A typical Fort Worth Stock Show Rodeo performance begins with eight members of the TCU Frog Corps singing the National Anthem.
But on Thursday night, a group of about 50 TCU students from the male spirit group performed during the rodeo’s opening ceremonies. That’s because it was TCU Night at the rodeo and a much larger group performed at Will Rogers Memorial Coliseum.
The TCU Frog Corps is conducted by Brad White, a retired director of fine arts for the Birdville Independent School District who currently serves as an adjunct professor at TCU.
On the surface, it would appear the Frog Corps singers could be a group of music majors because they do such a commendable job of singing the National Anthem. But they come from diverse walks of life.
“Frog Corp is made up of 60 or so regular guys from across the campus,” White said. “Only eight or 10 of these guys are music majors. Some are just normal guys who say, ‘Hey, I’ll be in a really cool group to sing in.’
“We rehearse one night a week. So, many of these guys have never had an experience like this. The rodeo people do such a good job with the grand ceremony at the beginning, it’s just such a special moment for everybody. It’s one of those things that they’ll never forget during their college career.”
White said it’s easy for TCU students to become part of Frog Corps. The group averages about 60 to 70 members.
“We don’t even have auditions,” White said. “It’s open to everybody on campus.
“It’s a great job. The guys are really fun. They’re just normal college guys and I get to have them every Tuesday night for two hours.”