Saints Drumline

Boisterous: that’s the best word to describe the Saints Drumline. They are high-​energy and heart-​thumping loud. You can hear them from a mile away, and the sound will draw you nearer. But, when you get to the source, you might be surprised to find children.
The Saints Drumline is a thirty-​member youth group. The members are mainly minorities from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. The students gain confidence by learning how to expand their talents, work as a unified group, and express themselves in front of a crowd. They practice two times a week, two hours a night at the Rosewind Community Center. The students and their families also participate in fundraisers to purchase equipment and uniforms and meet other expenses. All in all, it’s a very noble effort.
I’ve seen different members of the Saints perform several times over the past couple of years. I’ve watched them during Short Stop Youth clinics, the Gallery Hops, and the 2007 Short North Gala. Each time, I have been very impressed.
From what I can tell, most of the kids are elementary and middle school age. I don’t know a lot about drums, but as an average spectator, I always find their performances fun. And I’m not alone. I’ve stood on High St packed shoulder-​to-​shoulder with strangers to watch the Saints. They keep pretty good time. Their beats are creative. And they have the biggest grins when they’re performing; they’re hams for sure.
I couldn’t find a performance schedule for the Saints online. I think they’re one of those groups that you stumble upon by chance. But they’re very active, so if you’re out and about at events, you have a good chance of seeing them.