Musicians of the Month: Hamilton’s Drum Majors
All photographs submitted by Lehner and Maurer.
Disha Deepak
“A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their music on silence.”
Marisa Lehner and Sam Maurer are the drum majors of the Hamilton Charger marching band. With over seven years of band experience, the two seniors have worked endlessly both inside and outside the school band to follow their passion for music.
“Everyone uplifts and supports each other, which makes everyone feel welcomed and appreciated. The general culture of positivity and team spirit makes the band such a great group to be a part of.”
As a flutist, piano, and piccolo player, Lehner fell in love with both the musical and community aspects of band. Her favorite thing about band is the creative outlet it provides for her, and she mentioned that she truly enjoys band because of the loving community. “Everyone uplifts and supports each other, which makes everyone feel welcomed and appreciated. The general culture of positivity and team spirit makes the band such a great group to be a part of,” Lehner states. Outside of band, she works with the HHS Forensics team, Book Bungalow, and pursues the piano independently. She also is an active member of the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Senior Symphony, as well as their Chamber Flute ensemble. Her advice for future band members is to be resilient and not give up. Lehner adds, “Band takes a lot of effort and investment, but the individual growth and connections you make with others are all worth it.”
“It’s a place where I feel like I can be outgoing and genuinely myself. The activity of making music with the amazing group of people in band is something that’s incomparable to anything else at Hamilton for myself.”
Sam Maurer began playing the euphonium in elementary school and loved the unique sound and adaptability of the instrument. While many of his favorite memories stem from band, he looks back fondly on the Greendale marching competition in 2022, when the marching band won an award for musical excellence and had an overall successful performance. Similarly to Lehner, Maurer enjoys band because of the uplifting environment. Maurer states, “It’s a place where I feel like I can be outgoing and genuinely myself. The activity of making music with the amazing group of people in band is something that’s incomparable to anything else at Hamilton for myself.” His advice for future band members is to find a place where you can truly apply yourself and practice. He described the process of practicing as “incredibly cathartic, rewarding, and fulfilling,” helping him develop musically and individually.
The marching season from June to September can be overwhelming at times. When asked how they managed a schedule with rehearsals, marching competitions, schoolwork, and fun, both drum majors had some more tips.
Maurer: “Maintaining a balance during the peak of the marching season can be challenging, but knowing the “why” behind what I’m doing helps me stay dedicated and focused. Staying engaged and finding these reasons to really care about what I do keeps me on my schedule. Finding activities with an overlap between being productive and fun, such as practicing my instrument, helps me feel successful and balanced out, and I also highly recommend setting aside time specifically for self-care and improvement.”
Lehner: “It can be tough to balance school work and band (especially during marching season), but the most important thing is to work ahead and stay disciplined. It is possible, it just takes a little more effort.”
Band, especially during the marching season, requires dedication, passion, and commitment. From practicing their instruments, learning to be drum majors, and leading the band through a successful marching season, the importance of band in Lehner’s and Maurer’s lives is undeniable, and could not be more commendable. HHS wishes the best of luck to the band and its musicians of the month!
