Many De Soto High School students see drum majors Mackenzie Lancaster, Kate Barger and Erin Sullivan conduct the Wildcat Band at pep assemblies and athletic events, but few truly know what goes into being a drum major.

One of the many tasks these girls perform as drum majors is minimizing problems during rehearsal. They answer questions and take care of issues that arise as well as making sure the band members are performing the drill correctly.

“We’re always running around and making sure that people are in step or that they know what’s going on,” Lancaster said “So many people every day just have problems like ‘I lost this. Can you get it for me?’”

“They help with teaching of the drill and definitely during band camp they teach all of the basics to the students,” Bradford said.

The instruction that the drum majors provide to the band puts them in a position of leadership.

“I try to lead by example because I feel like people pay attention to what we’re doing all the time, so we can’t be messing around or doing something we’re not supposed to,” Barger said.

Because of the example they are setting for so many students, it is a requirement that drum majors are well prepared.
“I learned a lot last year that we have to look way ahead, and so that’s what I’ve been doing,” Lancaster said.

The most unrecognized job the drum majors have is their role as assistant to Bradford. The girls do paperwork, bus lists and little jobs that are “overwhelming for me because I have a million little jobs,” Bradford said.

The drum majors are vital to the band staying organized, and this years’ drum majors are strong leaders that are important for the band to function smoothly.