“Black history month is an awesome opportunity to highlight the African American culture. For African Americans, there are scholarships for being African American just like native Americans and other folks. For me, studying is very important, especially in music. African Americans or black musicians and composers have done so much, there are even concerts available with just black composers, which is incredible. So for me as a musician, being able to watch some of the great jazz musicians and also those who do well in the classical round like Wynton Marsalis, he is like the epitome of a balanced musician, African American, plays great classical, and is just killer in jazz. So for young musicians to see that is very important. “- Band Director, Lance Beckford