ORANGEBURG, S.C. — This summer, South Carolina State University's campus became a meeting ground for musicians from all across the country.
52 musicians from as far as Chicago and Georgia took part in the school's Marching 101 Band camp.
Incoming freshman Christine Clark is one of them.
“Music is such a big part of my life, and I’m excited to keep going forward," Clark said. A trumpet player, Clark plans to attending the university in the fall.
During her time at the camp, Clark learned about the fundamentals of a marching band. This includes learning how to play an instrument while marching and different playing techniques.
The camp brought together different musicians who play brass and woodwind instruments, as well as the drumline, drum majors, and dancers. The band camp was led by Assistant Director and Chief Arranger Albert Shuler.
“In the HBCU world, marching band has become that tool that draws people to HBCUs," Shuler said.
Shuler said this is the first year the band camp has been held at the school since 2019 due to the pandemic. For many students, it served as an introduction to the band itself.
“Students are knocking the door down to want to come and be a part of our music program here," Shuler said.
With this year's camp now over, Shuler said he looks forward to seeing what next summer will bring for the program.
“As I always tell my students, that you practice like champions. If you wanna be a champion, you have to put in the hard work, be intrinsically motivated, and set yourself up for success," Shuler said.