The Journey of a High School Drum Major

Meet Greg Sunga, the current drum major for the Benicia High School Panther band, who is just days away from ending a very successful 2010-2011 band year.  Now a senior and preparing to join the Panther Drum Major legacy, he has a minimum of four uniforms to his name, and one very traditional British headpiece when acting as drum major. 

Greg’s parents remember the first day he met the band.  They were struck by how he was made to feel right at home from the very start. He knew he wanted to be a drum major early in his freshman year.  

A drum major is the third highest ranking member of the Panther Band.  Band Director, Patrick Martin and the Color Guard Instructor, Beth Carlson hold the number one and two spots.  The drum major’s job starts when they are named at the end of the school year and concludes twelve months later.  Everything in-between is a time of phenomenal personal growth for the drum major, as well as the band. 

The drum major jointly runs an entire practice with Martin.  At the end of performances, they give feedback and officially dismiss the band. At competitions, they are ‘on’ for the entire day and are in charge of the band if the band director needs to step away. These are just a few of the many tasks that weigh on a typical Panther drum major. 

The selection process is a very long and thoughtful one.  A drum major shows true promise in their early years by stepping up often and taking on additional tasks.

The time commitment is heavy since he cannot leave an event until all others have left.  

While the band gets judged on how they sound and look as a group, he has the unenviable task of being judged in a category he shares with no one else in the band.  For several heart-stopping minutes at marching competitions, the eyes of all judges and spectators are upon him; not a sound being heard as he begins his carefully choreographed opening moves.  He is judged on the spinning and tossing of the mace (a regal, stick-like object), as well as his salute, precision and authoritative appearance. 

He is surprised by the unexpected recognition he gets.  He is known by what he wears, and people know his name before he has even met them.   His scariest moment was the very first time he stood in front of the band as their drum major. 

This was counteracted by his favorite moments of being able to have a voice. “It kind of built me up as a person because I had to make decisions," said Sunga.   “If I made the wrong [decision], I had to learn from what I did…if the ones I made were wrong, or not what was expected, then I had to make up for it.  A lot of the time, it was just me thinking on the spot and hoping that I was right.” 

He was usually right. 

He looks at the wall of photos in the Panther band practice room, spanning decades of band history (including the venerable Dalt Williams), and rattles off names and dates with the reverence reserved for a hall of ancestors.  He learned his job from leadership camp, and was also mentored by Aki Ross, who was drum major when Sunga was a freshman. 

Sunga not only has ‘management’ duties, but the whole reason he is in band is the love of musical performance.  He plays bass and tenor drums, and adds to any percussion needs.  He is in the Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble and drumline during marching and winterguard seasons.  

Sunga is now wrapping up a successful run as drum major, leading his band to unprecedented ‘back to back’ undefeated seasons.  He has several trophies and medals to his own personal credit.  There are also very strong bonds and a sense of ownership and pride at building on a great structure started so long ago. 

 “It was so amazing to see him progress through the years and how he’s taken up such a leadership role," says Rodell Sunga, proud father indeed.  These life skills are a lasting gift from the Panther band program, which serves all members so well.