Larry Robinson, interim president of Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, has lifted the suspension of the university’s famous Marching 100 band. The band was suspended following the death of drum major Robert Champion who died as a result of a hazing incident following a football game in November 2011.
In June the university hired Sylvester Young as the new director of the band. Dr. Young was planning on retiring after a nearly 25-year career at Ohio University in Athens, when he was asked to take on the duties as band director at his alma mater. At Ohio University he served as director of the marching band and was an associate professor of music. Earlier in his career, Professor Young served as director of bands at Hampton University in Virginia and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.
Dr. Young is a 1969 graduate of Florida A&M University and was a member of the Marching 100. He earned a master’s degree at Bowling Green State University in Ohio and a doctorate in music education from the University of Missouri.
Dr. Young hopes to have the Marching 100 on the field for Florida A&M’’s first home football game on September 7.
