgate University. From the fraternity houses to the annual rituals celebrated by all, Colgate preserves the long-held traditions that have shaped culture on campus. One tradition that has been kept alive can be heard through the walls of the Theta Chi fraternity house.
For a long time now, music has been one of the cornerstones of the fraternity’s culture. Now this culture is kept alive through the band Moose, a student band rooted in the longstanding musical legacy of Theta Chi.
The members of the band include sophomore Pearson Biggs on bass, senior Will Biggs on rhythm guitar, senior Andrew Kang and junior Hope Hershberg on vocals, senior Bobby Patch on drums and senior Dylan Roelofs on lead guitar.
Roelofs explained how Moose is also known around campus by another name.
“Moose is another name for ‘Tach Band,’ which is what we have been called historically,” Roelofs said. “Tach comes from our fraternity, Theta Chi.”
For decades, Tach Band has had a history of bringing together brothers of Theta Chi who love music. Each generation has passed on the torch to the next class.
“The ‘Tach Band’ itself has been a thing for a long time,” Roelofs said. “Whoever can play instruments in our fraternity comes together and plays during parties, school events and more. When people in the band graduate, new members from [Theta Chi] form a new group under the name ‘Tach Band.’”
This year, though, is the beginning of a new era for the band. They have decided to take things up a notch and claim a name of their own.
“This year we have had the most gigs yet and are definitely the most serious the band has been in the past 10 or so years,” Roelofs said. “We decided to come up with our own name, ‘Moose,’ paying tribute to our moose head in the Theta Chi dining room named Morris.”
Their first official performance as Moose came with Colgate football at the Home Opener Tailgate on Friday, Aug. 29, a high-energy debut encouraged by the University.
“We played classics such as ‘Valerie’ and ‘Hotel California’ and crowd favorites like ‘Revival’ by Zach Bryan,” Roelofs said.
A mix of timeless rock staples with a few more recent hits captures Moose’s style perfectly.
“Classic rock. Some newer stuff. Nothing too crazy for a band like us,” Patch said.
For Hershberg, joining Moose was a musical revival.
“I just joined the band this semester,” Hershberg said. “It’s been a really good way to push myself out of my comfort zone while getting back into music, which is a huge passion of mine.”
Hershberg’s energy and voice have quickly become central to the group’s identity.
“I would say that the roles of [Kang] and I are important since we sing the lyrics and accent the talents of all the other members of the band. It’s really great to work together with people who just love playing their instruments and singing,” Hershberg said.
She is also finding her own personal footing as a performer.
“I would love for music to continue to be part of my life, and I find myself growing comfortable performing every time,” Hershberg said.
The Colgate student community, including sophomore Calise Wanko, who recently watched Moose perform, expressed their admiration for the band.
“Hearing them perform ‘Dreams’ was a beautiful experience. The song being performed accompanied by Hope was especially a delight because it added just the right layer to their version,” Wanko explained. “Student bands are incredibly important on campus because they are an outlet for self-expression.”
This combination of self-expression along with the brotherhood, tradition and shared love of music shapes the identity of Moose. ‘Tach Band’ has kept the music playing in the halls of Theta Chi for generations, and Moose will continue to play on.
