By: Anjelicia Bruton
OKLAHOMA CITY -
Oklahoma City Parks is offering a band camp to local students to learn about what it s like to play in a historically Black college and university-style band.
The Oklahoma City All-Star Band is working to preserve and introduce students to historically Black college and university marching band culture. One of the band directors, Larry Birden Jr., described HBCU bands as show-stopping, upbeat, a band that doesn t compare to most.
“They play top 10, top 40 hits, and they re usually populated with kids from the urban cities. So, it has an urban, hip-hop type of culture style to it. So it s very flashy, it s very entertaining and it s very competitive, as well,” Birden said.