Drum Major

One of the two drum majors for South’s marching band, senior Emily Hahm has found a niche that she feels dedicated to. Her main job as a drum major is to conduct, but she also has to prepare her teammates for rehersals, Hahm said.

“Only five percent of [my job] is actually conducting,” Hahm said. “Most of it is making sure that everyone’s having fun, feeling included, and doing what they’re supposed to.”

As a member of marching band since her freshman year, Hahm has grown to love the band and her teammates within it. To her, they are a family, Hahm explained, and they support each other through the long practices and complicated music of marching season.

“Rehearsals are pretty grueling sometimes, so I don’t know if I would have got through it without [my teammates],” Hahm said. “I love being able to serve the band because it’s done so much for me.”

Alto Sax

Senior Julia Bundy has been playing the saxophone for nine years, and has found her passion in it. In fourth grade, when she first joined band, Bundy explained she chose the saxophone over the French horn because her family deemed it the “cooler” instrument. 

“My dad [said] ‘Don’t you want to be cool?’” Bundy said. “I was like ‘Yeah, I want to be cool. I’ll play the saxophone.’”

When faced with another decision her freshman year, between choir and band, for her elective, Bundy chose band. This decision was based not on perceived “coolness” like her decision in fourth grade, but rather for the community and the innate collaboration that it takes to form a full band, Bundy explained. 

“I really love how we all work together to [create] one thing,” Bundy said. “Just one person playing an instrument is not at all the same thing as an entire band.”

Snare drum

Senior Katie Sander, who plays the snare drum, looks forward to both competitions and football games where the marching band plays. As a part of the drumline, Sander plays “bleacher beats” throughout a football game to keep the audience excited, she explained. Halftime show performances and rehearsals are seen as practice for the three to four competitions that the band performs in during the marching season.

“[We] try and bring home a trophy [at our competitions],” Sander said. “The football games are just to show what we’re doing.”

Being on marching band is a lot of work, Sander explained, but she finds it very fulfilling. Sander is always committed to improving her musical skills, and she feels that the community she’s found in marching band has helped her towards this goal.

“Having [teammates] around that are talented really pushes me to want to be better,” Sander said.

Colorguard

Spinning and twirling flags, color guard acts as the visual aspect of a marching band show. Senior Giselle Garcia joined the team last year, at the request of her friend. Though she had not originally planned on joining, she fell in love with color guard. Performing in front of an audience is the most exciting part, Garcia explained.

“Being the visual part of band is what really makes me happy,” Garcia said. “Seeing peoples’ reactions is what makes me want to keep doing [color guard].”

Some of Garcia’s best memories of color guard are from competitions. She recalls perfecting her routine before leaving, supporting teammates throughout the performance, and meeting people from other schools afterwards.

“It’s fun competing at other schools,” Garcia said. “[The band] helps each other out and you get to make new friends.”