Drum majors march to victory

Los Lunas

Determination, motivation and teamwork — that’s what being a drum major at Los Lunas High School is all about for two hard-working Los Lunas High School teens.

Senior Rachel Howard and junior Stephany San Nicolas are still talking about the drum major camp at Northern Arizona University held in July. The camp, hosted by the United Spirit Association, brought drum majors together from all over the Southwest.

Howard and San Nicolas learned about teamwork and conducting execution through an intense three-day work session. The two bonded on the trip and say they had so much fun, they barely got any sleep.

As upperclassman, the two girls were never friends before joining band and becoming drum majors. “I don’t think we ever talked before,” Howard recalls. “But, at band camp, we had to share a room and really get to know each other.”

Before going to camp, San Nicolas says, her conducting skills weren’t as polished as she wanted them to be. “We learned so much. It helped for us to talk to other drum majors. We felt a lot more comfortable working together.”

This is Howard’s second year as a drum major for the LLHS Tiger Band. The daughter of Mark and Brenda Howard, Rachel’s musical resume includes playing the French horn, trumpet, mellophone and clarinet. In fact, music runs in the family. Rachel’s sister, Ashley, was a drum major for the high school band two years ago.

“I think my conducting is very expressive. I communicate the music visually, whether the notes are quiet and smooth or hard and staccato,” Howard said.

Both drum majors agree it takes a lot of responsibility to lead 116 band students. As head drum major this year, San Nicolas says she must exude strong leadership qualities while working with her fellow drum major. The alto-sax and clarinet player is the daughter of Thomas and Alma San Nicolas.

“We have to get along really well,” San Nicolas says of her relationship with Howard. “Sometimes we argue, but we always compromise in the end. It’s all about teamwork. You have to be loud and outgoing. You can’t be shy.”

Marching skills are also a must-have for successful conducting. “We’re an example to the other band students, so not only do we have to execute the commands, but we have to be able to march with our feet together, chin up, stomach in and shoulders back,” Howard says.

Practice is necessary for the LLHS Tiger band. The week starts with an hour and a half of practice before school every morning, followed by two-hour rehearsals on Monday nights.

Howard and San Nicolas are required to be at every practice and every band performance. “Mentally and physically, we have to be in tip-top shape,” Howard says, smiling. “We have to devote ourselves entirely.”

The drum majors seem to be making a big impact on their fellow musicians. Both girls say that, when they come to practice prepared and smiling, their friends take on the same qualities. “If we’re happy and focused, so is everyone else. They look to us a role models.”

There is no stopping these motivated students. “Band this year is awesome,” says San Nicolas with authority. “There’s a good chance we’ll make it to finals. Everyone is working hard.”

For Howard, there’s nothing like the feeling of standing on the podium and watching everyone. “It makes us proud to be a part of this band.”

Along with numerous ribbons and a plaque, Howard was honored at this year’s drum major camp with the All-Star Award for best conducting, with a chance to march in the New Year’s Day parade in Paris, France. Only two from the camp were chosen.

“I’ve always wanted to go to France. I’m studying French right now,” Howard says. “This is a dream come true. It’s amazing. When I heard the news, I tried not to break down and scream. It’s so exciting.”

If you’d like to help Rachel Howard raise money for her trip, contact band director Henry Estrada at LLHS at 865-4646.

On another bright note, San Nicolas is still beaming about her trip to Valley Forge, Pa., this summer for the National Leadership Spirit of America Youth Conference. San Nicolas, a member of ROTC at the high school, attended the leadership conference, thanks to the Na-tional Sojourners organization and the Freedom Foundation.

San Nicolas wrote a second-place-winning essay and was one of four students from New Mexico selected to attend the conference about the place America’s founding fathers made history.

“This conference also helped my leadership skills a lot. I didn’t know a lot about America’s heritage before. On this trip, I got to see the Liberty Bell and where the Declaration of Independence was signed. The sites were amazing,” she says.

“Now, I look at issues around me in a totally different perspective. I think it helps my skills as a drum major, too.”

It’s clear the two girls are the perfect complement to one another.

San Nicolas says her partner in conducting is not loud but clear and precise in her conducting style. “We really balance each other out with my leadership skills. We make a great team.”