Biggest Band Season In Years?

Image taken by Torrey Purvey II

The Langston University Marching Pride is ready and set for the new season. They already performed at the Pepsi Houston National, Battle Of The Bands, the Labor Day Classic, and the Grambling State University football game. Now they are getting ready to perform at the Chiefs vs Eagles football game.

I recorded exclusive interviews and snippets of the band’s trip during the Pepsi Houston National. Feel free to check it out below by using the link. All pictures were taken at the Battle of the Bands.

The band students seemed excited to be traveling to Houston and participating in major performances this year. One of the students’ names is Jaden Goines; he is a freshman, plays the trombone, and is majoring in animal science.

He states that the Houston band trip was a different experience and also says, “It was kinda like a movie in a way.” Used to doing band performances at a small scale, this was his first time doing it at a bigger scale. Goines mentioned some of the positive things the band has done for him.

He stated, “It has given me a home, some new friends, and different experiences.” He also said that the trip allowed him to connect more with the other trombone players in the band.

Kevin Hawkins is another band member and student leader. As a baritone player, he has been in the band for three years and is a management information systems major.

Hawkins stated that he was really excited for the Grambling football game and the Labor Day classic performance, which are two performances that already happened this past weekend. The excitement on his face when he talked about it explained it all.

Hawkins says that his mindset of wanting the band to be better is what drove him to want to be a student leader in the band for the baritone section. “I feel that with my leadership, I can achieve the vision of the band directors and inspire our freshmen to do great things.”

The Head Band Director, Dr. Mark Gordon, said that, ” The Houston trip went really well, the students worked really hard, and what we teach them on the field they also take to the classroom.” He explains how proud he is that the students are working hard and pushing through to perform the best they can. When asked how he felt about the growth of the band, he paused to think about how much the band has positively grown.

Gordon stated, “When I came here, the band had roughly about forty-five students; now we have roughly about three hundred students.” He went on to list all the things the band does besides performing. Those things are the concert band, jazz band, wind ensemble, brass ensemble, and percussion ensemble.

Gordon also said that he and the staff have tried to help band students with medical expenses if they get sick, and help work with students who do not have housing. He feels it is important that the students have a home. Overall, he is excited and happy about the progress of the band.

Including the Kansas City Chiefs, Mardi Gras, and Langston home games, and other events such as homecoming. This band season will be one of the biggest in years, based on the performances coming up.