My thesis “Band is Life” is a visual chronicle of Baltimore’s marching and community band culture. This capstone project was researched over the course of three years for my MFA degree in the Photography + Media & Society program at the Maryland Institute College of Art.
Marching band saved my life — the program’s impact fostered structure, a second home, and a lifetime of support. Through portraits and candid moments, this story captures the heartbeat of the youth and adults who find identity, structure, and joy through band life.
In Baltimore, both school and community bands serve as vital lifelines. They offer mentorship, discipline, and a sense of family in spaces where young people often face instability. These bands don’t just train musicians; they nurture leaders and protect hope. For many, the field (or concrete) becomes a classroom, and their fellow band members a second home.
Equally central is the role of community bands as affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ members. They can be places where individuality, creativity, and pride are celebrated without judgment. Alongside the pulse of the bass drum, queer and trans dancers and musicians find safety, solidarity, and freedom of expression that extends beyond performance.
“Band is Life” honors the people and places that sustain Baltimore’s sound, from the high school marching lines to the community ensembles keeping tradition alive. It’s a testament to how art, acceptance, and rhythm unite to strengthen the city’s spirit.
