A New Era Begins
This week, the Florida A&M music program found it’s man bring the band back to where it belongs.
Interim school president Larry Robinson appointed FAMU alum Dr. Sylvester Young as the new Director of Bands for the school. Mr. Young, a 1969 graduate of Florida A&M, has been at the University of Ohio for the past 25 years, serving as the head man for the “Marching 110” from 1990 to 1996. Dr. Young has also had successful tenures leading two HBCU programs, the more visible one being his stint as Director of Hampton University’s “Marching Force” during their heyday in the early to mid 1980’s. His bands often numbered 220 instrumentalists and were a huge presence in forging the “Battle of the Bay” rivalry with fellow tidewater HBCU Norfolk State University.
There hasn’t been a definitive date set for the Marching 100’s return to the field, but the big question about whose going to lead the program in the wake of the Robert Champion tragedy has been answered. Congratulations to Dr. Young, and Florida A&M University!