HBCUs Gears Up for the Battle of the Bands – Jan. 29th in ATL

Entry #43, January 9, 2011

Article from: The T and D

South Carolina State University‘s Marching 101 has joined the ranks of the top eight Historically Black College and University marching bands selected to perform at the 2011 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.

Other bands participating in the showcase, set for Jan. 29 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, are Virginia State University‘s Marching Trojan Explosion, Albany State University‘s Marching Rams Show Band, Jackson State University’s Sonic Boom of the South, Bethune Cookman University‘s Marching Wildcats, Clark Atlanta University‘s Mighty Marching Panthers, Winston-Salem State University‘s Red Sea of Sound and Tennessee State University’s Aristocrat of Bands.

Each band will have the opportunity to perform for 12 minutes and showcase their musical skills, dancing talents and creativity.

Marking its ninth year, the Honda Battle of the Bands is the only national scholarship program that highlights music education as an important facet of HBCU heritage and culture. As one of the eight winning band programs chosen to participate in this year’s Invitational Showcase, S.C. State will be awarded $20,000 by American Honda for its music program, in addition to the $1,000 grant they received for participation in the pre-qualifying Celebration Tour.

“The Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase is about more than what happens on the field at the Georgia Dome on show day,” said Marc Burt, senior manager of the Office of Inclusion and Diversity for American Honda. “This event is about celebrating the abilities and brilliance of young people coming out of the nation’s black colleges.

“The discipline and drive these student-musicians exhibit both on and off the field are phenomenal, and Honda is pleased to be able to contribute to the music education programs that help foster the artistic and academic growth of these students.”

The eight HBOB Invitational Showcase bands were selected from a group of 45 bands from all regions of the United States. HBCU presidents, band directors and fans voted for their favorite bands based on showmanship, musicianship and fan interaction.

Group and individual tickets are $10 to $12 and are available by visiting HondaBattleoftheBands.com, through Ticketmaster or via the Georgia Dome box office. For more information, visit HondaBattleoftheBands.com.