This week the Ravine is excited to feature Kilbourne’s Drum Majors: Gabby Epling and Spencer Navin, as our Wolves of the Week!

Gabby and Spencer are both seniors here at Kilbourne who are involved in many areas of our school and many different musical activities, but their leadership and talent is brightest as they serve as Drum Majors for the Worthington Kilbourne Band.

Gabby is heavily involved in many different areas of Kilbourne, including the IB Diploma Program, jazz band, concert band, Tri-M, pep band, and this year she has brought a Model UN club to Kilbourne. Spencer is also highly involved in Kilbourne, serving as a member of the National Honor Society, Student Athletic Leadership Board, Kilbourne Singers, Kamerata, and co-president of Tri-M. Both students undeniably excel in the classroom and as students outside of school, and they carry this focus and passion into their responsibilities of being drum majors.

Many Kilbourne students may not know what their Drum Majors are or what they do for the band. The drum majors for our band are most visible as they conduct during the football halftime show or during performances, but there is so much more that goes into their role. Gabby told us, “Our roles and responsibilities involve more than just conducting and ‘waving our hands around’ as my youngest sister says. We also do behind-the-scenes work for the band like branding water jugs, tasks with dot books like laminating drill sheets, labeling and replacing chips, etc, passing out new music, running metronome, setting up microphones for rehearsals, attendance for 170+ people, repainting the field, and much more.” 

At its core, the drum majors’ role is to hold the band together and keep it on track as they both practice and perform. 

Their leadership doesn’t stop at their ability to organize the mundane pieces of the band or keep the band mentally and emotionally on track. Gabby and Spencer also lead by setting examples through their exceptional musical talent.

Gabby plays piano, flute, and piccolo, and she is featured as a soloist in one of the band’s biggest shows this year. Spencer plays saxophone and has been featured multiple times as a soloist, and he’s also learning mellophone currently in hopes of marching with Drum Corps International. 

The band program is a really special place at Kilbourne. For many kids it provides a place to find/step into yourself, make new friends, push yourself, and to grow as you go throughout high school. Gabby and Spencer both agree that the band has shaped their high school experience for the better, and the band is lucky to have two leaders who are not only equipped to lead and excel in what they are leading, but who also understand the value and uniqueness of the program.

They left us with some valuable advice not only to future musicians, but to anyone looking to push themselves or try something new. 

 “Don’t be afraid to jump in,” says Gabby. “You don’t need to be perfect—just passionate.” Spencer added, “Those who work hard and love music are the ones who go far.”

Thank you Gabby and Spencer for the model of leadership and passion you give those not only in band but in our school!