MIAMI – South Florida’s only HBCU is making some noise around the world.
They created the ROAR Marching Band four years ago and they’ve already been crowned ESPN’s Band of the Year in 2023.
The band director said it’s an honor represent HBCU culture at Miami’s annual MLK Day Parade.
While HBCU’s and bands go together like peanut butter and jelly, up until four years ago, that’s exactly what was missing from Florida Memorial University.
But even though they’re just 4 years old, they can teach old dogs some new tricks.
They chant in unison, they play in perfect harmony and they move slicker than your average band.
“The roar of the lion, which is the most dominating sound in the entire jungle, and when the lion roars, all of the other animals tremble in fear,” band director Dr. Richard Beckford said. “The sound that we produce, the sound that got us the number one band HBCU Division 2, that sound is definitely synonymous with the roar of the lion.”
The band was created four years ago during the pandemic, but they wasted no time making a name for themselves.
“I didn’t think we would grow so fast in four years, but to be the band of the year was amazing,” tuba section leader Rashaud Marcelin said.
They started out with only 48 members, which they refer to as the first 48, and the band has since grown to more than 100 members.
“I’ve been in the band for three years now. To be a part of it and see it go from where it was to where it is now -- just knowing God isn’t going to stop this trajectory, he’s going to take us to bigger and better places,” Hannah Prieto said.
One of their biggest challenges was proving the doubters wrong.
“I think we’ve made some believers out of some people now. We’re looking forward to the exponential growth,” Beckford said.
But they did that and more. And now they’re planning to continue growing right here at home, bringing black excellence center field.
Local 10′s Alexis Frazier got to watch them practice before their MLK Day Parade show, and being that she was a former Majorette at FAMU, she took it back to her roots with the Lionessence dancers, who reminded her how it’s done.
“Being able to represent South Florida’s only HBCU and to have the HBCU presence in the MLK Parade in our own city is a great honor,” Beckford said.
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