The fine arts department has created an indoor drumline group for the first time in its 24-year history. Eighteen students, grades 8-10, auditioned and competed in two drumline competitions against various schools in the region, founding a new community within the fine arts.
An indoor drumline is a group of percussionists who play and march on a mat to play and tell a theatrical story while a group of immobile instruments, such as vibraphone and synth, play from a stationary pit.
Some high schools will create a combined indoor drumline, such as the previously established Eastern Loudoun Drumline, but when the Eastern Loudoun Drumline shut down last year, senior Nick Boswell and junior Marcus Rivera decided to take advantage of the situation and create an indoor drumline of their own here at school.
“We had to convince Mr. Keller that we weren’t crazy and that it could work,” Boswell said. “And then we did, though we got started a little late. But so far, it has been successful. I think this will be a program that will last a while.”
It took a great deal of planning, but in early December, drumline held its first auditions. The group was open for anyone to try out, and most of the students that ended up joining were new to percussion instruments.
“There wasn’t really an audition process for pit because everyone was so new,” senior Kit Gardner said. “[It was] just kind of ‘we’ll put you [at an instrument] and hopefully things will turn out.’”
For four months, indoor drumline members worked to learn their new instruments and to memorize three songs for their Roman themed show, “Strength and Honor.” All their practice paid off when the group placed third in the novice division at their very first competition in late March.
“I think everyone in indoor was working hard and they wanted to win,” sophomore Thad Alpeter said. “They wanted to do well and prove that we can have a indoor drumline.”
The drummers proved the legitimacy of having an indoor drumline when a week later they placed third for a second time. Together, by their determination and practice, the members of indoor drumline became a close-knit community of friends.
“The community we have at Stone Bridge is really good,” eighth grade drumline member Patrick O’Hair said. “There are a lot of really nice people.”
Behind the scenes, a group of volunteers helped make Boswell and Rivera’s dream a reality. From scheduling rehearsals to teaching students how to play, the volunteers played a big role in the success of the indoor drumline.
“We had some old friends come in,” Boswell said. “TJ [Maistros], Ms. Moses, and Ms. Unikewicz helped us, and we got AJ [Moraski] to come in to help with battery. He’s been really great.”
Indoor drumline will hold auditions for next year’s season in early November, and encourages anyone to consider this exciting start for their musical journey.
“There is a spot for everyone,” Boswell said. “Whether you’ve never read music before or are an experienced musician. It’s just a great time.”
