Courtesy of Virginia State University
The Virginia State University Trojan Explosion Marching Band will travel to Washington, DC, on Monday to perform at the White House. The VSU band will provide the musical backdrop as guests arrive for the annual White House Black History Month Program. The Band will provide a medley of unmatched and unique sounds derived from various musical genres and songs made famous through Black culture.
This is the first time a university band has been chosen to perform for this event. The honor is traditionally reserved for the marine corps band. “We are honored and beyond delighted to have members of our VSU Trojan Explosion Marching Band perform at the White House for this event,” said VSU President Dr. Makola M. Abdullah. “We believe that our band is the best in the country, and we are excited to showcase the talents of our scholar students on this prestigious platform.”
Earlier this week, the VSU Trojan Explosion Marching Band performed live on national television on the NBC Today Show. In addition, they performed in Alabama last week after receiving a coveted invitation to participate in the Honda Battle of the Bands. The band consists of 120 members and is under the direction of Mr. Taylor Whitehead, a former Trojan Explosion member. “The White House performance will accommodate only a select few of our band members, but we are exceedingly proud of our entire unit,” said Mr. Whitehead. “These young scholars show unparalleled dedication to their craft while maintaining commendable academic acumen. These accolades reflect that hard work and dedication, and I am exceedingly proud to lead such a group of talented scholars.”
This is the second time that the VSU Band has been invited to perform at the White House. In 2010, the VSU Drumline made history when they were invited by President Barack Obama to perform for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
