Studer Community Institute

The Escambia Diamonds shine bright

February 16, 2015
/ Ben Sheffler
/ training-development

The Diamonds, Escambia High School's indoor percussion ensemble, are about more than beating a drum. During their seven-minute shows, the 34 students on this year's team perform theatrical and dance movements that require athletic ability. "That's why it's called the sport of the arts, because the kids are really pushed mentally, physically and musically to be their best," says Terry Sanders, director of The Diamonds. Sanders says he tells the students they're athletes and they need to train like athletes. That makes him not only a music director, but also an athletic trainer. He says the group does a lot of calisthenics, core training and lower body exercises. "Because of some of the sharp direction changes and some of the fast drumming and moving that we're asking them to do, with a 15 to 20 pound instrument hung on their body, they have to be in shape," he says. Once they have the training and music down, it's time for competition. The Diamonds are the five-time reigning champs of the local Gulfcoast Color Guard and Percussion Circuit. They've never placed lower than third regionally and have never placed below 25th at the national competition. Sebastian Clowe, a junior at EHS and four-year member of The Diamonds (Bailey Middle School students are also a part of the group), plays lead snare drum. He says the hardest part about training was a weekend practice session of 13 hours each day to learn the show. "It takes a lot of adrenaline," he says. "You're working nonstop, but whenever you're performing at the show it's an amazing feeling." How Diamonds learn to shine The Diamonds change their performance's concept every year. This year's program is called "Touchless," a reference to the way society is getting away from human contact, with people so focused on looking at their devices. "The kids can relate to that, so some of the ideas that go into the show they help put together," Sanders says. "It's their show and they want to own it." But Sanders says it's not all about the competition; it's more about the journey. "The kids spend a lot of time becoming young adults away from the competition floor," he says. "They get a lot more out of it than just 'did we get first, second or third place?'" To travel to the competitions, students fundraise and rely on parent boosters because they don't get any money from the school or county, Sanders says. They've bused tables for tips at CiCi's Pizza, bagged groceries for tips at Winn-Dixie and held pancake sales. At Wal-Mart on Mobile Highway on Feb. 28, The Diamonds will host their next fundraiser, where they'll get to show off a bit. "I love fundraisers because we're able to show everybody what we actually do," Clowe says. Competition season heats up There are five competitions locally. The Winter Guard International Super Regional will be held in Bowling Green, Ky. March 20-22, and the national competition, the WGI Percussion World Championships, is in Dayton, Ohio April 9-12. The Diamonds, the only high school indoor drumline in Escambia County, have been to the national championship every year since 1997. Their best finish was fifth place in 2002. Sanders has been working with the EHS band part-time since 1983. He started The Diamonds in 1991, and in 1995 he set up the local competitions. As a WGI advisory board member for percussion, he was instrumental in creating the national competition. In its first year, there were about 18 units at the national competition, Sanders says. Now, there are close to 240. There are at least 8,000 to 9,000 units across the country, Sanders says. "It's another outlet for kids to be musically involved, and it's a good activity," Sanders says.

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The Escambia Diamonds shine bright

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