Dance & Aux Forum

Don’t ever tell Quincy Griffin’s band students they can’t get something accomplished.

If the group’s recent excursion to Los Angeles is any indication, not only can members of the Rickards High School band accomplish whatever they set their minds to, but they can also walk away with $5,000 and a trophy as proof.

They’re good and they know it — now most of California knows it too.

The Marching Raiders drum line traveled to the West Coast and took first place at the first Battle of the High School Marching Bands Drum Off at The Home Depot Center. Rickards was the only school outside of California to have a drum line accepted in the competition.

“They saw our video on Youtube and requested us to come,” Griffin said. “After that request they called and said if we agreed we’d be accepted into the competition. They told me to just fill out some paperwork and submit it and we’d be in.”

Getting to California wasn’t easy, Griffin said. The drum line enlisted the help of several sponsors, including Florida A&M alumnus and philanthropist Bernard Kinsey, but still had to fundraise outside Lindy’s Fried Chicken.

The group also had to take three separate flights to LA, during which a pair of cymbals was lost.

Despite losing a key piece of the drum line, and one member performing minutes after being discharged from the hospital with an illness, the group made a strong enough impression to earn first place honors.

Griffin, who has been director for eight years, said this trip was different from previous experiences in that it opened the group’s eyes to a new side of the country.

“The judges said our performance was on the level of a college performance,” Griffin said. “I can honestly say these guys worked harder for this than they’ve worked for anything. So many people thought it would be impossible to get to the West Coast.”

Percussion section leader Marcus Johnson said the drum line is a lot like a family. As a senior, Johnson serves as one of the heads of the family. He said during the competition he made sure to keep himself collected so his bandmates would follow his example.