Drum Majors Set to Lead the 150th Edition of the Razorback Marching Band
From left to right Juan Ramos, Ian Gelicame, Juan Pareja, Savanna Green. All photos by Ethan Potts.
Four drum majors for 150th edition of the Razorback Marching Band will be leading the ensemble when the football team faces University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff on Thursday, Aug. 29. Juan Ramos from Rogers returns this year as head drum major, while Juan Pareja from Katy, Texas; Savanna Green from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Ian Gelicame from Springdale have been selected for the first time.
In addition to serving as the student leaders of the 350-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. Chase Jones, assistant director of bands, said, “Our band relies heavily on consistent and effective student leadership. We are looking forward to Juan, Ian, Savanna and Juan adding to the long legacy of talented and dedicated Razorback drum majors.”
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.
2024-25 RAZORBACK MARCHING BAND DRUM MAJORS
Juan Ramos is a fourth-year music education major, a member of both the clarinet and violin studios in the Department of Music and will serve as this year’s head drum major. “The Razorback Marching Band turns 150 this year, and it is truly an honor and a privilege to have been selected to return as a drum major for such a historic season. This program and its traditions mean so much to so many people, myself included, and having the opportunity to share these memories with a group as talented and dedicated as the RMB is a joy that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I can’t wait to continue honoring the legacy of those who made up the RMB before me as we move 150 forward.”
Juan Pareja, a fifth-year business economics and financial management and investment major and tenor saxophone player, will be a drum major for the first time. “A recent saying in the Razorback Marching Band is the phrase, ‘In Pursuit.’ This can mean many things, but to me it means we are in pursuit of our personal best. I started my marching career not allowing myself to embrace it fully, but after years of striving for my highest, I have the honor of serving this organization as a drum major for its 150th anniversary. I can’t wait to continue to work with those who love music as much as I do and represent the great state of Arkansas with pride. Wooo Pig and Go Hogs!”
Savanna Green is a communication sciences and disorders major in the College of Education and Health Professions. She plays the clarinet and will serve as drum major in her senior year. “It is both an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to serve as a drum major for the 150th year of the Razorback Marching Band. I am excited to give back to a community I care so much about and to help foster a culture of excellence, tradition, pride and family within the band. To me, marching band is more than playing and marching— it is sharing meaningful experiences between a particular group of people. The RMB has a rich history, and I cannot wait to help instill the many traditions we have into the new members. This is a special and exciting time for the RMB— I am ecstatic to be a part of this wonderful drum major team on such a monumental year.”
Ian Gelicame is a fourth-year vocal music education major, a trombone player and member of the voice studio in the Department of Music. “I am honored to be chosen as a drum major during this monumental year, marking the band’s 150th anniversary. This ensemble has a deep and rich tradition that I am proud to represent. Leading this amazing group throughout the season is a privilege, and I am committed to doing my best in this role. I am also grateful to work alongside an incredible drum major team, and I look forward to creating meaningful memories with them and the band. This season is not just about maintaining traditions but also about inspiring future generations of musicians. I am eager to contribute to the band’s legacy and help foster a sense of community and pride among its members. I am excited to share the Razorback Marching Band’s passion and spirit with the audience at Donald W. Reynolds Stadium and beyond. Together as a band, we will make this historic year unforgettable.”
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.
This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.
