Band director dies suddenly on CIAA trip
February 27, 2009
Students and faculty at St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh are mourning the sudden death of Director of Bands and Assistant Professor in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts William Woods.Woods, who joined the college in July 2005, was with the college band at the CIAA tournament in Charlotte when he died Friday.
“Mr. Woods made a significant impact on the St. Augustine’s College community and our band program, from the program’s implementation and founding to the supervision of the jazz and pep bands,” President Dianne Boardley Suber said. “He will be greatly missed.”
Officials with the school said Woods’ funeral arrangements will be made soon.
SU’s Inactive Status Self-Imposed by Band Staff
February 16, 2009
Lawrence Jackson, Director of Bands at Southern University, has placed the Marching Band on inactive status for the ’09 Spring Semester. With the exception of accepting one or two Mardi Gras Parades in the spring, the marching band is usually inactive anyway during that semester. Mr. Jackson indicated that this decision was in no way punishment for the incident that happened at the end of the fall semester; however, this move is only another proactive measure to ensure that the policies and procedures of Southern University are never compromised.
“Every section of the band will be examined so that the safety of the band students, integrity and great legacy of the Human Jukebox is NEVER in question” stated Jackson.
“For all our concerned fans, YES we still have a marching band!!” exclaimed Jackson as he noted that and part of the marching band will be traveling to Los Angeles, California on February 20, 2009, for a performance on ESPN the next day. Be looking for bigger and better things from the Human Jukebox Marching Band in the fall of 2009.
“THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!” Jackson declared.
Southwest Dekalb Students’ online video disappears after disses
February 15, 2009
Source The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
First a movie, then reality TV. Next, a raunchy rap video on YouTube that made clear several Southwest DeKalb High School students don’t think “MARTA is Smarta.”
The public transit system got the diss —- along with female riders —- in a video that included several drum majors from the SWD marching band. The video’s title: “B—— You Ride the MARTA Bus.”
Officials with the DeKalb County school system would not comment, saying they had not been aware of the video. The video —- which appeared to have been put up in January —- got taken down last week, a day after The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote about it in an on-line story posted on ajc.com.
The video featured young men dancing and rapping about how cool they are —- too cool to let women who use MARTA into their car. Read more
Pine Bluff High School Assistant Director Dies.
February 15, 2009
Cornelius Pickens
Affectionately called “Tank” by those who knew and loved him, Cornelius Pickens died Monday at his parents’ home at Memphis. He was 34.
A native of Memphis, Pickens joined the staff of Pine Bluff High School as assistant band director in August 2000. After volunteering 1,138 hours with the band during the 1999-2000 school year, he was honored as the Pine Bluff School District VIPS Volunteer Person of the Year.
Carl Lott, director of bands at Pine Bluff High School, said Pickens’ presence in McFadden Gym and Jordan Stadium will indeed be missed.
Read more
Texas Southern’s Motion of the Ocean Auditions
February 11, 2009
DO YOU THINK YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BECOME ONE OF US?
TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY’S
OCEAN OF SOUL MARCHING BAND PRESENTS…
“Motion of the Ocean”
2009-2010 DANCELINE AUDITIONS
Texas Southern Univ. Hosts Concert Band Events
February 10, 2009
On March 7th, 2009 - Texas Southern University will be hosting it Concert Band Clinic!
On Friday March 27th - we will have our Texas Southern University Concert Band Festival
Both events open to High School and Middle School Students!!!!!!
If you need more information, feel free to contact Mr. Clarence K. Gibson via email at gibsonck@tsu.edu
Mr. Clarence K. Gibson
Instructor of Music
Assistant Director of Bands
Texas Southern University
Durham Band Director Accused Of Having Sex With Students
February 9, 2009
Source | WRAL.com
by Erin Hartness
The former band director at Southern High School was charged Monday with having sex with students, police said.
Jamal Butler, 30, of Calibre Park Drive in Durham, surrendered to police Monday and was charged with two counts of sexual activity between school personnel and a student. Police said the charges involved alleged relationships between last July and Jan. 8 with two girls at the school, both of whom were 16 or older.
Butler resigned his position at Southern High, effective Jan. 29, said Michael Yarborough, spokesman for Durham Public Schools. Read more
Dollarway High Hosts Battle Of The Bands
February 7, 2009
The 1st Ever 3-way Band Showdown Coming To Pine Bluff Arkansas! No Judges, No Trophies, Just BRAGGING RIGHTS.
The Zebra’s of Pine Bluff High take on the Cardinal’s of Dollarway High AND also the Golden Wildcat’s of Melrose High of Memphis!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
6:00pm - 10:00pm at the Dollarway Gym
4900 Dollarway Road
Pine Bluff, AR
Krewe of Houmas marching band competition returns
February 6, 2009
Officials with the Krewe of Houmas say its marching band competition returns in the krewe’s 63rd parade.
This is the krewe’s third time it holds the contest. Approximately 11 bands will compete during the parade scheduled for 11 a.m. Feb. 24 along the traditional west-Houma route.
Krewe officials judges will be secretly scattered throughout the route to judge the bands. Officials say the contest was a way to get the bands to perform more for the crowd along the parade route than for just the reviewing stand. Read more
