DRUMLine Live Celebrates Black History Month at Elmira High School

The acclaimed stage show inspired by the 2002 film "Drumline" brings HBCU marching band energy to New York students.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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As part of Black History Month celebrations, the DRUMLine Live stage show made a stop in Elmira, New York, performing for students at Elmira High School. The show, inspired by the 2002 film "Drumline", features a cast of performers who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country. The high-energy production wowed the students, who were excited to watch and interact with the talented cast.

Why it matters

DRUMLine Live's performance at Elmira High School provided students with an opportunity to experience the rich cultural traditions and musical excellence of HBCU marching bands, which have long been a source of pride and inspiration for the Black community. The show's visit during Black History Month underscores the importance of celebrating and honoring the contributions of Black artists and musicians.

The details

DRUMLine Live was created by musical director Don P. Roberts, who was inspired by the 2002 film "Drumline". The stage show features a cast of performers who attended HBCUs across the country, bringing their unique marching band skills and energy to the production. Cast members Kyle Tolbert and Aaron Reid both expressed how personal the experience was for them, with Tolbert having family who attended HBCUs and Reid having long dreamed of being part of an HBCU marching band.

  • DRUMLine Live performed at Elmira High School on February 11, 2026.
  • The show is also scheduled to perform at the Clemens Center in Elmira on February 11, 2026 at 7:30 pm.

The players

DRUMLine Live

A stage show inspired by the 2002 film "Drumline" that features a cast of performers who attended Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country.

Don P. Roberts

The musical director of DRUMLine Live, who was inspired by the 2002 film "Drumline" to reinvent the show in a new stage version.

Kyle Tolbert

A member of the DRUMLine Live cast who expressed how personal the experience was for him, as he has family who attended HBCUs.

Aaron Reid

A cast member of DRUMLine Live who said the movie "Drumline" inspired him to be part of an HBCU marching band, a long-held dream of his.

Emma Moffett

An Elmira High School student who expressed excitement and gratitude for DRUMLine Live's performance at their school.

Jace Barr

An Elmira High School student who was impressed by DRUMLine Live's performance, saying it was even better than he had expected.

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What they’re saying

“For me, it was in a sense necessary because I have family that also went to HBCUs. I had like an uncle and a cousin that went to Tuskegee University, and another one that went to Spellman University.”

— Kyle Tolbert, DRUMLine Live Cast Member (mytwintiers.com)

“I've seen the movie DrumLine, and I was very passionate about being part of an HBCU marching band. It's been one of the few dreams I've had, so I wanted to be a part of it.”

— Aaron Reid, DRUMLine Live Cast Member (mytwintiers.com)

“It's super exciting, and they're just super talented, and we're so grateful that they were able to come here.”

— Emma Moffett, Elmira High School Student (mytwintiers.com)

“It was really good, and I wasn't expecting it. I knew it was gonna be good, but it's just so much better than I was thinking.”

— Jace Barr, Elmira High School Student (mytwintiers.com)

What’s next

DRUMLine Live is scheduled to perform at the Clemens Center in Elmira, New York on February 11, 2026 at 7:30 pm. Tickets for the show can be purchased through the Clemens Center website.

The takeaway

DRUMLine Live's performance at Elmira High School during Black History Month showcased the rich cultural traditions and musical excellence of HBCU marching bands, inspiring students and celebrating the contributions of Black artists and musicians. The show's high-energy production and talented cast left a lasting impression on the Elmira community.