FAMU band to celebrate the birthday of ‘The Maestro’
August 25, 2009
Today is the birthday of the man who created the group Tallahasseans know as The Marching 100 – Florida A&M University’s marching band.
William P. Foster, FAMU’s band director who popularized marching techniques high school and colleges currently use, turns 90 years old today. Foster served as director of bands for about 52 years. He retired in 1998.
Before he retired, he served as president of the American Bandmasters Association and was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, the Florida Music Educators Association Hall of Fame and other organizations.
The Marching 100 family will privately celebrate with Foster this evening on campus.
African-American bands bring songs, message to stadium.
August 23, 2009
The Lancaster chapter of Concerned Black Men Inc. brought the marching bands of five historically black colleges and universities to the ballpark Saturday, to promote the benefits and possibilities of higher education.
An estimated 2,250 people turned out to watch the marching bands put on a crowd-pleasing show of exuberant high stepping, precision marching and complex choreography. Some of the bands performed tributes to the late Michael Jackson, with dance routines inspired by “Thriller,” and music from the King of Pop.
The marching bands included two from Maryland: Bowie State University’s Symphony of Soul, and Morgan State University’s Magnificent Marching Machine.
East St. John High School band may get new uniforms
August 20, 2009
by Sandra Barbier, The Times-Picayune
Thursday August 20, 2009, 6:00 AM
Rusty Costanza/The Times-PicayuneSophomores Alec Cook, left, Jadelyn Byson and Kyrin Cain practice Wednesday at East St. John High School in Reserve. The band’s uniforms hang in the background. The St. John School Board tonight will consider a request to buy new uniforms.
Joseph Torregano, band director at East St. John High School, holds a pair of uniform pants that are ripped. Torregano said the district should change its 10-year replacement plan for uniforms. ‘The pants wear out.’
The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board will consider a request to buy new band uniforms for East St. John High School tonight.
The board will meet at 6 p.m. at the Godchaux Grammar School cafeteria, 1600 River Road, in Reserve.
Band director Joseph Torregano said the district has a 10-year replacement plan for band uniforms, "but around the seventh year, you need to think about new uniforms. The pants wear out."
Torregano’s Wildcat band went to Washington, D.C., this summer to participate in Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday celebration. He said the 10-year rule, a holdover from when the district had two high school and two junior high school bands, should be changed.
School Board Vice President Patrick Sanders said the request will be reviewed first by the board’s Finance Committee, which will meet at 4:30 p.m. at the board office building.
Sanders said the request might include uniforms for the West St. John High School Band, too, although the school this year will have only a part-time band director.
Too often, the music dies in city schools
August 16, 2009
BY JEFF GERRITT
Detroit Free Press
Detroit has contributed much to music and jazz — arguably America’s greatest art form. Unfortunately, the decline of music education in Detroit Public Schools means the city will produce fewer artists like trumpeter Donald Byrd, bassist Paul Chambers, violinist Regina Carter and bassist Ron Carter.
Of the city’s 44 high schools, only eight now offer instrumental programs, and the picture is equally bleak for middle and elementary schools. It’s ironic and sad that Byrd, Chambers, Regina Carter and Ron Carter all attended Cass Technical High School, a school that no longer has a jazz band.
Benjamin Pruitt, a supervisor in the fine arts office of Detroit Public Schools, said the district provided a national model for music education in the 1960s and 1970s. Every school had a music program. All high schools and most middle schools had bands and orchestras. Some middle school bands, Pruitt said, were playing high-school level music. A few students went straight from Cass Tech to performing with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Drummer offers band aid to New Orleans kids
August 11, 2009
Video Content | CNN Heroes
HBCU bands march to boost higher education
August 9, 2009
By MANDY STOLTZFUS, Lancaster Online
Six African-American bands have been invited to participate in the event which is designed to promote higher education.
"We needed something big to motivate our youth," said Jason Thompson, event organizer and director of the local CBM chapter. "Our youth today have a great love for music."
Lusher High Denies Access To Fortier Alumni
August 8, 2009
New Orleans, LA - We are all excited that the Fortier music program is back with the support of some of the old high school alumni. But what happened today Saturday August 7, 2009 was a shock and total disrespect. Artist Bruce Davenport is filming a documentary on the marching band culture in New Orleans in efforts to show how and why the music programs are important in New Orleans and how it plays an important part in the city’s culture. Today an interview was being conducted on Mr. Perry Vickers, Jr. and Mr. Sean Thomas, Sr. who are alumni, and are the directors of the new Alcee Fortier Community Music Program when Lusher Administration Staff came and interrupted the interview and told the crew that they could not film the school.
It was also reported that class of 88 and 89 tried to contact Lusher to do a walk and tour of the school for their class reunion. Their attempts were unsuccessful and when they finally made contact they were denied access but the class of 57 and 61 were allowed to do a walk of the school when they were reunited.
To keep up with the latest news and information on the program and the fight to keep the Tarpons alive please visit www.tarponband.com and click on our blog.
