Samuel Rowley

The goal of this project is to provide a historical overview of the significant contributions of HBCU band programs and their impact on the North American wind band phenomenon. It addresses the oversight by past and current band conductors and music researchers who have often neglected HBCU achievements while highlighting those of other institutions. The study outlines the contributions of several notable Black wind band conductors, emphasizing their marching and symphonic ensembles' roles in advancing the wind band movement. By examining HBCU programs such as Florida A&M University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Tennessee State University, and many others, this work aims to fill existing gaps in the genre of wind band research regarding the impact of HBCU programs.