The Band Community mourns the loss of Prof. George Edwards, Director of Bands at Prairie View A&M University

The Band World is Shocked and Saddened by the Loss of Professor George Edwards, Director of Bands at Prairie View A&M University.  The late Professor Edwards died as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident.  The Funeral will be Friday June 5 on the Campus of Prairie View.  The viewing will be from 8am to 11am. The funeral service begins at 11am.

Here is more on the late Prof. Edwards

Source: PVAMU.com

A native of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Mr. Edwards completed his undergraduate studies at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee Florida.  As a student he was selected as Student Arranger for the “Marching 100” and also won the “Outstanding Senior Award” for his work with the world renowned band.  Also, some of his arrangements were performed by the “Marching 100” at the “Super Bowl”.  He received his Masters Degree from Michigan State University where   his marching band arrangements were performed at half-time and recorded by the Spartan Marching Band.

    As Director of Bands at PVAMU, Mr. Edwards has built the “Marching Storm” from a 25-piece struggling band into a world-renowned first-class 260-300-piece band of musical athletes.  The Black Foxes (the band’s majorettes) are considered to be the best in the business and are under the direction of Dr. Margaret Sherrod, a former “Miss Prairie View A&M University”.  He was the first of the HBCU marching band directors to incorporate percussion features during half-time performances (1989) as was seen by the audience at the 2004 Honda Battle of the Bands (Atlanta).  The Marching Storm was the only band that received a standing ovation, (3) standing ovations.
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New Orleans Band Director at Arrested for Alleged Sex With Teenager

New Orleans police arrested a band instructor at McDonogh 35 High School Monday evening on charges of having sex with a 14-year-old girl and contributing to the delinquency of other teenage students from the school, officials said.
Patrick Williams, 33, an assistant band instructor, allegedly brought four students to a home in eastern New Orleans on Oct. 24, said New Orleans Police Department Assistant Superintendent Marlon Defillo. There, the students — two 14-year-old girls and boys aged 15 and 17 — engaged in or witnessed various sex acts, Defillo said.

Williams is accused of having sex with one of the girls. He was booked into the Orleans Parish jail with felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, conspiring to commit felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and four counts of indecent behavior with juveniles. Read more

Sonic Boom of the South Holds Auditions Thru June

ALL STUDENTS INTERESTED IN AUDITIONING FOR THE
JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY BAND PROGRAM!

The Jackson State University band program will be holding open auditions for incoming freshmen and transfer students interested in becoming a part of “The Famous Sonic Boom of the South”!

Instrumental auditions will be held Monday through Friday between the hours of 1:00pm and 5:00pm.  Auditions will close June 15, 2009.  Students interested in auditioning for the band program must schedule an appointment with any of the following band staff within at least two days of the desired appointment date:

In addition, please visit  www.sonicboomofthesouth.com for the band audition standards.
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Baton Rouge Area Dance Clinic

If you are dancer  looking to enhance your skills in preparation for any upcoming auditions.  Whether it be HS, College or Pro.  Airee Smith will be holding a one day dance clinic on Saturday, May 23rd, at The North Baton Rouge Community Center from 9am until 4pm.  costs $25.00 to register. Lunch will be provided.

Be Prepared To Make Your Dreams Come True!

for more Info  Contact Airee Smith at airee2005@yahoo.com

Click the image to view a  large scaled flier.

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SU Dancing Doll Tryouts to be Held in June

Source: SU Band Department

All applications for SU Dancing Doll are due no later than June 5, 2009. You may download an application by clicking here

2009 Dancing Doll tryouts will be June 13, 2009 in the Southern University Band Hall. All information (time, attire, etc.) will be forwarded upon receiving your application. For more information, you may refer to the band’s website or contact Lawrence Jackson, Director of Bands, at 225-771-3528 between the hours of 9a.m. - 5p.m.

College musician from Richmond charged in sousaphone thefts

A 22-year-old Richmond man, affiliated with the music program at a Richmond university, is charged with burglarizing a Newport News high school and taking two sousaphones.

Charles Leon Wiley, 22, is connected to the Virginia State University band, police say, and stated that Wiley, in fact, is not a student or employee at the Petersburg school.

According to VSU professor James Holden, Charles Leon Wiley played the sousaphone in the marching band.

Wiley is charged with the attempted burglary at Menchville High School and the sousaphone burglary at Woodside. Read more

Sex Scandal Ousts Head of Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band

The director of the famed Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band stepped down last month after an investigation suggested that he may have had a sexual relationship with a teenage band member. A report [pdf] released yesterday alleges, among other things, that 31-year-old Tyrone Brown went shopping at Victoria’s Secret with the 17-year-old female student (called “Student A” in the report); shared connecting hotel rooms with Student A during a band trip to Bermuda; was frequently seen with Student A “flirting, holding hands, and hugging”; and exchanged some 2,999 text messages with her in one month back in the summer of ‘08—with a cell phone he bought for her without her mother’s knowledge.

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Girl fights off muggers with marching band baton

Don’t mess with a marching band girl, especially one armed with a baton.

QUARTZ HILL, Calif. - A 17-year-old high school marching band student beat up two assailants who tried to mug her as she walked to school in this high desert community about 40 miles north of Los Angeles, sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.

The girl punched one of the men in the nose, kicked the other in the groin and beat both with her large baton before she ran away on Friday morning, officials said. Read more