The Marching Hundred (Howard University)

The Marching Hundred (Howard University)
Name	The Marching Hundred
School	Howard University
Location	Washington, D.C.
Conference	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
Founded	1928
Director	Michael Jones
Members	Approximately 100
Fight song	"Fight Song"

The Marching Hundred (Howard University) is the marching band of Howard University, a historically Black university in Washington, D.C.. The ensemble performs at Howard Bison football games, homecoming events, and national appearances, blending marching band traditions with contemporary jazz, funk, and hip hop influences. Renowned for precision, showmanship, and musicality, the group has appeared at major ceremonies tied to presidential inaugurations, Super Bowl halftimes, and national parades.

History

The ensemble traces roots to student musical organizations at Howard University in the 1920s, evolving alongside institutions such as Tuskegee University and Hampton University which shaped historically Black college band traditions. During the Great Depression, student musicians at Howard University performed in campus ensembles and collaborated with figures linked to the Harlem Renaissance, including musicians associated with Duke Ellington and venues like the Cotton Club. The band gained national recognition in the mid-20th century through appearances at events connected to the Civil Rights Movement, including performances near the Lincoln Memorial and at gatherings involving leaders from NAACP and National Urban League. Into the late 20th century, performances at celebrations tied to Martin Luther King Jr. anniversaries and presidential inaugurations increased the band's profile, while directors fostered ties with military-style traditions exemplified by units such as the United States Marine Band and collegiate peers like the Florida A&M University Marching 100.

Organization and Membership

Membership is drawn from Howard University undergraduate and graduate students across schools such as the School of Business, College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communications, and School of Divinity. Instrumentation follows a typical collegiate marching band roster including trumpet, trombone, saxophone, clarinet, flute, snare drum, bass drum, and sousaphone sections, augmented by auxiliary units akin to those at University of Southern California and University of Michigan. Leadership comprises a director, assistant directors, student drum majors, and section leaders, modeled after structures used by ensembles like the Ohio State University Marching Band and the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band. Auditions are competitive and occur during orientation and pre-season rehearsals; scholarship programs mirror initiatives at Berklee College of Music and Juilliard School for performance aid.

Musical Style and Repertoire

The ensemble's repertoire spans arrangements of traditional march selections, the storied fight song of Howard Bison football, contemporary arrangements of jazz standards associated with Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald, and modern popular music from artists such as Prince, Beyoncé, Michael Jackson, and Bruno Mars. The band synthesizes influences from soul music, R&B, funk, and hip hop through transcriptions similar to those used by the Grammy Awards house bands and Broadway pit orchestras. Arrangers and composers associated with the band have referenced works by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, John Coltrane, and Miles Davis while borrowing voicings and harmonies used in big band literature and contemporary charting techniques prevalent at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

Notable Performances and Tours

The ensemble has performed at presidential inaugurations, including events in Washington, D.C. and parades such as the Rose Parade and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The band has appeared at major sporting events including Super Bowl halftime festivities, NBA All-Star Game showcases, and bowl games affiliated with the College Football Playoff era. Touring engagements have included performances in cities like New York City, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, London, and Tokyo; the band has shared stages with artists and organizations including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Oprah Winfrey, and ensembles at venues like the Lincoln Center and Madison Square Garden.

Traditions and Visual Presentation

Adopting visual traditions parallel to ensembles such as the Florida A&M University Marching 100 and the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band, the group emphasizes high-stepping drill, precise corps-style movement, and visually striking formations seen in parades and halftime shows at venues like FedExField and Yankee Stadium. Costuming features regalia in Howard University colors with influences from historically significant ensembles and ceremonial uniforms used by the United States Cadet Corps and municipal marching organizations. Signature traditions include a pregame entrance, a rendition of the alma mater, choreographed dance segments reminiscent of routines popularized by artists like Michael Jackson and James Brown, and a competitive homecoming pageantry aligned with Battle of the Bands culture.

Alumni and Notable Members

Alumni of the band have progressed into careers with professional orchestras, university faculties, and popular music industries, following paths similar to graduates from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and Eastman School of Music. Notable former members have collaborated with artists such as Quincy Jones, Teddy Riley, and Wynton Marsalis, and have taken leadership roles in ensembles at institutions including Howard University itself, Howard University Hospital community programs, and cultural organizations like the Smithsonian Institution. Others have pursued careers in film scoring, television house bands, and music education in public schools and conservatories across the United States, including positions at New York University, University of Maryland, and Georgetown University.

Category:Howard University Category:College marching bands in the United States