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The stands are full of people, shoulder to shoulder, cheering on the Wayne State College football team. The aroma of popcorn and hot dogs float through the air from the concession stands. As the marching band takes the field for the halftime show, Senior Airman Katie Welsh, dressed in gold and black, is in front ready to lead.
She has been working for years for this very moments.
“One of my first memories regarding music is from Kindergarten,” Welsh said. “My mom played ‘Part of Your World’ from the Little Mermaid on the flute.”
In 7th Grade, Welsh started playing the flute, just like her mom. When Welsh went to college five years ago, she joined the marching band. Two years ago, Welsh auditioned to be a Wayne State College drum major, which she has held since.
Welsh’s favorite part of being a drum major is getting to know everyone outside of just the flute section and helping everyone get better.
The white, gold and black drum major uniform isn’t the only uniform that Welsh wears. For Welsh, who has been in the Nebraska Air National Guard’s 155th Air Refueling Wing for five-and-a-half years, serving in the military is tradition.
“My Dad has been in for longer than I’ve been alive, so it has always been a big part of my life,” Welsh said. She added that another Wayne State College band member is also a Nebraska National Guard Airman. They didn’t know they had that in common until one drill.
“There are many experiences that you get with the Guard. I have been to Wisconsin, Georgia, Florida, South Dakota and around Nebraska.”
Welsh is currently majoring in Music Education at Wayne State College and has been in the school marching band for five years. Welsh plans to move to western Nebraska after she finishes her education to be a band teacher.
“I want to be a 5-12 band teacher because I would get to follow them throughout their whole musical career and see the kids grow up outside of the music too,” she said
Even when the band, the Guard, and classes keep her busy, Welsh said she also finds time to be involved on campus with the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME) as well as Kappa Kappa Psi, an honorary band fraternity that helps set up for different band events.
“It’s a lot, but don’t give up because it is all worth it,” Welsh said. “It is a really big time commitment, but I prioritize what I need to do so I can do the things I want to do.”
| Date Taken: | 11.20.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2017 16:14 |
| Story ID: | 258523 |
| Location: | LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, US |
| Web Views: | 37 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Airman puts musical talents, leadership, to work as drum major, by PFC Elyse Lyons, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
