Playing sports and participating in marching band offers skills and life lessons at Concord High

Sebastian Telus (35) is a freshman tight end for the Crimson Tide and a saxophone player in the marching band.

Sebastian Telus (35) is a freshman tight end for the Crimson Tide and a saxophone player in the marching band. Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

Sebastian Telus (35) is a freshman tight end for the Crimson Tide and a saxophone player in the marching band.

Sebastian Telus (35) is a freshman tight end for the Crimson Tide and a saxophone player in the marching band. Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

Senior cheer captain, Addison Cain, also plays the flute at halftime during the Crimson Tide's football games despite performing routines on the sidelines throughout the game.

Senior cheer captain, Addison Cain, also plays the flute at halftime during the Crimson Tide's football games despite performing routines on the sidelines throughout the game. Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

Ramon Reynolds (24), a freshman running back, plays the saxophone for the band at halftime.

Ramon Reynolds (24), a freshman running back, plays the saxophone for the band at halftime. Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

Ramon Reynolds playing the saxophone at halftime while the rest of the team goes into the locker room to game-plan.

Ramon Reynolds playing the saxophone at halftime while the rest of the team goes into the locker room to game-plan. Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

(Left to right) Addison Cain, Charlotte Lynn and Millai Colfry stand amongst the rest of the band in their cheer attire.

(Left to right) Addison Cain, Charlotte Lynn and Millai Colfry stand amongst the rest of the band in their cheer attire. Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

Phoebe Dater-Roberts (left) plays the trumpet at a football half-time performance after competing in a cross-country event

Phoebe Dater-Roberts (left) plays the trumpet at a football half-time performance after competing in a cross-country event Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

Senior football lineman, Jacob Breau, plays the Trombone in his full pads at half-time

Senior football lineman, Jacob Breau, plays the Trombone in his full pads at half-time Chip Griffin—Photos by Chip

By ALEXANDER RAPP

Monitor staff

Published: 10-25-2024 1:21 PM

At halftime of Concord High School’s football games, the team huddles around the coach as it retools its attack.

But a few players like linemen Jacob Breau, Damon Corbett, and Jacoby Cruz get no rest at half. These football players switch mental gears from hard-nosed play to focused musical moves within a few minutes as the marching band rolls onto the field, all while still wearing full pads.

These players aren’t the only athletes out there marching and switching gears quickly, as others hop off the bus from a game elsewhere and run out in the nick of time.

At Concord High School, more than half of the Crimson Tide’s marching band participate in an athletic program at junior varsity or varsity levels, breaking the stereotype that sports is for “jocks” and band is for “geeks.”

Ditching a helmet for a trombone isn’t a huge switch for Breau when he looks at it from the broader perspective of being part of a school community.

“I feel like we’re all connected because we all know we all put in a bunch of time and effort into what we do,” said Jacob Breau, a senior. “Playing an instrument takes a lot of time and effort, and we all understand that.”

Band directors Gabe Cohen and Brin Cowette work to eliminate stereotypes and barriers by communicating with coaches and students to ensure players will be able to attend and participate in band and athletics events with ease.

“The stereotypes within, we work really hard to debunk that,” Cohen said. “It’s against our philosophy here. We’ve taken that philosophy on, and it’s become the community philosophy.”

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The band exemplifies Concord High School’s values around diversity and respect.

“I think what’s permeated into the culture of Concord High School, is that we are inclusive and we want well-rounded people,” Cohen said. “We want kids who are good musicians, but we also want kids who are good athletes and good students as well, and I think that that part of our culture that we’ve fostered has overflowed into a culture of Concord High School.”

Besides football players, the band features cheerleaders, soccer players, golfers, cross-country athletes and more who come together to put on musical shows for the community. In fact, more athletes are joining the band than ever before.

“I’d say I’m friends, like really good friends, with a lot of people that I wouldn’t necessarily know through band,” said cheer captain and flute-player Addison Cain. “A lot of the people on the cheer team don’t know anybody in the band. So I really enjoy getting to know very different types of people and being friends with them.”

Balancing it all out is very difficult at times but the band athletes said the school provides ample flexibility so that students can make it work on top of their studies. Cohen and Cowette are in charge of the logistical side of the puzzle that allows athletes to pursue their musical passions.

“I haven’t said this in a while with the kids, but I always say how you approach one thing is generally how you approach everything,” Cohen said. “So the work ethic that they show, either in-band or football, is going to be the same level of commitment and work ethic that they’re going to have the other thing.”

The band takes up class time as part of students’ curriculum — and also host a band camp at the summer to get synchronized as unit. Although band camp and pre-season practice can be tough, the band still provides a nice counter-balance to varsity sports for many athletes.

"Going between football and band camp made for a few long days, getting up at like 5 to 6 o'clock and then not getting home until about seven,” said Corbett, another senior trombone player. “It was hard, but it's what we're here for."

Cruz said playing in the band at halftime actually makes him a better football player.

"Playing in a long show, like having that focus, you feel like it helps to your mental endurance when you're in the game," the junior said.

The athletes in the band take pride in representing their school in sports and music alike. It helps them learn better time management and offers new friendships that helps them grow as individuals.

“I think that Concord High School supports students being multifaceted, multi-talented, and pursuing all their interests,” said Cowette. “I think that that’s something that this community does really well, and we take pride in that in the music league as well.”

Makayla Root, a three-sport athlete in soccer, basketball and track plays the clarinet in the band and was worried about not being able to handle the workload of participating in the band. 

"I found out about marching band and I thought I would have to drop a sport, or I'd have to just quit band all together,” Root said. “I wanted to be able to juggle it. And I'm just so happy I didn't make that decision, and I kept with band."

Multiple athletes cited the value of doing both.

“In terms of being a student-athlete and also a band member, I think it’s just worth saying that you can be both despite all the stereotypes and the preconceived notions. You can be both,” added Myrick Oxnard, a member of the band and the cross-country team.

The band and athletics have multiple similarities, including teaching students how to be a good teammate. 

“We teach them how to listen to each other. We teach them how to be kind to each other. All of those things that matter in life are taught just in the things we do in our classes,” said Cohen. “All of our performing groups, that’s just part of what we do. It’s part of being part of that team, but it also translates into being a professional in the future and and a good community member.”

Alexander Rapp can be reached at arapp@cmonitor.com