Marching into Leadership: Next years’ drum majors look forward to working together to lead the band

Sophomore Shubra Durgavathi and junior Lincoln King stood in the office of the band room at 7 a.m. discussing leadership plans during this upcoming July’s band camp. The two were asked by band directors Alex Toepfer and Eric Starnes to come to school early on March 22, the day band leadership positions were announced.

Neither had a clue that minutes later they would be given the titles of drum majors.

“I was so excited I didn't show it on my face, but I did speed walk out the door and just do a little lap and then come back,” Durgavathi said. “Lincoln was as well, he was a little bit better at hiding it.”

There are three drum majors each year — typically two seniors, one who had already been a drum major, and one junior. They hold the highest leadership position in the band and are in charge of directing the band during the marching season through football and basketball games and competitions. They’re leaders who students can come to when they need help.

Soon to be head drum major, junior Madi Moorman has spent this past year as junior drum major learning how to lead the band from the other current drum majors, seniors Davis Muther and Charlie Muehlberger.

“I've learned a lot [this year] about dealing with people and asserting yourself because it's hard to try and be the authority over some of your close friends when they're not doing what they're supposed to be doing,” Moorman said. “So I've just been getting some better leadership skills and more confidence.”

King thinks he'll be prepared for the drum major position after being a field captain this past year. He believes his involvement in nearly every position in the band and his ability to communicate with others is the main reason he received the position out of 12 candidates auditioning.

“The most important skill is just talking to people.” King said. “Talking to people and most importantly listening to what they have to say because a lot of times even if you don't do anything about it people just really appreciate being able to have someone to talk to and tell their problems to.”

Durgavathi and King have bonded this year through being lab partners in their chemistry class and are looking forward to carrying this partner dynamic over into band and working together next year alongside Moorman.

“I'm actually super excited to work with them,” King said. “I thought that Shubra was gonna get Drum Major because she's pretty much the perfect candidate. So I'm overjoyed. Both of them are great people. It's gonna be a great year.”