Following their Battle of the Bands performance in Los Angeles, the UAPB band hopes to do more

Pine Bluff, Arkansas – After returning from a national showcase in Los Angeles, California, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South left many of its members with newfound hope.

Tens of thousands of people attended the Honda Battle of the Bands at SoFi Stadium, where more than 200 band members had the chance to perform. Six marching bands from historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) participated in the battle to honor the rich customs and culture.

According to John Graham, director of bands, they were playing in exceptional shape.

Graham remarked, “They went above and beyond what they were trained to do.”

Ahmad Perkins, a freshman in the band, described it as the most memorable event of his life.
“It was absolutely unbelievable when we were finished and everyone in the stadium was shouting M4” Perkins remarked.

Being there was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, according to Maranda Page.

“After we finished, I started crying because I truly accomplished this, and people were applauding us,” Page remarked.

During their performances, they all had favorite parts, such as the dance breaks or the stand battles. Graham claims that after driving to Dallas, members were divided among five aircraft to reach Los Angeles.

Jackson Williams, one of the band members, remarked, “It felt like a dream come true.”

The opportunity to meet superstars like Nick Cannon, Grammy-nominated rapper GloRilla, and former WNBA player and Arkansan Scottie Pippen was praised by several members.

They are motivated to pursue greater aspirations during the entire journey.

“We broke through the sky in LA, and ever since then, it has been nothing but heavenly experiences,” Perkins remarked.

Nothing is off-limits for the band, according to Graham, as long as they practice hard.

Graham declared, “Everything is on the table: Rosebowl, Macy’s Day Parade, Super Bowl.”

By collaborating with exchange programs with musicians in various African nations, he says he hopes the band will get international musical experience.