CRESTVIEW — When the 2015-16 Crestview High School band debuted Aug. 7, so did its new trio of drum majors. Head major Elizabeth Dunn, along with assistant majors Tiffany Berkley and Amelia Herman, will lead the 280-member Big Red Machine.
Attaining the rank fulfilled a childhood dream for Elizabeth and Tiffany. “I’ve always wanted to be a drum major since I was a little kid,” Elizabeth said. For Tiffany, it’s also a matter of continuing a family tradition. “My dad was a drum major, and so was my aunt,” she said.
Elizabeth and Tiffany — once Davidson Middle School's co-drum majors — previously were section leaders in Crestview High's band. Those experiences and the longevity of the girls’ friendship are now assets. “We’re very familiar with each other,” Elizabeth said. “We know how to work together to get the job done,” Amelia said.
On Tuesday during band camp, the girls eyed the Big Red Machine ranks as assistant band director Charlie Anderson put the musicians through technical and physical exercises. “One of the trickiest parts of being a drum major is defining the line between friendship and authority,” Elizabeth said.
Her dad is Big Red Machine Director Jody Dunn. “It’s probably more difficult for her than it is for me,” Dunn said.
“But she was the clear winner in the auditions. I can’t let the fact that she’s my daughter be a stumbling block for her or for me. But she isn’t going to get preferential treatment."
As for Amelia, she said newfound authority presents a challenge. “The hard part is knowing what to say when people ask questions,” she said. “They expect I know the answers. I need to be ready for their questions.”
And Tiffany said she'll have to conquer her perfectionism. “I need to calm myself down and have patience when I see somebody isn’t doing something the right way,” she said. “I need to be patient with them. I know they’ll get it.”
The girls said they have some ideas about effective leadership.
“Be considerate with your authority,” Tiffany said. “And don’t freak out when they don’t get it right the first time.”
“Be confident,” Elizabeth said. “Be a role model outside of band, too. If you’re one person in band and another outside, they’re not going to trust you.”
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High School band's new drum majors eye challenges and opportunities