Return of the Claflin Pep Band

The Claflin Pep Band in 2016. (Special to The Panther)

The Claflin Pep Band and Wind Ensemble has been reformed for the first time since COVID-19 and the Music Department has a new band director.

The band had a meeting in September and the band director gave his backstory about teaching.

“I have been teaching for 23 years and I was hired to teach the marching band at North Carolina Central University in the year 2014,” said Thurman Hollins, instructor of instrumental music/director of bands.

The band went to Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School and did mixed practices with the high school and both bands practiced Claflin Pep Band music.

“We wanted to practice with the high school so we can prepare for homecoming,” Hollins said.

The Pep Band recently attended the student organization fair behind Commons. The objective was to play music and recruit new students to join the band.

“We are going to the Quad to play or warm up our instruments so we can have some new players and show everyone how the band does their daily routine during practice," Hollins said.