Editor’s Note: “Hawks Uncovered” is a series that tells the often unknown stories of Hebron students and staff.
She finally made it.
Junior Ashley Chapman has wanted to be a drum major since her freshman year.
Despite that, she didn’t try out for drum major going into her sophomore year because she said she felt like she was still too new. However, going into her junior year, Ashley felt ready and tried out for drum major, but didn’t get the position. This did not stop her from taking on leadership roles, though. She became squad leader for her section, the flutes, and co-head librarian for the band. Now, going into her senior year, she tried out for drum major once again, and finally made it.
Going into the audition, Ashley said she felt scared. Part of her brain was trying to alleviate some of the pressure by telling her the audition was just for fun, and whether she gets it or not, she will always love the band program. The other part of her brain was telling her the audition wasn’t actually for fun; it was going to determine if she would be able to achieve the thing she had wanted since freshman year.
The audition consisted of a conducting portion where applicants had to conduct the school song and fight song in front of the directors and a judges panel. They then had to conduct different patterns with and without the metronome to see how well they kept time. The second portion of the audition was interviews. Those who advanced from the first phase of the had to sit down in an interview with the directors and then the current senior band officers.
Once Ashley found out she would be a drum major for the 2024-2025 school year, she couldn’t be happier.
Her goal is to be like the past drum majors, from whom she has found inspiration in. She wants to be able to provide incoming freshmen with a reason to stay in band and put effort in every day, just like those she looked up to. Ashley said that it’s important for her to be a friend to everyone, as that is what kept her in the band.
Through her years in band and her experience of auditioning for drum major, she said that the biggest takeaway has been the amount of growth she has seen within herself – not only in skill, but as a person. Ashley said that she feels ready for the upcoming year and can’t wait to see even more growth in herself as she evolves into her role going into her senior year.
