Savannah State University Welcomes Military Bands to Campus, Offering Free Concert

Courtesy of Savannah State University

Savannah State University’s Visual and Performing Arts Program will welcome two bands, the 3rd Infantry Division Band and the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps, to perform in concert for community members and students studying music on Wednesday, Nov. 9. Free and open to the public, the event will be held from 4 – 6 p.m. at T.A. Wright Stadium. Masterclasses will be provided to students followed by a question and answer session.

“This is a great opportunity for our students to see and learn from professional instrumentalists whose level of perfection is unrivaled,” said Gabriel L. Woods, Ph.D., Savannah State University assistant professor of Music Education. “We are excited to help bridge the gap between HBCUs and military bands, to build these relationships and expose our students to some of the best trained and disciplined musicians in the world.”

A 40-member unit with a variety of performing groups and ensembles including solo instrumentalists, the 3rd Infantry Division Band resides at Fort Stewart, Ga., and is known as the “Best Band in the Land.” The band also travels throughout the southeast U.S. as a goodwill ambassador for the U.S. government and has performed in Africa, France, Italy, Central Europe, Korea, Iraq and Afghanistan.In addition, the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps is the only unit of its kind in the armed forces, and is part of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard). The Fife and Drum Corps is stationed at Fort Myer, VA. This unit performs in American Revolution uniforms patterned after those worn by the musicians of Gen. George Washington’s Continental Army, consisting of black tricorn hats, white wigs, waistcoats, colonial coveralls, and distinct red regimental coats.

This is the first time either military band has performed at Savannah State University.