At a Glance:

Instrument: Flute

Drum major experience: Two years

Favorite Cereal: Fruity Pebbles

Favorite Candy: Gummies

If you were a fruit, you would be a: Peach

Jeans or Sweatpants: Jeans

Favorite Stand Tune: Magnito

Looking Deeper:

TRL: As a returning drum major, what’s it like?

LH: It’s been really cool to return because I’m coming back with a lot of ideas, and in my position I can make the band better. What’s really cool is that we’ve been able to change a lot of things. Because it’s our second year, we’re more comfortable. We know how we’ve traditionally done things, but we’ve also taken the liberty to change our tradition a little bit with just how we conduct and how we do some things as a team.

TRL: What’s it like conducting with two returning drum majors?

LH: To my knowledge, or at least for a long time, this hasn’t happened in Lovejoy, to have two returning drum majors. It’s been really cool to go through this together and give each other input, and we kind of have that mutual respect as returning drum majors. We had the exact same experience last year. We’re able to agree about what went well or what didn’t last year and then put together our knowledge to make things better for next year. Joe and I have different backgrounds and different strengths and together we are able to work well together.

TRL: When did you decide you wanted to be a drum major?

LH: I made a goal for myself freshman year to be a drum major by my junior year, and I didn’t think I’d make it. My freshman year, a drum major named Anna Turner told me to try out to just gain experience, which kind of blew my mind, but that was when I realized that it could happen.

TRL: How does being a drum major work with being in band?

LH: For one thing it takes a lot more hours. It’s a huge time commitment. It’s also like taking on a job that’s unpaid, but it’s willingly and it’s an honor, but it’s definitely another level of commitment and work. And being in the band as a marcher, I loved, and it also took a lot of commitment, but I think as a drum major I’m able to take it to the next level of the role that I can have, that the directors have put us in, that’s in a position to assist them and help the band.

TRL: What’s your favorite memory in band so far?

LH: I don’t know if I can pinpoint one memory that is my favorite, but I do remember some of the times that we’ve performed. It’s the performances that make all the time and effort pay off. Like when the whole band knows it was a good performance and just looks at each other at the end and we’re like, “That was good,” and that’s something that I’ve experienced both as a performer and a drum major.

TRL: What advice would you give to future drum majors?

LH: We go to all the camps and clinics to be a drum major, but they don’t really teach you how to be a drum major. Everyone does it differently, and you have to be self-committed, no one can give you that. Hang on and remember why you joined, and it’s always going to be worth it.

TRL: Now that the season is over, what are some of your thoughts about how it went? 

LH: I am so incredibly proud of each band member and what they accomplished this season. Being a part of this team has been one of my greatest experiences ever, and that’s not exclusive to being a drum major. What other activity gives students the opportunity to be part of something so big? Our band is the best band to walk these halls, as Mr. Heuer tells us. It’s a huge honor, and I’m so sad for my last season to be over.