Drum majors keep more than tempo

VERNON — You may think that with three drum majors leading the Vernon Township High School Marching Band, some sort of competitive spirit would raise its head. But the opposite is true.
As Jessica Kimball, Amanda Cueman and Cole Beckendorf sat to talk about their important roles in one of the major Fall activities on any high school calendar, their spirit of cooperation and adoration infected the whole room. They have developed such a strong working relationship they finished one another’s sentences and thoughts, not in any way talking over one another, but in a symphony of sorts, their comments leading into another’s, interjecting with short interludes that complemented, or inspired the others.
This magical working relationship really plays out on the field when the Marching Band performs its current show, “You Will Be Found,” commissioned based on the score of Broadway’s hit musical, Dear Evan Hansen. They keep the 94-member band on target through a vigorous schedule of football games and as many as 10 marching band competitions in a season.
Nearly every weekend, they said.
This team has experienced winning two Yamaha Cups since they joined band, one of the most prestigious marching band competitions.
“As much as we want to put on a good show,” said Beckendorf, “the important thing is that everyone is enjoying it. Conducting the band is a huge responsibility, but our most important job is the make band a place where people feel at home, because for many of us, band is a second home.”
Jessica Kimball agreed.
They all agreed that, especially for freshmen, band is life changing.
“Coming up to the high school, not knowing the building or the upper classmen, is tough,” Kimball explained. “But joining band, all of a sudden you know a hundred other students who all have the same goal as you do and you are not so alone.”