A-News
"Welcome to the members-only website for all Sinfonians. Here you will be able to update your contact information, pay your national per capita tax, and find any future updates from the National Fraternity. Chapter and Province Officers can also find all their applicable resources under the appropriately labelled tab.
Please join us in trying to make this a space for all brothers to come together."
Brother Zachary Lee Hines II, one of the major forces in our chapter, is Advancing Music in America with his continued efforts through FORTRESSES. FORTRESSES has fostered an holistic environment for many musicians, giving them the opportunity to shine and grow within the 757. Our colligate members also have a space to fellowship within music, attending and participating in FORTRESSES Events.
FRAT In Action
Bro. Zachary Hines, II
Although Bro. Zach is the leading force of this effort; many brothers from other chapters and of Pi Beta have also committed to the mission of FORTRESSES. To the right we have Bro. Michael Corder, Shallah Saint-Leger, Avery Merchant, Lawrence Sawyer, and our very own Province Governor, Xavier Hendon.
Check out their performance
“TELL EVERYBODY”
on @living757tv
Brother Rashad Watters continues to
Advance Music in America through his company Block Band Music & Publishing, LLC. Block Band was created to "uplift Showstyle and Corpstyle bands and prepare them for an awaiting world by connecting talented musicians to the tools and examples they need for life-changing performances."
_JPG.jpg)
Bro. Rashad Watters
Block Band started in 2011, with Brother Rashad realizing the absurdity of band directors having to gather music, equipment, apparel, and accessories from different sources, most of which are not geared to the unique requirements of a show-style band program. Through Block Band, band directors can receive music and equipment that is tailored to their specific ensemble. Brother Shallah St. Léger joined the company in Dec 2023, to assist with the social media outreach for the growing company.
Brother Ravid Frye is a distinguished music educator dedicated to advancing the arts in America. With a deep passion for fostering musical excellence, he has spearheaded the establishment of the first gifted band program at the elementary level within his district, setting a new standard for young musicians. His visionary leadership continues to inspire educators and students alike to pursue creativity, discipline, and innovation through music.
Bro. Ravid Fyre
Beyond the classroom, Brother Frye is a devoted youth advocate, actively enriching his community through mentorship and his involvement with the local marching band. His unwavering commitment to music education and youth empowerment continues to shape the next generation of artists and leaders. Through his efforts, countless young people have discovered their potential and found purpose through the power of music.
Bro. Edgar Thomas Rawles III
To date, Block Band has sold over 1,000 music arrangements and delivered over $100,000 in equipment to marching band and concert band programs.
Bro. Rashad is also a published author whose work appears in the Best-Selling book The HBCU Band Experience. He currently resides in Durham, NC, where he is director of the Male Chorus at Peace Missionary Baptist Church.
Since graduating from Hampton University in 2017, Brother Trey Rawles has been dedicated to
"Advancing music in America" through his impactful work as a music educator. Bro. Rawles
began his career as the Director of Bands and, later, Orchestra at Denbigh High School, while
also serving as Assistant Band Director at various middle schools throughout Newport News, Virginia. Despite inheriting a band program with only 11 students and being split between two schools, he achieved remarkable success.
In 2023, Bro. Rawles became the sixth Director of Bands at Phoebus High School in Hampton
City Public Schools. In his first year, he began revitalizing the program, and in March 2024, he
led his students to achieve the highest ranking at the VBODA State Concert Assessment in the
past decade. Halfway through his second year at Phoebus, Bro. Rawles completed another
successful marching season, growing the band from 32 to 61 members. He is now focused on
leading his students toward earning the first Superior Rating at VBODA State Concert
Assessment in Phoebus' history.
Most recently, Bro. Rawles,
along with four other brothers from the Pi Beta Chapter, arranged the exhibition show for the
2025 Honda Battle of the Bands, which will be hosted in Los Angeles, California. Hampton
University recently honored Brother Rawles for his outstanding contributions to music education by inducting him into the 2024 Class of the Hampton University Forty Under 40 Society. In all, Bro. Rawles is truly one of the powerhouses of this chapter!