By: Brienna Burr
Drum Major America Vasquezlara ‘23 and her assistant Drum Major is Pricila Cenobio, ‘23. Both seniors are enjoying their time leading the Redwood Band.
Vasquezlara says “A Drum Major is below the band director but above the band.” She says a Drum Major is “someone who takes charge and conducts the entire show, the leader of the band.”
Assistant Drum Major, Pricila Cenobio adds that “a Drum Major is pretty much the conductor of the band.”
Cenobio says that being a Drum Major means a lot to her. She says “it means being a very responsible person but [a Drum Major] is also the ‘face’ of the band.”
According to Vasquezlara, being a Drum Major “means you have a lot of pressure on your shoulders but at the same time there’s also people looking up to you.” A Drum Major is the one “setting the example for the freshmen, for the sophomores, or just the [band members] in general.”
Drum majors need to have the ability “to take charge.” says Vasquezlara. She said that her junior year people started taking notice of her leadership skills. She originally did not intend to be Drum Major for this year.
However, a lot went into the process of Vasquezlara becoming Drum Major. She “wrote a one page essay [and had] an in person interview to make sure [her] voice was loud and that [she knows] the commands and [knows] how to conduct.”
Vasquezlara said she found out she was going to be Drum Major “almost immediately.”
Cenobio says that being Assistant Drum Major is “more of the relaxing part” she does not have as much responsibility as the Head Drum Major though she enjoys her role.
Vasquezlara’s favorite part about being Drum Major is “the fact that [she’s] able to connect with every single person in the band.” As Drum Major she is “someone who is there for every single person…”
Brienna Burr
Brienna Burr, '24, is in her third year of writing and editing for the Redwood Gigantea. Outside of journalism, Brienna is a part of Dance Force, CSF, Assisteens Visalia and International Dance. You can reach her by email at brien.bu9038@vusd.us
Tags: band, band major, football, redwood high school