Organizing and commanding a class, choosing the right music, and spending more than eight hours perfectly arranging a song seems like a job. But for a Pep Band conductor, that is just a regular day in class. Beginning their junior year, senior Franklin Johnson and senior Caroline Novack learned to be Pep Band conductors.
As head conductors, they direct the band during varsity football and basketball games, as well as during rallies. Novack and Johnson usually choose and organize the music the band plays, lead practice sessions and instruct the band during class and games.
Johnson said he became a conductor because he wanted to improve Pep Band.
“I wanted a new level for the Pep Band,” Johnson said. “I wanted it to sound good and for people to enjoy and look forward to the band at football games and rallies.”
Johnson arranges the music for the band’s current songs. He arranged Shake it Off by Taylor Swift and the Game of Thrones theme song.
Johnson said that when he chooses music, he has to love the song because it can take him at least eight hours to arrange most pieces.
Johnson asks Novack about the music he arranges, but Novack trusts him to make the decisions.
“He is really good at it,” Novack said “He arranged Shake it Off in an hour and a half, in one class period.”
Both conductors have been in the symphonic band class since their freshman year and have played an instrument since elementary school. They learned how to conduct the band last year by practicing with Matthew Gologorsky, Class of 2014, at basketball games.
Junior Sutter Kraetzer said she is interested in becoming a conductor next year and has begun training.
“To become a Pep Band conductor you have to learn how to conduct two pieces,” Kraetzer said. “This year, they are ‘Land of a Thousand Dances’ and the National Anthem.”
Last year, Novack and Johnson were the only students to express interest in becoming band conductors. This year, however, six students have volunteered, leaving symphonic band teacher Andria Mullan to decide who becomes a conductor.
Novack said anyone can become a conductor if they have a good understanding of music. However, the student would also need to have respect and command from the band.
Mullan will choose one of the six potential conductors. All six students will first practice in front of the class. She will then choose three students to practice at basketball games and make her final decision.
Novack said that being a conductor is a huge responsibility, but she does not regret it.
“We are happy to contribute,” Novack said. “We want Pep Band to be part of the community.”
