BmoreArt

The theater was dark except for the three figures on stage illuminated by spotlights. Each had a whistle around their neck and held a long staff as they danced in place. Then the curtains drew back, revealing rows of musicians across the stage. “Everyone, stand still to set the lights,” a voice boomed from overhead. It was hard to make out all the instruments in the shadows, but the tubas stood out, flanking both ends of the band. 

It was impressively quiet while the students waited for their next cue. But as the minutes ticked by, different parts of the stage broke out into spontaneous sound and student chatter. Then the curtains closed, the lights dimmed, and the curtains pulled back again. The band began to run through the top of the set, starting with a crescendo of sound as they stoically played “Planet Krypton”, a Superman theme song arranged by Reid. Soon after, they burst into an upbeat number, marching in place with high knees while moving their upper bodies side to side along with their instruments. 

On a break, I learned that the three students under the spotlight were Dante Travis, Justin Smith, and Tory James, the band’s drum majors. Contrary to the name, drum majors are not required to be percussionists, as they can come from any section of the band. Shawn McNeill, a Graduate Assistant for the band program, elaborated that “the drum major is the leader of a marching band, serving as a conductor, communicator, and representative of the ensemble. They set the tempo, conduct performances, and ensure alignment between sections during rehearsals and shows.” 

It takes one to know one. McNeill served as a drum major for the Marching Bronco eXpress at Fayetteville State University. For part of that time, he studied and performed under the leadership of Reid, that is, until Reid became appointed as Director of Bands at MSU in 2022.

After graduating this past spring, McNeill reached out to Reid to see if he needed help. “He’s the reason I’m here,” McNeill shared. Besides providing assistance to Reid, McNeill is continuing his studies with the Masters of Music program at MSU. By being behind the scenes during the rehearsal, I saw McNeill’s effective leadership in action as he engaged with students and staff. 

Before heading back into the theater, McNeill introduced me to a few members of the marching band. Terrell Martin is a senior majoring in Social Work, and besides being a tuba player, he’s also the president of the Eta Gamma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. 

“Being in the band is a great opportunity for students to meet other students that you may not see on a daily basis,” Martin said. “I’ve been in the band for a while so I’ve experienced changes in a positive way.”

“You can watch yourself grow along with your peers,” Keneisha Buckley added. Buckley is a junior majoring in Business Administration and plays the cymbals. As an out-of-state student, she appreciates bonding with her section and considers the marching band family. “Being in the band teaches you to hone in on your craft. You’re here to play music and you hear good music every day. That has to be the best thing.” 

“The band has made my freshman year very enjoyable,” alto saxophonist Aaliyah François chimed in. One can imagine that her first semester as a political science major was intensified by the recent election cycle. “Coming to band, all that stress just goes away and I focus on music.” 

“One thing we always say is that we’re highly motivated and deeply dedicated,” Martin stated.

“It takes a lot of dedication to be a part of the Magnificent Marching Machine,” Buckley emphasized. “There are days when practice runs a bit longer and you’re stressed out because of schoolwork. It’s finals week, but we have a show. It takes dedication to be here, but we all love what we do. It’s kind of embedded in us.”

“Even watching the band fills you with energy,” François exclaimed. 

With around 150 members, M3 is a powerful force uniquely composed of every major on campus. Reid referred to the marching band members as “triple A” students, being that they are academic, artistic, and athletic. Not only do students receive credit for being a part of a band, but some students also qualify for scholarships. Another perk of being in the band is traveling for performances. In 2019, M3 was a part of the Macy’s Day Parade. In 2023, they performed on the South Lawn for the White House’s Juneteenth Concert. 

This past summer, M3 was a part of the 80th-anniversary commemoration of D-Day in Normandy, France. They were recognized as the first marching band from an HBCU (Historically Black College or University) to perform in the international memorial. 

On top of that, they had a busy fall between football games and recruitment showcases at local schools. Then the band received exciting news in October; they were selected by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association to perform in the 137th Rose Parade in 2026. Nicknamed “The Granddaddy of Them All” by broadcaster Keith Jackson, the Rose Parade is the oldest college football bowl game. 

Although the Rose Parade is about a year away and it’s the end of marching band season, the band has a lot of work to do to prepare for this huge moment, especially with raising money for traveling to Pasadena, California. Their annual show on December 7th at the Gilliam Auditorium not only celebrated their previous accomplishments but served as a fundraising opportunity through ticket sales. 

As the emcee of the evening, Dr. Jerome Queen assured that there would be a little something for everyone within the programming and went over the housekeeping rules, encouraging everyone to have “fun, make noise, and enjoy yourself”. The group played over two dozen songs that were mostly arranged by Reid, Queen, and McNeill. Many of them were familiar songs like “Champagne” by Neyo, Quavo’s “Mink”, and “Bad Girl” by Rihanna. There was also a big nod to Usher’s Superbowl halftime performance with a dedicated block of songs like “Confessions”, “Good Kisser”, “Caught up”, and “U Remind Me”.

The band started out all together and then moved off stage, allowing time to highlight different parts of M3, from the Foxxy Dancers with their chair dance routine to a staged drum-off between members of the drumline. One of the dreamiest moments was when the band took over the auditorium so various sections could solo in the traveling spotlight. The saxophones and the trombones were across from each other in the balcony, the clarinets were to the right of the theater, the euphoniums were standing in the center aisle, the piccolos were to the left, and the tubas were on stage. Later on, the whole band started running through the aisles with their instruments and got back onstage for a sensational blowout song.

After a long week of rehearsing and performing for the Morgan State community, the marching band students wrapped up their finals to take a well-deserved winter break. As M3 heads into January, they’ll be looking ahead by a whole calendar year for their debut performance at the 2026 Rose Bowl Parade. If you’d like to contribute towards their fundraising endeavors, please support the band through the MSU Foundation here. Make sure you select “MSU Band” in the menu options. 

In the words of McNeill, “all of us, when we come together, fuel the machine.”