NCCU band's big moment had some hurdles

PASADENA, Cal. -- N.C. Central University's Marching Sound Machine had to overcome funding problems, sieges of bad weather and even fear of flying to complete its long-standing goal: marching in Saturday's 122nd Rose Parade.

Thousands of roadside spectators cheered on the Marching Sound Machine as they played Michael Jackson's "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" while executing some of Jackson's most famous dance moves - the moonwalk and anti-gravity lean.

"I never imagined how many people would be there," said Letitia Harris, a junior trombone player. "I can't even think right now; I'm just trying to catch my breath."


Videographer: Music 213

Sound Machine 'brings it'

PASADENA, Calif. -- The N.C. Central University Marching Sound Machine's debut at the Rose Parade on Saturday was a success. The tricky 110-degree turn onto Colorado Boulevard? Flawless. The moon-walking dance moves? Smooth as silk. The response of the crowd? Almost louder than the band's drum line.

"It went very, very well," said Brian Henry, tuba player and senior in mass communication at NCCU. "The turn was very easy. Everybody did an excellent job. It was awesome!"

NCCU plays Disney

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For members of the N.C. Central University Marching Sound Machine band, Tuesday was their longest day -- it began with packing up in Durham at 2 a.m. and ended 22 hours later in California with the receipt of their new uniforms.

The new costumes arrived at the hotel just in time for their first performance at Disneyland on Wednesday. The design is the same as that developed in 2003, but the band members appreciated having bright new uniforms for their Tournament of Roses Parade performance on New Year's Day in Pasadena.


Videographer: Music 213 -  NCCU Marching Sound Machine performance @ Pasadena Bandfest, Part 1.

NCCU Marching Sound Machine Band honors FAMU's late Dr. William P. Foster

The North Carolina Central University Marching Sound  Machine Band honored the late Dr. William P. Foster at the December 30, 2010, Bandfest in Pasadena, California. The band played a tribute to Dr. Foster, performing Michael Jackson's Bird Song.  Dr. Foster was the "dean and innovator of American university marching bands."

The NCCU band has been greatly influenced by the legendary musical and marching innovations of Dr. Foster through their director, Mr. Jorim E. Reid.  Mr Reid is a positive example of the many fine musicians that have fully developed, enhanced and perfected their craft and musicianship under the late Dr.William P. Foster's leadership at Florida A&M University.

Mr. Reid, a former FAMU Marching 100 drum major, oboe player, piano major, student music arranger for the famous Marching 100 Band, and conductor extraordinaire, is creating his own legacy and influence on student- musicians throughout North Carolina and the World.

Take a listen to the superb musicianship, showmanship, symphonic arrangements and marching precision of the North Carolina Central University Marching Sound Machine Band on part 2 of the Pasadena, California Bandfest performance. Eagle Pride - Amplified!


Videographer: Music 213 - NCCU Marching Sound Machine Band, Part 2.

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North Carolina Central Marching Sound Machine debut at 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade and at Disneyland

2011 Rose Bowl Parade- Part 1 Bands included in this video: Southwest Dekalb High School Marching Panther Band (Decatur, Ga.), North Japan Green Marching Band, North Carolina Central University Marching Sound Machine Band. Professor Jorim E. Reid - NCCU Director of Bands.

By Videographer: TheOProductions1907


Videographer: Music213 (Live Stand View)


Videographer: SFVCyclone


Videographer: MrTJ85
NCCU Marching Sound Machine Performance at Disneyland, California

Videographer: aespejo104
NCCU Marching South Maching at the 2011 Bandfest in Pasadena, CA

Videographer: TheCyberTraveler

Videographer: Music213

Jorim E. Reid

NCCU Director of Bands

Professor Jorim Edgar Reid graduated from Miami Norland Senior High School in Miami, Florida, where he was a student of the renowned bandmaster, Kenneth Rudolph Tolbert.

He then graduated from Florida A&M University earning a Bachelor of Science degree in music education (1999) with piano as his major instrument. There he privately studied arranging, composition, and film scoring with Professor Lindsey B. Sarjeant and Dr. Marty Robinson. Reid served the band program as principal oboist for wind ensemble and symphonic bands and head drum major, saxophone, and student arranger for marching band.

He later received his masters degree in music education (2000) from the Florida State University School of Music with oboe as his major instrument. There he studied arranging and composition under Professor Brian Gaber and Professor Bill Peterson. Jorim is currently studying for a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Boston University (2009, DMA). Reid is on faculty of music department and serves as director of bands at North Carolina Central University. He is also advisor to Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority.

Mr. James O. Seda

Director of Bands

Southwest Dekalb High School, Decatur, Georgia

James O. Seda is currently the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School. He is a product of the Atlanta Public School System, having graduated from Southside Comprehensive High School. Mr. Seda received his Bachelors of Science Degree in Music Education from Florida A&M University. While there, he studied conducting with Dr. William P. Foster and Dr. Julian E. White. He was also in the trumpet studio of Dr. Marty Robinson. Mr. Seda is currently enrolled in the Masters of Music Education Program at Northern Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois.

Mr. Seda has been the Director of Bands at Southwest Dekalb High School since 2001. Prior to that he served as Assistant Director of Bands at Chapel Hill Middle School for two years, the primary feeder school to Southwest Dekalb High School, also assisting with the band program at Southwest Dekalb simultaneously. Mr. Seda is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, The International Trumpet Guild, Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the Screen Actor's Guild and MACE. Mr. Seda was The STAR Teacher for Southwest Dekalb High School in 2005-2006 and has been recognized and honored by Who's Who Among America's Teachers multiple times.

While attending Florida A&M University, Mr. Seda was a very active musician. He held the principal trumpet chair in the FAMU Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and the lead trumpet chair in the FAMU Jazz Ensemble. As a member of the world famous 'Marching 100' Mr. Seda served as trumpet section leader for two years, as well as being elected business manager, vice-president, and president in consecutive years.

Mr. Seda has performed in Paris, France, The Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland and the North Seas Jazz Festival in The Haag, Holland. He has also performed in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. Television and radio features are also to his credit as CNN displayed his talents in a television documentary on the life of jazz musician Jesse Stone. He has done studio sessions for television and radio commercials, as well as short films and movies. Mr. Seda also worked on the 20th Century Fox motion picture DRUMLINE as a music arranger, band organizer, instrumentalist, and actor extra.

The Southwest Dekalb High School highly acclaimed marching band is 230+ musicians and is performing in its second Tournament of Roses Parade (2006, 2011).

Mr. Seda's and Southwest Dekalb Marching Panther Band assistant directors of bands are: Mr. Steven L. Cooper (West Palm Beach, FL), Florida A&M University; Mr. Demetrius Hubert (Atlanta, GA) - Director of Percussion, Florida A&M University; Mr. Byron Ellie Jackson (Decatur, GA), Staff Assistant/ Director of Drum Majors, Florida A&M University; and Ms. Stasha Dion Ogletree (Atlanta, GA), Dancing Diva Director/Choreographer, Albany State University.