Bowie State Marching Band Puts Stamp on Capitol Battle of the Bands

BSU's Symphony of Soul Showed Out Against Rival Bands

MEDIA CONTACT: Elijah Taylor, [email protected]

(BOWIE, Md.) - The first-ever Capitol Battle of the Bands brought a powerful display of music, culture, and community to the DMV area, where marching bands from several HBCUs, including Bowie State University, came together for an unforgettable experience.

BSU's Symphony of Soul Marching Band, under the direction of Billy Bennett, was among the standout performers. Bennet's pride in his students and his school was evident as he reflected on the chance to show the world what Bowie State's band program is all about.

"This event was an opportunity to bring something to this area that hasn't presented itself in about 20 years," he said. "A phenomenal opportunity for us to represent Prince George's County and Bowie State University in a showcase with some of the best HBCU bands in the region. Our theme was to 'Show Up and Show Out.'" (View BSU Performance)

The event marked a significant moment, providing a rare opportunity for these bands to showcase their talent. It was a celebration of not just music, but also the pride and tradition deeply rooted in these institutions.

Bennet said the SOS Band took the field with discipline and focus exuding confidence and a bold attitude in the execution of drills and crowd-pleasing musicality like their rendition of "Good Good" by Usher that brought the crowd to their feet.

Beyond the competition, Bennett emphasized the importance of music in shaping students' lives. At Bowie State, he said the band draws students from a range of academic disciplines, providing a snapshot of the university's diverse student body.

"Music is extremely important in education," he explained. "It enables individuals to expand their creative process and helps build well-rounded students."

The camaraderie between schools was also on full display with a "Battle of the DMV" showcase featuring Bowie State and Howard University.

"We had fun with Howard," Bennett shared, highlighting the friendly rivalry between the two schools. He expressed his desire for future collaborations, dreaming of a football game where the bands could share the field once again, as they did many years ago.

Bennett thanked Bowie State's alumni attending the event for their ongoing support, looking ahead to future performances at home games and parades.

Other schools participating in the Capitol Battle of the Bands were Virginia State University, Winston Salem University, Elizabeth City University and North Carolina A&T University. (View Full Show)

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About Bowie State University
Founded in 1865, Bowie State University is the first Historically Black College/University (HBCU) in Maryland and one of the ten oldest in the country. As a leading institution of higher learning, Bowie State offers more than 65 bachelor's, master's, doctoral and certificate programs across arts and sciences, technology, business, education, healthcare and related disciplines. The university provides high-quality and affordable educational opportunities in a supportive environment that empowers students to think critically, make new discoveries, value differences and emerge as leaders in a highly technical, rapidly changing global society. For more information about Bowie State University, visit bowiestate.edu.

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