NASHVILLE, Tenn. (TSU News Service) – Tennessee State University recruiters got a chance to talk to some of the nation’s brightest high school students at the Honda Battle of the Bands College Fair in Atlanta on Saturday.

Numerous students stopped to talk to TSU officials who had a booth at the event that was attended by high school students from across the country. For TSU’s world-renowned Aristocrat of Bands, it was a record ninth time that the marching band has been invited to the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.  

“We are really glad for this recognition our band continues to receive with this record appearance,” said Dr. Reginald McDonald, TSU’s director of bands. “This is a huge recruitment tool for the university because typically at this event, not only do we have people who are extremely fond of HBCU bands, you also have high school kids from all across the nation that attend.”

This time, the band arrived at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a newly donated, wrapped 53-foot trailer carrying the members’ equipment.

Named by The Undefeated recently as the Best HBCU Marching Band in America, the AOB joins only the Marching Storm of Prairie View A&M, and the Grambling State University Tiger Marching Band for the most appearances at the Honda Invitational, the nation’s premier showcase for HBCU marching bands.

In addition to the new trailer, the Best Band ranking, and the Honda Invitational, the AOB enjoyed a stellar year of achievements and accolades last year, and is looking forward to even more in 2020.

In April, during the NFL Draft in the Music City, the AOB were featured on the nationally syndicated ESPN sports talk show, First Take, and the band received a shout out from pop star Lizzo for the band’s rendition of her “Truth Hurts” medley. In January, percussionists from the band performed in the Rose Parade. They were also featured performers at the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons’ 2019 home opener.

For more information on the TSU Aristocrat of Bands, visit http://www.tnstate.edu/aristocratofbands/.

Department of Media Relations

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Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University is Nashville’s only public university, and is a  premier, historically black university and land-grant institution offering 39 bachelor’s degree programs, 24 master’s degree programs, and seven doctoral degrees.  TSU is a comprehensive research intensive institution with a R-2 Carnegie designation, and has a graduate school on its downtown Avon Williams Campus, along with the Otis Floyd Nursery Research Center in McMinnville, Tennessee.  With a commitment to excellence, Tennessee State University provides students  with a quality education in a nurturing and innovative environment that prepares them as alumni to be global leaders in every facet of society. Visit the University online at tnstate.edu.