Terry Sanders is in his 30th year as a Marching Percussion Instructor and Educator. He is currently the Director of Percussion at Escambia High School in Pensacola, Florida. Under his direction, the EHS Field Season Percussion unit has won over 40 High Drum Caption awards and has received no less than a superior rating at any Band Contest since 1982. Mr. Sanders started and has directed the acclaimed Diamonds Indoor Percussion Ensemble to WGI Regional Championships as well as WGI World Championship finalist and participant since 1997.
Terry was responsible for coordinating Florida's largest and most successful Marching Percussion Clinic to date: the Percussive Arts Society - Florida Chapter - Day of Percussion (DOP). The DOP spanned 20 years, featuring the world’s best marching percussion clinicians.
Mr. Sanders received his degrees in Music Education and Computer and Information Science from Troy State University. He studied percussion under Dr. Samuel Frederick, while marching with the “Sound of the South” Trojan Band. Terry studied clarinet with Dr. John M. Long in the Troy State Reading Band. He also studied percussion privately with Sergeant Carl Griggs of the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. Terry was the Percussion Caption Head and arranger for the Florida Wave Drum and Bugle Corps from 1980 - 81.
Terry actively serves as a championship level adjudicator for fall marching competitions and indoor percussion and indoor winds competitions across the country. He is a currently an active WGI Percussion Judge and a current DCI Percussion Judge.
Mr. Sanders currently serves on the WGI Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee. Terry was also a member of the 2022-2024 WGI Steering Committee.
He has served many years on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board, most recently in 2016. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity, and he is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society and currently serves on the PAS Marching Percussion Committee and the PAS Diversity Alliance. Mr. Sanders formerly served from 2018-2022 as the Program Coordinator and as a Music Ensemble consultant for Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps.
Terry is currently an Educational Artist endorser for Innovative Percussion, the REMO Drumhead Company, Zildjian Cymbals and the Pearl/Adams Drum Company. Mr. Sanders also operates and owns the Mic Check One Two One Two Virtual Percussion Judges Academy.
