Q Comes to ESU

Q is proud to be at ESU. Photo Courtesy / Deanna Walter
Q is proud to be at ESU. Photo Courtesy / Deanna Walter
Q is proud to be at ESU.
Photo Courtesy / Deanna Walter

By Melissa Valentovic

SC Contributing Writer

East Stroudsburg University is now the new home of the competitive indoor color guard team, Q Performance Ensemble. Q is directed by Franko Robinson.

The team originally started out at Quakertown High School. The team then eventually competed independently and changed its name to “Q”.

Indoor color guard is a sport that combines dance with the performers tossing, catching and, ‘spinning’ different equipment such as flags, rifles and sabres that make up the theatrical, competitive performances. Performances utilize music and costumes to portray their show’s themes.

Indoor color guard differs from the color guard performers that are seen with marching bands because in indoor color guard, instead of a marching band providing the music, prerecorded music is used.

Under the Q organization, there are now two teams. The first team, “Q”, consists of fifteen members and competes on a national level. They will compete in the Winter Guard International championships in Dayton, Ohio this April.

The second team, Q2, consists of nine members and serves as a training team for Q. Q2 competes more locally throughout the season. They will travel to Wildwood, New Jersey at the end of April for the Tournament of Indoor Association championships.

Some past accomplishments for Q include making the finals at WGI World Championships in the Independent A category in 2013 and 2014.

Most recently this season, Q traveled to South Brunswick, New Jersey, on February 28, where they competed at WGI’s Regional Championships. The team won the Independent A Championship title.

Q captain, junior hotel restaurant and tourism management major Zach Jacobes, is excited that Q is now at East Stroudsburg University. Jacobes, who has been with Q since he started as a student at Quakertown High School said, “I am most excited for the opportunity for Q’s growth. Being at ESU gives Q more exposure to potential members.”

Q2 captain, sophomore psychology major Terry Eskow, has performed at ESU as a member on the color guard on the ESU Warrior marching band both fall semesters that she has been here. However, not only is this is her first year being a part of Q2, but this is her first year ever participating in indoor color guard.

Eskow has been enjoying the competitive aspect of the activity, explaining how her favorite part of being involved on the team is “performing at competitions” and that she is “looking forward to working with the staff and to keep pushing and improving.”

Email Melissa at:

mvalentovi@live.esu.edu