VSU’s Trojan Explosion marching band

Only one marching band in the country has been invited to participate in the Honda Battle of the Bands — a national showcase held each January in Atlanta — nine times out of the 10 the event has been in existence. Virginia State, in fact, has been invited nine consecutive times, a point of pride for band director Mark Phillips exceeded only by the fact his band also has performed three times for President Obama, once at the White House.