Conducting with confidence, according to junior and first-year drum major Sofia Hamlet, is the key to success. Because this is Hamlet’s first year as a drum major, she’s had to accept new challenges and responsibilities. Her new leadership position has allowed Hamlet to grow and to improve how she conducts both herself and the band.

“I have learned how to be confident in myself,” Hamlet said. “I’m an introvert, so leadership has helped me communicate more with people.”

A drum major’s responsibilities go beyond merely conducting during shows. Analyzing errors, providing organization and offering advice are tasks that only begin to describe the position. Hamlet has found that the leadership role has allowed her to connect with individual musicians from her observation in the stands.

“I can tell where each person makes mistakes, their habits and their strengths,” Hamlet said. “They are my community, and most of my friends are band kids.”

While the community in band may feel like family. for Hamlet, it also includes real family, too. Class of 2022 graduate John Hamlet, Sofia’s older brother, served as a drum major last year and passed the torch to his younger sister when he graduated. Their younger sister, freshman Sara Hamlet, is new to the marching band this year.

“Having a drum major in the house made it more enjoyable because I was able to see what I wanted to be,” Sofia Hamlet said. “I’m also trying to reach out and do my own things.”

Band has served as an opportunity for John and Sofia to build a strong relationship. Both siblings have a love for music and find similar passion in it.

“Getting up super early and staying late for rehearsal together was a great bonding experience, and it was a whole new reason to love going,” John Hamlet said.

After John graduated, Sofia was able to create her own legacy by becoming the first in their family to become a drum major as a junior. Her older brother says that she is not following in his footsteps; rather, she is charting her own course as a drum major.

“She’s really blazing her own trail, and becoming an even stronger leader in the process,” he said. “All I did was plant the seed and offered advice here or there, but she really took the initiative and grew on her own, and I couldn’t be more proud.”

The year is different for Sofia and her band mates in other ways. With marching season already underway, the band is working on its show, “Seeing Stars,” and performing at football games in preparation for contests later this year.

“We came out on top last year, and we need to realize that some of the bands we are going to come up against are bigger and very talented,” she said. “We can watch someone else’s work and see that it may be a lot more than we have, but we need to realize that the question is if it’s better.”

While Hamlet certainly gained valuable experience over her past two years in marching band, not all of it translates to this year because every year is different, and that will be the case next year as well.

“There’s a lot that I need to learn about for next year,” Hamlet said. “It’s a lot different from how marching band was last year, but I like conducting a lot more.”

Hamlet’s position is to conduct facing the audience, providing a tempo for the band when they face the back. She is the only drum major on that side of the field, at times holding her ground alone.

“I think we are doing pretty well,” Hamlet said. “There are also different learning techniques and skills that have to be adjusted.”

Compared to her previous two years of marching band, Hamlet already feels a difference in her outlook and morale.

“Throughout this year, I have gained a lot of confidence, which helped me as a drum major,” Hamlet said. “Knowing that I have to step up next year, that I will have to be the person everyone comes to has helped me learn how to step out of my comfort zone.”