Before she ever heard of Lincoln University, DeJanee Jones was set to go to Rutgers University. That was the plan until she went to a high school marching band event, where she saw the Lincoln University Orange Crush Roaring Lion marching band in action.
It was then and there that Jones realized she could have an HBCU experience as far north as Pennsylvania. “I decided to go to Lincoln because I could stay closer to home and still be in an HBCU marching band,” she said. Lincoln University, along with Cheyney University, are situated in Pennsylvania. As such, they are the two northernmost HBCUs.
Now Jones plays in the piccolo section with the Orange Crush and is majoring in human services with music as a minor. The band is relatively new, as far as HBCU marching bands go, but, this year, the Orange Crush is set to perform for the first time at the annual Honda Battle of the Bands on Jan. 30.
“I feel like this opportunity is finally our time to show everyone what we are capable of and get our names out there in the band world,” Jones said.
The Honda Battle of the Bands is not a battle in the traditional sense, in that no “winner” is selected. Rather, it is an opportunity for HBCU marching bands to demonstrate their talent and learn from each other. Honda awards a total of $200,000 to each of the eight schools that perform. Lincoln University, for example, will take home $20,000 to be spent on equipment or uniform upgrades.
LU band director Roland Green said that the chance to perform at the Honda Battle of the Bands is a great opportunity for the Orange Crush.
“We’re probably the youngest program participating this year, and we don’t have that long history that most other programs have,” he said. “It really gives us that chance to let us be recognized on the national stage and let people know that we’re doing good things in the music world here up north.”
