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'DRUMLine' Marches Its Way Into The Meyerhoff

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Music and choreography are all part of the excitement of "DRUMLine."

Ron Matz reports some of the best marching bands from historically black colleges in the U.S. will be performing at the Meyerhoff on Saturday night.

Get ready for "DRUMLine."

"'DRUMLine Live' is comprised of members of marching bands from the nation's historically black colleges and universities. It's a wonderful high impact, high energy presentation and audiences just love it," said Laura Farmer, Public Relations Manager for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra.

Thomas Booker is a member of the award-winning Baltimore City Police Marching Revels.

"I began my drumming career here with the Marching Revels. I played drums in high school at Baltimore Polytechnic. From there I went to Morgan State University where I was part of the drumline there.  So this is basically my foundation," said Booker.

It's a foundation that started in 1999.

"It came with the vision of Miss Thelma Malart of the Housing Authority of Baltimore City.  They re-developed Pleasant View Gardens and wanted to add more for the community.  So she asked me to come in and do a marching band program and it snowballed from there very quickly," said Craig Purnell, director of the Baltimore City Police Marching Revels. "There are only maybe four or five schools in the inner city that have a music program of any kind, so it's kind of a blessing to have a program like ours."

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra will present DRUMLine Live Saturday night.

"Last time they came to town they just wowed audiences so we're thrilled to have them back.  The Marching Revels will be greeting patrons as they enter. It's high energy the second you step into the concert hall," said Farmer.

The Baltimore City Police Marching Revels won the Inner Harbor competition of local marching bands last year.

"It's definitely exciting, even more so than last year. We definitely enjoyed the competition at the Inner Harbor. Being at the Meyerhoff on Saturday gives us a sense of being a part of the production without actually being on the stage. So we'll have our moment like they'll have their moment," said Purnell. "Right now we're marching about 40 brass and 20 plus percussion, and dancers and flag auxiliary.  Basically the drumline is the pulse of the group. It adds the thump and then follows with the music.  It's exciting."

"My hard work is paying off.  It's all about entertainment. What I call my passion is someone else's entertainment. I'm seeing the fruit of my labor," said Booker.

For ticket information, click here.

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