Accomplished Music Scholar Named Bowie State Band Director

Billy Bennett Leads All Aspects of BSU Band Program

MEDIA CONTACT: Damita Chambers, dchambers@bowiestate.edu, 301-832-2628 mobile

(BOWIE, Md.) – An accomplished musician, educator and bandleader was selected to lead Bowie State University’s Symphony of Soul Band as the director of university bands after a national search.

Billy R. Bennett, who started his new role on August 30, is responsible for leading all aspects of the university band program. As band director, he will recruit members, manage the creative direction of the marching and concert bands, oversee management of the Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble and Orchestral Ensemble, and ensure that students comply with the university’s code of conduct. As a Bowie State music faculty member, he will teach applied music and methods courses and serve as lead instrumental music instructor, working in conjunction with other music program faculty to develop the academic curriculum and co-curricular program.

Prior to this appointment, Bennett served as Bowie State’s interim director of university bands since November 2018. Before that, he was Bowie State’s assistant director of university bands for 10 years.

“Billy Bennett brings the right combination of experience and education to this high-profile position at a pivotal time. He has demonstrated his commitment to rebuilding the university band program by helping to develop new band guidelines and to fully integrate it with the Department of Fine and Performing Arts,” said Gina Lewis, department chairperson. “He has the mindset and philosophy to forge a new vision and future direction for the Symphony of Soul Band.”

As interim band director, he made history by conducting a symphonic ensemble of Bowie State University and Morgan State University students in the institutions’ first joint concert performance. As assistant band director, he led the university’s Mid-Atlantic Summer Band Camp for middle and high school students learning the fundamentals of marching, concert and jazz bands. Several summer camp students went on to graduate with honors from Bowie State University. He also advised BSU’s chapter of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and the Theta Pi Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority.

Some additional professional highlights include performing with legendary soul artist Aretha Franklin, adjudicating the Baltimore City Concert Band Festival and conducting the HBCU National Band Directors Consortium’s Trombone Choir, part of an organization promoting music scholarship among students at historically black colleges and universities.

“Billy Bennett brings a fresh perspective that provides an inclusive platform for music education, academic support and professional growth,” said Provost DeBrenna Agbenyiga. “These qualities are essential for building a sound foundation of success for all of our music scholars who participate in our band program.”

Prior to joining Bowie State, Bennett was director of bands at both North Edgecombe High School and Phillips Middle School in Leggett, North Carolina, where the bands won numerous accolades and the hearts of the community. He started his career as band director for the Brawley Middle School in Scotland Neck, North Carolina, rekindling the instrumental music program. While there, he also assisted at Southeast Halifax High School.

Bennett received a master’s degree in music from Morgan State University and a bachelor’s degree in music education from Norfolk State University, where he participated in all bands including the University Brass Ensemble and Trombone Choir.

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About Bowie State University
Bowie State University (BSU) is an important higher education access portal for qualified persons from diverse academic and socioeconomic backgrounds, seeking a high-quality and affordable public comprehensive university. The university places special emphasis on the science, technology, cybersecurity, teacher education, business, and nursing disciplines within the context of a liberal arts education. For more information about BSU, visit bowiestate.edu.