The smell of the freshly cut grass, the glare of the floodlights, and the taste of the concession stand snacks, along with the excited shouts of the home team during a touchdown are all elevated by the clammer of the marching band. Trumpets blare, flutes blow, drums hit, and the saxophone sounds distinctly, all led by the marching band drum major. Every spring, a new drum major is chosen, which is the student leader of the band.

       “They basically run rehearsals and conduct the band, which is how people know them,” senior and current drum major Stella Ware said. “They’re the face of the band and the highest leadership position in the band available to students.”

       The application process starts in early March when the application form is released. To apply, a current marching band student needs to write an essay and prepare two teacher recommendations. For the 2024 drum major applications, applicants were interviewed and participated in a four-day audition where students would prepare a piece to conduct. Marching band students and drum major applicants alike attended the week-long band camp in April when the new drum major was selected. For this year, band camp will run from April 7th through the 10th, ending with a performance at the Alan Jackson Theater for the All County Elementary Music Night.

       “[Stella] was chosen among the candidates because she displayed remarkable leadership potential in multiple capacities,” marching band director Mr. Lee states over email. “Through all of her adversity, she was the first drum major to lead a first place ensemble in over a decade, the first drum major to lead an ensemble to double-digit awards in a single season, which was the most in a season in over 20 years. Stella is also the first drum major to lead an ensemble to an Excellent rating at VBODA (major state assessment for marching bands) in over a decade, and has set the wheels in motion for future ensembles to achieve the same if not more!”

       There are many changes that marching band drum major candidates would like to make next year. Junior Kayla “Mars” Kinkopf has a focus on community.

       “If I were the drum major, then I would make sure that members are still spreading positivity and helping each other out even when it becomes hard,” Kinkopf wrote in an email. “I would also stress the importance of not bringing yourself or others down.”

       Similarly, junior Nichole “Andi” Deinlein would like to bring back some of the previous team-building activities. For example, Deinlein wants to have everyone end off practice by sitting around and discussing their day.

       “I feel like with how hard we’ve been working towards actually seeing the results in our program, we’re not as close as a family or as people anymore,” Deinlein said. “I think the way about doing that is at the very end, everyone gathers around the drum major podium, and then they talk to everybody about how we did and what we needed to work forward, to go home and take care of ourselves.”

       In past competition seasons, some projected points were not received, impacting many students’ attitudes, including Deinlein, towards the sport.

       “I knew to expect a loss every single time I got on that field,” Deinlein states. “I don’t want anyone in this program to ever have to feel how I did that every single time that they perform, that it would be like for nothing.”