Marching band director Mr. Nicholas Pignataro, drum majors, band volunteers, and drumline members share their experiences in the 2024-2025 Panther Marching Band Season.
Drumline
The drumline devotes its time to the band and goes through a difficult audition process. Drumline can be a very important part of the band, tying the band together. Drumline members need to work well with each other because of the variety of skills each one possesses.
“When we screen them for auditions, they perform for [drumline director] Mr. [Gusten] Rudolph and he’s not looking for the best drummer, but he’s looking for drummers who are working hard, and that’s the key,” Pignataro said. “So hard work, [be] willing to put in a lot of time, a steady beat, and ability to read notes are very important.”
Rehearsals and performances show the drumline’s hard work and dedication to the marching band. According to Pignataro, drumline members must have a certain mentality to be strong and successful in their field.
“They are some of the hardest-working students of our band,” he said. “They rehearse longer, show up earlier, and leave last, and they all have musical skills and the potential to grow as musicians.”
Snare drums, bass drums, cymbals, and quince were all possibilities for the auditions into the drumline. Rudolph holds auditions before band camp to decide the places of students he wants on the drumline.
“Mr. Rudolph gave us ‘Motown Opener’ to see the techniques we could use with the drums,” freshman Jon Hoffman said. “He wanted to see where people were at to decide where to place people.”
Drum Majors
Drum majors also dedicate their time to marching band every year. Many students in the marching band look up to the drum majors for leadership. This year’s drum majors are seniors Quinten Saylor, Olivia Heisey-Terrell, and Cecily Heisey-Terrrell.
“Everything that is a gigantic task… I utilize their time for things like going over big decisions with them or having them cut music for me. I always need them there for the band and myself,” Pignataro said.
Pignataro trusts the drum majors to do anything and everything that may help the band be the best that they can be. Therefore, a drum major’s characteristics are specific.
“I’m looking for somebody who can unite the band, I’m looking for somebody who works well on a team, and I’m looking for someone who I can trust in my absence,” Pignataro said. “I am also looking for someone who I can give a hard time to and they’re not going to break down.”
Olivia Heisey-Terrell shared what the process of becoming a drum major looked like through her experience.
“The audition process was kind of scary. We had to submit an application online sharing things about yourself and what you’ve done,” Heisey-Terrell said. “If we made it on, then we had an interview with the executive counsel from last year and we had to do some conducting for the symphonic band.”
Although it took hard work to get to where she is now, this marching band season has been a valuable experience for Heisey-Terrell.
“I think I like being responsible for the band and conducting is really fun,” she said. “Being there and using my skills for the band in that positive way really drew me to the position.”
Roadies
Throughout the marching band season, band volunteers, also known as Roadies, assist in the 300-person marching band. Roadie Cathy Dunn shares why she volunteers her time, and what types of tasks she completes during the season as a band volunteer.
“I was looking for a way to volunteer with the school,” Dunn said. “I help assist with equipment, especially uniforms, for example, giving things out to students before they perform and being a chaperone on the buses.”
The Roadies are a long-standing tradition that is part of the SHHS band boosters organization.
“They are very happy to work with me and give me whatever I need. They are angels and incredibly selfless,” Pignataro said.
Watching the students in the band grow with each other has been a joyful experience for the Roadies. Dunn shares what she has gained while being a Roadie.
“One thing I learned from doing this is about the fabulous band we had. It’s been wonderful to see it up close and to see the leadership and teachers,” she said.
Reporter is a member of the Panther Marching Band.
