The place of Drum Main in an HBCU Band is a task that holds one of many highest distinctions on an HBCU soccer sport day. Even with file enrollments and elevated variety at traditionally black schools and universities, the Drum Main of an HBCU band is a task that’s nonetheless generally occupied by African-American males. In accordance with a report by the Savannah Tribune, Savannah State College’s Powerhouse of the South Marching Band will come into its 2024 soccer season with its first-ever white Drum Main in Hinesville, Georgia native Christopher Taylor.
Taylor, in his third yr as a member of the Powerhouse of the South Marching Band informed the Tribune, “I’m simply very honored to be part of Savannah State’s historical past. I intention to make the varsity proud and paint a vibrant future for not solely the band program however for town of Savannah as properly.”
Taylor initially tried out for Drum Main within the spring however wasn’t chosen, he tried out once more for the Fall season and was picked for the place. “I didn’t need to quit. Changing into drum main was a objective I set out for myself once I first got here to SSU and I wished to see it by means of to the top,” Taylor stated.
Chris Taylor can be one among three Drum Majors for Savannah State this yr, becoming a member of Aaron Franklin and head drum main Shai McKenney in main the 125-member band.
Savannah State director of bands Dr. Gabriel Arnold informed the Savannah Tribune that seven others tried out for the place however that Taylor’s marching and communication abilities bought him the job over the opposite candidates. “He’s an impressive marcher and offers 1000 % every time he’s on the sphere…He additionally has nice communication abilities and he gained over loads of the members due to that,” stated Dr. Gabriel.
Aubrey Simmons, a former Drum Main at North Carolina Central College was Chris Taylor’s band director in highschool on the Bradwell Institute in Hinesville, Georgia, and has been an assistant band director for the Powerhouse of the South since 2021, working intently with Taylor as he has transitioned from the corps type of marching band of his highschool to the flashier showtime or HBCU type of marching band in faculty.
“He joined the marching band his sophomore yr (of highschool) and started to work actually onerous on changing into a fantastic bandsman. He labored onerous to develop into part chief his senior yr and did a tremendous job of main a fantastic group of scholars… Chris is the primary collegiate drum main to come back out of one among my band packages. I hope that he is not going to be the final. I do know that he can be nice at SSU main the band this coming yr.” Simmons says within the article.
Whereas Chris Taylor isn’t the primary white Drum Main of an HBCU band, it’s nonetheless uncommon to see a white individual within the main position of an African-American musical establishment like an HBCU Band, however with Taylor being native to the area and a fan of the HBCU type of play, his connections to the world and music make him an ideal match for the position, no matter race. “I’d say Bradwell had a huge effect on my selections not solely due to type however due to Mr Aubrey Simmons. He inspired SSU as an choice and understanding he was additionally concerned with SSU’s band I felt comfy with the choice…Savannah isn’t too removed from dwelling and the schooling in comparison with different faculties appeared much more manageable. The band additionally grabbed my consideration and I knew I wished to be aside of this type and tradition in Savannah.”
Taylor will take the sphere for his first sport as a Drum Main towards Central State College on Sept. 14 at Theodore A. Wright Stadium in Savannah, Georgia.
