The Friday night lights are often associated with only football players and cheerleaders but for 5 minutes every fall Friday night, another group takes center stage. Dressed in full white in stark contrast to the identical black uniforms of the band she leads, Alyson Seok takes the field. She may not be able to score a touchdown but she has a commanding presence on the field nonetheless. Her fluid movements and silver mace assure her role as drum major, leader of the Cresskill band.
Despite her current prestigious role, Alyson came from humble beginnings in the Cresskill music department. She’s been playing music since she was in Elementary school. However it was only in middle school that she discovered her passion for percussion. She has played the drums for pit band and continues to play drums for concert band to this day. Additionally she was a member of the colorguard for 3 years prior to being drum major. This familiarized her with the marching band and tossing.
Having a background in music may have eased the transition to drum major but the role still provided new challenges to overcome. Being drum major isn’t just about being musically inclined but also representing the school and leading your fellow bandmates. As drum major you have to always keep a smile and positive attitude regardless of the challenge.
Alyson faced a unique challenge being the drum major for Cresskill because of our tradition to use a mace. During the halftime shows she would twirl and toss a mace as part of the performance. Her previous experience in the colorguard was helpful in easing the transition but she still had to train with weights over the summer and practice consistently on her own time outside of rehearsals in order to master this unique skill. She even attended an intense drum major camp to further prepare her for the new position. By the time she reached the band festival to cap off the marching band season she was ready for a perfect performance. “I did end up catching all my tosses – I was concerned about [the tosses] the most” Alyson stated.
Overall, Alyson’s hard work paid off leaving her and the entire marching band with a positive experience that will last them a lifetime. The Cresskill marching band won all but one category of their annual band competition and had a stellar performance at the following band festival despite their size. Both of their shows featured dynamic movement, impressive volume, and Alyson’s signature mace twirling. Alyson feels her band has worked hard and deserved opportunities to shine like the competition and festival. She says “It’s a moment where we can show off we are good; we should be receiving this applause” Even if she may be the band’s leader, she feels their overall success was a team effort determined by the skills of the entire band, not the skill of a single person.
For those still interested in Alyson’s career, it has only just begun. This month she will be playing the drums and singing in the choir for the Cresskill Winter Concert. And although she has not decided yet, her most dedicated fans hope she will continue her musical endeavors at Boston College. Perhaps by then she will be the “drum general”.
