There were a lot of festivities during MLK day this year and one of them was the MLK battle of the bands in Oklahoma City. People all around of Oklahoma including current Langston University Students and alumni came together to celebrate Dr. King, as well as the musical talent that young kids have when some of the best high school and middle school bands battled it out on January 19th of this year.
Frederick A. Douglass High School invited 5 other bands for their annual battle of the bands event. The bands were Tulsa Mclain High School, Y.A.C.A Warriors Marching Band, Jhon Marshall, F.D. Moon middle school, Millwood Marching Band.
Douglass Band Dancers
These are some of the school’s some of the current Langston students are now alumni for. There were a lot of Langston alumni there too, including the judges being Langston alumni. Some of them were a part of music greek organizations like Kappa Kappa Psi (National Honorary Band Fraternity). As well as Tau Beta Sigma (National Honorary Band Sorority).
Kappa Kappa Psi (National Honorary Band Fraternity)
One of the students that performed at this events name is Keyshawn Tolland and he is the Drum Major for Tulsa Mclain High School. Tolland said that the band was ready to have fun and battle as they were preparing to go against John Marshall. “I’ve heard from a lot of people that the band was bigger years ago and people tend to use that against us. Regardless we are still going to put on a show.”
This is also Tolland’s final year as drum major and that made him even more excited for the battle but he also talks about what’s hard about being a drum major. “The hardest thing is being a leader. You have to lead the band and let the band know you want them to be great.” After Mclain battled John Marshall Tolland ended up winning best Drum Major for the event.
Keyshawn Tolland Mclain Drum Major
The middle school bands F.D. Moon and The Warriors battled it out as they were entertaining the crowd by playing instruments and songs at their young age. The crowd was in awe at how energetic they were when it came to playing their horns. However, it didn’t compare to the excitement people had when it came to seeing Douglass and Millwood band go at it for the main event of the night.
F.D. Moon and The Warriors Band
The students for both schools were excited about the battle too. Selia Diller is a dancer at Millwood and she has been going to school there since Pre-K. Not only that but she is the first middle schooler to ever make the high school dance team at Millwood. She thinks the best thing about being a dancer is the relationship she has built with the dance team. “I’ve definitely watched some people come and go and I have built great bonds to where I know I can count on them.”
Diller enjoys the culture of the Millwood Marching band and she talked about how much it means to her. “With us being in the black community it really gives off HBCU.” Diller also makes I known that dancing is not easy. “The toll is takes on your body is a lot. I got an injury before and I had to keep going so I did’t let my team down. People look at it and thinks it’s easy and it’s not. I still go out there and give it my all regardless of what happens.”
Diller’s goal after Millwood is to get on a college dance team either at Langston University with the Golden Felines or The Golden Girls at Alcorn State University.
Douglass, Millwood, and Tulsa Mclain Dance teams
Lu Moo is a freshman finance major at Langston University who is a part of the Langston University Marching Pride Band and is also a 4.0 GPA graduate of Douglass high school and he said he loved the battle. “It was nice seeing my old band again and Millwood. I really enjoyed it and I love giving back to the place where it all started.”
Moo also talks about how he got into band when he was at Douglass. “I was just the kid who played video games then I seen the band and it changed everything for me.” Mo then talks about how band taught him discipline and being a part of something bigger than yourself. “It’s a lot about practicing and studying and you slowly start to realize that how big the program is.” Moo wants to continue giving back to Douglass even as a Langston student.
Lu Moo
Millwood ended up winning the battle against Douglass by one point when the judges scores were calculated for the second time. The event brought a lot of the community in Oklahoma together and it is exciting to see the future of all of the Marching Bands.
Millwood Band Dancers
Pictures were taken by Arrin Jamal From Langston University https://www.instagram.com/takenbyjamal
Anthony Henry
POLLING DIRECTOR AND STAFF WRITER
Anthony Henry is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Oklahoma City and he currently attends Langston University. He likes to do profile stories and cover special events in his community and on campus. He believes his work is important because of the First Amendment. Journalism is the only profession mentioned in the First Amendment and Anthony believes in the rights of the people and is willing to tell their stories. Anthony enjoys music so much; he listens to R&B, Jazz, and Hip-Hop. He also enjoys spending time with friends. Anthony can be reached at anthony.c.henry@langston.edu as well as @the.realtony3 on Instagram.
