Billy Bennett Is Keeping the Beat at Bowie State

If you’ve ever heard the exciting sounds of Bowie State’s marching band on the field, on the court or in the yard, it’s about more than entertainment. 

For Billy Bennett, director of university bands and music coordinator for Bowie State University’s acclaimed Symphony of Soul (SOS) Marching Band, it’s a soundtrack that showcases student talent, energizes school spirit and brings HBCU history to life. He and his team create and deliver dynamic shows that blend marching band tradition with crowd-pleasing formations that reflect the pulse of the region’s go-go band culture. 

Bennett, who arrived at Bowie State in 2008 as assistant band director, says the standout performances have a rich cultural heritage. 

“From the first note to the last beat, we tell the Bowie State story through music, movement and tradition.” 

Today, he oversees an extended family of performers who are at the heart of Bulldog Pride, including the Dancing Divas dance line and Sensations Color Guard flag team. Bennett collaborates closely with Assistant Director of University Bands Michael “The Musical Technician” Simmons, who leads the band’s musical excellence, as well as Drill Master Ferman Roane and the band staff, whose creative contributions help shape each performance. 

Together, they create award-winning productions that capture Bulldog spirit through intricate footwork and foot-stomping rhythms. 

“I always say the SOS Marching Band is a derivative of Washington, D.C. public schools.” 

Bennett explains that beginning in the 1970s, a regional marching band culture emerged that incorporated go-go music. The style peaked in the 1980s and 1990s and was known for its syncopated rhythms driven by bass, snare and multi-tenor drums. 

“It faded in the early 2000s, but we take the elements that were a part of that historical Washington, D.C. marching band culture and keep it alive.” 

Many band members are from Prince George’s County, Baltimore County and elsewhere in Maryland, but there is also representation from Iowa, Virginia, New York, New Jersey and Boston. 

Bennett, a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, grew up in a musical family. He spent summers with his grandmother in Clinton, North Carolina, picking up the regional accent you still hear in his speech today. Both of his parents were in the marching band as undergraduates at Fayetteville State University. 

“As a small child, I remember going to college football games at Morgan State, Howard and Bowie State University. And every time the band hit the bass drum, I could feel it in my entire body. I wanted to wear the uniform and be a part of the excitement, so I became a trombonist just like my dad.” 

He continued developing his skills on trombone through middle and high school and into college. He was a music education major at Norfolk State University in Virginia and performed in its marching band. 

“There were ten music majors that graduated in my class, which at the time was the largest class of music majors in the university’s history.” 

Bennett sees many of his former classmates today, some of whom are band directors at schools in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Conference. 

The SOS Marching Band captured the 2026 Fanfest Battle of the Bands title for the fourth consecutive year, electrifying crowds and reinforcing the university’s musical excellence. Bennett thinks part of the reason is the musical selection and choreography. 

“There aren’t many bands dedicated to keeping go-go alive and in the forefront. Because SOS plays a lot of go-go music, it really sets us apart nationwide. We're the only marching band representing for this region.” 

While audiences enjoy winning showcases, Bennett is dedicated to keeping standards high. 

“We measure ourselves by our last performance. Our goal is to be better than the last time we rehearsed. There’s always something to work on, and that’s true as a band and as individuals in life. We also don’t worry about what other bands are doing. We stay in our lane.” 

Bennett and his team also emphasize teamwork and strong relationships among SOS members, considering there are four rehearsals a week in addition to academics. 

“The older ones show the younger ones how to balance all aspects of their life at the same time they’re developing their musical talents. The Student Success Center has also been very supportive in helping band members figure out how to manage their time.” 

The SOS Marching Band has more than 30 action-packed shows this academic year. Besides all basketball and football games, they bring their spirited music to university events, such as last month’s celebration of Asante heritage, the historic Akwasidae Festival presided over by His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of the Ashanti Kingdom of Ghana and hosted by Bowie State. They also visit local middle and high schools to inspire younger students, just as others inspired Bennett. 

That commitment to mentorship is reflected in his own family. Bennett is a father of three. His daughter plays upright bass, and his youngest son Anakin is a trombone player at the Baltimore School for the Arts. Anakin’s love of music mirrors his father’s, and he’s become a familiar face around campus, often stopping by his dad’s office after school. 

“At Bowie State, I reinforce a lot of things that are said at home. Treat people the way you want to be treated. And ensure that you look to someone that is successful in your life who you want to be like, because they may pull you up to help along the way. 

“And within your circle of friends, ensure that you have someone on your level, someone successful to guide you along the way and someone you can also assist in their journey.”