Marching Storm gets ready for the big battle

The 12th annual Honda Battle of the Bands is around the corner and this year Prairie View A&M University hopes to see The Marching Storm take the field.
 The event is held in Atlanta and starts with the 16 HBCU bands that receive the most votes. During the event the most well received eight bands advance to the invitational showcase.
Marching Storm director Dr. Timothy Zachary decided to implement new ideas and more exciting routines into the band's upcoming performance at the battle, since the Marching Storm did not participate in the event last year.
"This year, we are trying to merge the old and the new to improve our skills as a band," said Zachary. "The band is doing a wonderful job, we are merging the old, present, and future and using bricks of former traditions to lay a foundation for a new traditions," said Zachary.
Thousands of fans gather in the Georgia Dome each year to watch the bands perform their most intricate and unique routines.
"It's one of the best recruiting sites because there are 76,000 people there, but not just anybody, 76,000 people that love band performances," said Zachary.
Whether the marching storm is better overall than it was last year is not what Zachary is focused on. He pinpointed the band's improvement in areas that they are not their best at.
"I don't speak of good or bad; each band has something that they do well and something that they don't do well, but we improve every year," said Zachary.
Although the showcase does not pick a winner the eight marching bands that perform and their members do receive a variety of prizes and scholarships.
"The bands receive $20,000 just for participating, all travel and meal expenses covered, and the students receive a dinner, dance, book bags, and pens for participating," said Zachary.
After missing the showcase last year students feel that performing this year will be enough of a prize for the band.
"I would be thrilled and exuberated if we attend the battle of the bands because I know the Marching Storm is going to bring the fire," said sophomore biology major Gregory Gilchrist.