Drum Majors Get Set to Lead Razorback Marching Band

Ryan Versey

From left to right: Noah Boggs Riley, Sallie Hendrix, Juan Ramos, William Rowe

Four drum majors for 2023 edition of the Razorback Marching Band will be leading the ensemble when the football team faces Western Carolina on Saturday, Sept. 2. Sallie Hendrix from Paragould and William Rowe from Conway are returning drum majors, while Juan Ramos of Rogers and Noah Boggs Riley of Fayetteville have been selected for the first time.

In addition to serving as the student leaders of the 360-member Razorback Marching Band, the drum majors will play an active role in helping coordinate rehearsals. They will conduct the halftime and exhibition performances and often conduct in the stands at games. Drum majors are also actively involved in the coordination of campus and community performances.

Auditions for drum major are held during the spring semester and span several weeks. They include interviews, marching and music auditions, as well as teaching and conducting demonstrations. Jeffrey Summers, director of the Razorback Marching Band said, "Sallie and William bring experience and demonstrated leadership to this year's group while Juan and Noah inject fresh ideas and energy to the position. We are thrilled with the team that's been assembled."

Each year drum majors are awarded the Preston and Kathryn Woodruff Drum Major Scholarship. These awards were created by Tyler Thompson, a Fulbright College alumnus and former drum major, to honor the Woodruffs for their long and faithful service to the members of the Razorback Band.

2022-23 RAZORBACK MARCHING BAND DRUM MAJORS

Sallie Hendrix is a saxophone player who is also majoring in music education. Hendrix is a senior and will serve as head drum major.

"It is an honor and a privilege to return as drum major for the Razorback Marching Band. The RMB is full of dedicated, talented, and kind people, and it is a joy to be a part of it. My life has changed for the better because of my time in this band. I am grateful to work alongside incredible student leaders as we pursue excellence in our performances and community!"

William Rowe, a fifth-year senior mechanical engineer and trumpet player, will be a drum major for the second time.

"I am extremely honored to serve the RMB as drum major for my final year of college. It is a privilege to get to work with the leadership team, directors, and staff of the band program. With many exciting shows and cherished traditions coming up this season, we have no doubt this will be an incredible year! The culture and spirit of the RMB is like no other, and we can't wait to share it with the community."

Noah Boggs Riley is a human development and family sciences major in the Dale Bumpers College of Agriculture, Food and Life Sciences. He played trombone for his first three years but will serve as drum major in his senior year.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to serve as a drum major for the Razorback Marching Band. This opportunity holds great significance for me, as it allows me to serve and give back to the band program that has shaped me and provided a sense of family and belonging. As drum major, I will strive to honor the band's traditions and standards, and I am excited to welcome and mentor the incoming freshmen, as I believe their contributions will enrich the band's culture and legacy. Together, we will create unforgettable performances and leave a legacy that will be remembered for years to come. Thank you for this remarkable opportunity; I am thrilled to embark on this journey with the Razorback Marching Band."

Juan Ramos is a music education major, a member of both the clarinet and violin studios in the Department of Music.

"The opportunity to lead the Razorback Marching Band as a drum major is both humbling and exhilarating. There's something indescribably special about this program and its traditions. Having the privilege to share this feeling with my favorite people, as we work hard day in and day out, is something that I wouldn't trade for the world. I am honored to be a part of an ensemble that strives to put on the best performances possible for our Razorback family, and I can't wait to see what this fall has in store for us!"

About the University of Arkansas Bands: The University of Arkansas Bands Program, part of the Department of Music in the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, began in 1874 and is one of the oldest band programs in the country. The program has seven ensembles including the Razorback Marching Band, Hogwild Band and five concert bands with over 400 student members representing every college at the university.