“Full-circle Blessing”: Mt. Zion Progressive brings HBCU Band experience to St. Pete youth this summer
- J.A. Jones
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
This summer, Mt. Zion Progressive Missionary Baptist Church and Mt. Zion Human Services bring “Summer Band Camp 2026” to St. Pete youth from June 8–12, an experience senior pastor, Rev. Louis M. Murphy, Sr., calls “a turning point.”
“This camp is personal for me. The HBCU band experience shaped who I am — as a leader and as a man,” said Rev. Murphy. “We are bringing that experience home to St. Petersburg, to our young people, in our own neighborhood. For many of these students, this week will be a turning point — and we want every one of them to walk away knowing what excellence, discipline, and pride feel like.”
Welcoming 150 young musicians for a five-day, HBCU-style band experience built around musicianship, discipline, leadership, and cultural pride, the camp will be led by Dr. Julian White, the legendary former director of the Florida A&M University “Marching 100.”
Camp activities will be held at Mt. Zion Progressive at 955 20th Street South and housing will be on-campus at Eckerd College, 4200 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33711. Meals will be provided.
As Rev. Murphy, Sr., also a former FAMU drum major, brings the cultural authenticity of the HBCU band tradition to St. Petersburg youth, he shared that being part of the FAMU band gave him three lessons that have stayed with him.
“The first is perseverance and discipline,” he noted. “In the band, you learn that preparation is everything — that you don't rise to the occasion, you fall to the level of your training. You put in the work when no one is watching so that you're ready when everyone is. That principle carried me through the Marine Corps, through business, and through ministry. It never left me.”
The second, he relayed, “is leadership. As a drum major, I learned that real leadership is responsibility, not position. You're accountable for the people behind you. You set the standard, you carry yourself accordingly, and you serve the people you lead. I've applied that lesson in every role I've held since.”
Finally, he noted that the third lesson was “striving for excellence. We were never allowed to settle for good enough. You gave your best, and then you pushed past it. That standard becomes part of your character — it shapes how you carry yourself and what you expect of yourself for the rest of your life.”
Murphy asserted Dr. White’s impact on his own development as a young man. “He invested in me, he held me to a high standard, and a great deal of who I am today traces back to what he poured into me then. That is precisely why I asked him to lead this camp. I want the young people of St. Petersburg to be shaped by the same excellence that shaped me — and to be led by the very best.”
He called having Dr. White invest in the youth of St. Pete in the same way the music director invested in him, “a full-circle blessing."
Dr. White shared, "I've spent my whole life believing that band can change a young person's direction. For so many of our students, this kind of experience is the difference between a future full of possibility and one without it. That's what we're building in St. Petersburg — not just musicians, but disciplined, confident young people who know what excellence feels like. I'm proud to be part of it, and proud of what Pastor Murphy is doing for these young people in his own community."
A Full Immersion Experience
Conceived not only as a music program but also as a youth development initiative, the week will offer a structured, supportive environment that fosters healthy relationships, builds confidence, and points students toward future academic and personal success.
The camp will end with a free, public Field Showcase on Friday, June 12 at 12:00 p.m., during which campers will perform the skills and drills they learned during the camp.
Dr. White expanded on the beneficial aspects of the camp, stating that a crucial learning aspect will be centered around teamwork.
“When playing in a band, everyone has to work together to make sure that the lines are straight while making formations and that the music is balanced. No one person should be heard over the band; everyone should blend and balance their parts.”
He also wants students to gain confidence in their abilities as musicians. “The experience will afford them the opportunity to receive first-class instruction. All of the staff are master musicians on their instruments. The confidence that they gain can carry over to all areas of their lives. Being part of a band builds leadership qualities that will remain with them.”
He noted that students attending the camp should have some musical experience. “Because the camp is only a week, there is not time to teach basic concepts. As long as students can read music, they will be able to thrive in the camp.”
Campers will rotate through full ensemble rehearsals, sectionals, masterclasses, leadership development sessions, and fitness and marching conditioning.
The schedule also includes music theory and music therapy components, wellness activities, and structured exposure to college and career pathways — giving students a real preview of college band life.
Sections offered include woodwinds (flute, clarinet, alto, and tenor saxophone), brass (trumpet, mellophone, trombone, baritone, tuba/sousaphone), percussion (snare, tenors, bass drum, cymbals, auxiliary), and auxiliary units including flags and majorettes. Drum Major Training is also offered for participants selected by their band directors.
Tuition for the full program is $200 per student, including instruction, on-campus housing at Eckerd College, daily meals, and program materials.
Key Dates
• Sunday, June 7, 2026 — Check-in at 4:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion Progressive (955 20th Street South)
• Monday–Friday, June 8–12, 2026 — Full camp programming
• Friday, June 12, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. — Field Showcase finale (free and open to the public)
Registration
Families and band directors can register and find program details at mzprogressive.org/st-petersburg-summer-band-camp.
The St. Petersburg Summer Band Camp 2026 is made possible through the generous support of Duke Energy Florida and the City of St. Petersburg, whose investment helps keep tuition accessible for local families and ensures that every camper receives the full residential, college-style experience.
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