PORTSMOUTH — It’s scarlet and gray night when the Ohio State University Marching Band returns to Shawnee State University’s Vern Riffe Center for the Arts main stage at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Known throughout the United States as TBDBITL, audiences applaud the lively performances of the band and the strutting drum major. The OSU brass band has gained, and continues to enjoy, national and international acclaim.

Jonathan Waters, interim director of the band, was named director this month after director Jon Woods retired. He has been involved with the marching band for many years and as a member of the band from 1995-99. He served as graduate assistant for the band for the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

Waters received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Ohio State in 2000. After receiving two master’s degrees in music education and conducting from Ohio State, he was named assistant director of the band. Waters has written band shows for the Marching Band, Spring Athletic Band, and a number of high schools throughout the state.

The OSU Marching Band has been honored around the country for its excellence, including the Sudler Trophy award as the outstanding college band in the country. Buckeye faithful come from near and far to see and hear “The Pride of the Buckeyes.”

Each fall, thousands thrill to the strains in the Horseshoe, in St. John Arena, and in stadiums and concert halls around the state and country. The band’s performances have been cheered at many bowl games, including the Citrus Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl and the Rose Bowl.

The band also performs frequently for NFL contests in Cleveland and Cincinnati. Additionally, each summer the band joins in concert the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at their summer “Picnic with the Pops” finale.

The band’s performance is part of the Southern Ohio Performing Arts Association and Shawnee State University Performing Artists Series.

For ticket availability, call the McKinley Box Office at (740) 351-3600, e-mail boxoffice@sopaa.org or visit ticketmaster.com. Tickets are from $24 to $34. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.