By By Adrienne McKenzie
The Escambia County High School Blue Devils band has been practicing diligently during the hot summer mornings and afternoons of July all for the sake of band camp.
The band experienced Rookie Camp July 16-20 where new band members learned the logistics of marching. The full band came in July 23 and have been practicing ever since. Band camp ends tomorrow.
According to drum major, sophomore Sheena-Marie Currie, even though the band is small, it is doing a good job this year.
"The band is improving," Currie said. "We have less people, but we're getting there. We're improving very much since last year."
The ECHS band has a new band director, Dennis Reid, who is not only teaching the students, but is getting to know band members also, according to Currie.
"Since we have a brand new band director, he is following us," she said. "So far it's been so good with him. He's basically following what we've already done. We selected all the section leaders with the old band director. He's basically just following the leader."
Currie said the band consists mainly of the same students from last year, but there are new leaders of the group.
"We mostly have the same people as last year," she said. "We have brand new section leaders and most of them are sophomores."
Currie said this year the marching band's music will consist of a Spanish theme, including songs such as "Aztec Fire" and "Children of Sanchez."
The band's new leaders include, president, Courtney Odom; vice president, Morgan Robinson; secretary, Nathan Turner; warden, Raamond Forney; drum major, Currie; flute section leader, Shamekia Jackson; clarinet section leader, Morgan Robinson; saxophone section leader, Amanda Buitron; trumpet section leader, Ashley Baldwin; horn section leader, Dakota Madison; trombone section leader, Charles Lee; baritone section leader, Thomas Johnson; tube section leader, Raamond Forney; percussion captain, Nathan Turner and co-drum captain, Raashad Forney.
The ECHS colorguard members for the year 2007-08 include, captain Danielle Hunt, co-captain Fanchona Lee, Samantha Byrd, Haley Emmons, Deidra Henderson, Nikheta Hunt, Terrica Ingram, Charla Johnson, Whitney Johnson, Meshia Kyles, Shanekqua Martin, Morgan Nichols, Kimberly Rolin, Lafesa Sims, Ashleigh Taylor, Ashley Webster and manager Sierra Redmond.