DRUMLINE LIVE Featured at Balboa Theatre, 10/3

The high-energy DRUMLINE LIVE will bring the American Marching Band experience to historic Balboa Theatre ~ Wednesday, October 13 at 7:30PM!  DRUMLINE LIVE's versatile group of 39 musicians and dancers brings an explosive energy and athleticism to an eclectic mix of sounds; equally at home with the hottest contemporary hip hop, R&B, classic Motown tunes, and the rousing sounds of the great brass tradition (remember Earth, Wind, and Fire & Tower of Power?)  This energetic cast honed its precision and energy with years of training in marching band programs across the southern United States.  Created by the music team behind 20th Century Fox's hit movie Drumline, this 2010-2011 US tour follows its extremely successful 70-performance international tour in the 2008-09 season.
 
DRUMLINE LIVE continues the show-style marching band tradition of America's top Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  The stirring combination of trumpets, explosive choreography, and incredible feats of athleticism from the steppers and dancers is guaranteed to bring the audience to its feet, while the showdown of rhythm and speed between the "lines" will shock you with its precision and pulsing force.  Funky dance rhythms, flamboyant style, and showmanship characterize this upbeat, exciting style of marching today.  Catch a glimpse into an American experience that many have never seen before ~ this historic tradition is alive with intensity!
 
Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.sandiegotheatres.org/eventstickets/eventdetails.cfm?eventID=2236;
at the San Diego Civic Theatre box office or by calling 570-1100 (619/760/858 area codes).  For more information, visit: www.SDBalboa.org
 
 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) are institutions of higher learning that were established before 1964 with the intention of serving the African American community. There are more than 100 historically black colleges in the United States, located almost exclusively in the Southeast. The HBCU were established after the Civil War as places of dignity and hope where young people had an opportunity to become professionals instead of maids or laborers. Along with the private black colleges and universities founded later by the AMA, these reconstruction era schools became the backbone of higher education for African Americans. It was in these bastions of higher education that the tradition of the show style marching band was born. The tradition began over fifty years ago at Florida A&M University, which has been long considered the nation's preeminent black college marching band school. HBCU marching bands began, as most do, as support for the college football team. They have since grown into a sport of their own, featuring characteristic high stepping, funky dance rhythms, and exciting musical repertoire ranging from classical to Top 40. Celebrations of HBCU marching culminate in competitions such as the Big Southern Classic and the Bayou Classic. These competitions, which draw audiences of roughly 60,000 fans each, are a testament to the popularity of the sport. But it is only recently, with films such as Drumline, backed by a flurry of high profile marching band appearances that this tradition has begun to capture the imagination of the American public.
 
Don P. Roberts received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida
Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida. While at FAMU, he
served as drum major, student conductor, and student arranger in what is considered to be one of
the finest band programs in America. He received a Master's Degree in Music Education from
Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. Presently, Mr. Roberts is pursuing a
Doctoral Degree in Administration (EDE) from Sarasota University in Sarasota, Florida.
Most recently, Roberts was appointed the Executive Band Consultant for the 2002-03 Twentieth
Century Fox hit movie, "Drumline." He was responsible for training the actors, writing the
precision drills, rehearsing the band, etc. As the chief band consultant, he played a vital role in
the making of "Drumline" and its success. In 2005 Roberts also worked as the Executive Band
Consultant on the 2005 Missy Elliot hit song "Bad Man," from her album, "The Cookbook."
Presently, he serves as the CEO and President of the company Halftime Live, which provided the
official drumline for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006 and for the Atlanta Hawks in 2007 and 2008.
Don Roberts has served as the Instrumental Music Coordinator of the DeKalb County School
System since 1996. He served as the Chairman of the Music Department and Director of Bands
at Southwest DeKalb High School in Decatur, Georgia from 1990 through 1996. He was
appointed to a dual role from 1998-2003 as DeKalb County Instrumental Music Coordinator and
Southwest DeKalb High School Co-Director of Bands. With the assistance of six chairmen (3
band and 3 orchestra), Mr. Roberts supervises approximately 100 instrumental music directors,
19 high schools, 19 middle schools, and 88 elementary schools. There are more than 15,000
students participating in band and orchestra in DeKalb schools. Under the guidance of Mr.
Roberts, the DeKalb County School System has one of the largest, most active and innovative
music programs in the state of Georgia.

Mr. Roberts' bands received superior ratings for fifteen consecutive years from the Georgia Music
Educators Association. The Southwest DeKalb High School band was the first African American
high school band to ever perform for the Georgia Music Educators Association Convention in
state history (1996). Under Mr. Roberts' tutelage the band was invited to perform in the 1997
Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The band also recorded the compact discs,
"We Rock the House", in 1996 and "Band of the 90's" in 2000. One of Mr. Roberts' greatest
accomplishments as a music educator was the Southwest DeKalb Panthers being the only band
in America selected to perform in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1996 Centennial Olympic
Games where he worked with world renown Super Producers Kenny Ortega (most recently/High
School Musical) and Don Mischer (most recently/Prince Super Bowl Halftime 2007). Additionally,
he served as assistant band director of the Atlanta Olympic Band, which performed in the Closing
Ceremonies of the 1996 Olympic Games. His 300 member Panther Marching Band was also the
hero band in the movie, "Drumline."

Mr. Roberts has served as a clinician, adjudicator, and arranger for many different organizations
throughout the Southeast. He was Multicultural Chairman for the Georgia Music Educators
Association (GMEA) for four years (1998 - 2001). In addition to his membership in GMEA and
Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster's Fraternity, Mr. Roberts is a member of the 100 Black
Men of America, Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity and Music
Educators National Conference. He is Co-Founder of Precision Incorporated (Summer Band
Camp), Chief Consultant for the Metro Atlanta Battle of the Bands, and former Executive
Producer of DeKalb Schools Television Show, "Music In Motion."

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