Sound Machine at 2004 Aggie-Eagle Classic (Photo:Echo File Photo)

After the theft of five sousaphones over winter break, the members of N.C. Central University’s marching band, the Sound Machine, thought they might not make it to Atlanta’s 2008 Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase. This news came after six other sousaphones and more than 100 other instruments – were reported stolen in November 2007.

A sousaphone is a lightweight tuba used by marching bands. The instrument, named after composer John Philip Sousa, is often referred to as a marching tuba.

Thanks to a loan from Duke University athletic bands, the NCCU band made it to Atlanta’s Georgia Dome to dazzle some 70,000 fans.

But NCCU police, students, faculty, staff and administration still wonder how 125 instruments have gone missing since 2005 from the band room in the Edwards Music Building.

According to a Jan. 8 campus police report, 11 sousaphones were stolen; the News and Observer reported 14 missing sousaphones.

“We are currently following every lead that we have, but an arrest at this point is not imminent,” said NCCU Police Chief Willie Williams.

Williams said NCCU police have searched local pawn shops and have not found the instruments.

Williams said many signs indicate disorganization and accountability problems with band administrators.

In November 2007, NCCU Band Director Jorim Reid reported that over a span of two years, 114 instruments with a value of $110,991 have disappeared. Six sousaphones were reported missing then.

On Jan. 8, Assistant Band Director Samuel Rowley reported five more sousaphones missing and the cases left behind.

Rowley said the instruments had been in the band room before winter break.

Although Reid spoke with reporters from the News & Observer following the theft, Reid and his assistants declined to be interviewed by the Campus Echo after numerous attempts.

According to several band members, Reid also told members of the band not speak to the media.

“I could not begin to even try to explain how that many instruments could just slip away like that,” said one band member, who asked not to be named.

This band member said that there is a sign-in system to track band equipment and that instruments have University identification tags.

Students must sign an agreement at the beginning of summer band camp to return instruments at the end of each semester, she said.

“I thought that we were taking necessary precautions to prevent something like this,” she said. “We are really torn between what to do right now.”

According to the Jan. 8 police report, there were no signs of forcible entry into the band room.

Williams said someone may have had key access to the band room where the sousaphones were stored.

Phillip Powell, director of facilities services, said the locks to the band room have been changed.

Names of band room key holders and the number of keys issued to them were not made available by Campus Echo press deadline.

Paula Harrell, music department chair, said she is “adamant about creating better security measures for the building.”

Harrell said she has long wanted to install security cameras throughout Edwards Music Building.

Jeff Au, director of Duke University athletic bands, loaned the Sound Machine three sousaphones for the Honda showcase on Saturday.

Sound Machine members returned Duke’s sousaphones Monday night, just in time for the Duke Pep Band to use for the Duke women’s basketball game against Tennessee.

Au met Reid in 2000, when Au was assistant director of bands and a trumpet instructor at Elizabeth City State University.

Tim Moore, interim director of auxiliaries and business services, said the Sound Machine has an insurance policy on most of their instruments.

Moore said the University has filed an insurance claim through Travelers Insurance Company, Inc.

Insurance appraisers will visit the campus next week.