The search for a new band director continues as Florida A&M released the interviewing schedules for two candidates.
Both candidates, Sylvester Young, a former professor of music at Ohio University, and Don Roberts, an instrumental music coordinator for DeKalb County School District, are graduates of FAMU and will face two days of interviews.
Young and Roberts are scheduled to interview during five separate sessions. The interviewers include the search committee, dean of the College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities, the music department chair, the interim president, the Leadership Team and faculty.
Both candidates will also conduct a two-hour band rehearsal.
“I think the band serves as the heart of an HBCU,” said Dymone Mincey, a third-year physical therapy student from Jacksonville, Fla. “I just hope whoever is selected will continue to strengthen the Marching ‘100’s’ legacy.”
Young earned his doctorate in music education from the University of Missouri. He also worked as an associate professor of music at Ohio for more than two decades.
He will begin his interviews Monday at 5:30 p.m. with the search committee in room 101 in Tucker Hall.
Roberts is a former drum major in the Marching “100.” He also served as the executive band consultant for the Twentieth Century Fox movie “Drumline.”
Roberts will begin his interviews at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, 30 minutes after Young’s scheduled band rehearsal will conclude.
“I’m excited that we are getting closer to seeing the ‘100’ back on the field,” said Briana Journee, a first-year pharmacy candidate from Cleveland. “I hope they make a decision very soon.”
The location and times of each interview session have been released, and all sessions are open to the public.
“I think it’s great that sessions are open,” said Tyrone Wilson, a second-year criminal justice student from Miami. “I think many students, including members of the ‘100,’ want to feel included in the selection process, too.” 12