Drumline opened the first All-School Meeting (ASM) of the year, leading the flag procession into Cochran Chapel to “Gunga’s Theme.” The performance set a high-energy tone to welcome new students and celebrate the Senior class.
Preparing for the opener required navigating tight schedules and mastering new repertoire, explained Co-Captain Kwadjo Adjepong ’27. He emphasized that the group’s goal was to build energy and Big Blue spirit.
“We had to work around each of our schedules to make sure we were all free to practice and get ready…At the end of the day, that’s what Drumline is all about: getting everyone excited for the new year and boosting morale, which will carry us through the year. With our performance, I hope we inspired the student body to carry school spirit wherever they go and to have Big Blue spirit in every setting,” said Adjepong.
For member Kamryn Cabrera ’28, the high-stakes performance brought a mix of excitement and nerves. After the performance, students from Paul Revere House told her they had enjoyed it.
“I was very excited during the ASM performance, but I was also a bit scared. There were some songs that I was a little wary about. I think a lot of people enjoyed it, especially the newcomers. Since I’m prefecting in Paul Revere, many of the girls came up to me afterward. They really enjoyed Drumline, and it made their day,” said Cabrera.
The group’s goal extends beyond entertainment; it centers on driving schoolwide morale, emphasized Co-Captain Kayla Lyons ’27.
“I think the most important thing is that our audiences get energized. We don’t just play to sound good…if Andover doesn’t bring the energy, how are our teams going to know that they are supported? It made me happy to be in front of my peers, playing and bringing the energy, especially for the Class of ’27,” said Lyons.
Dolly Nguyen ’27, Drumline’s third Co-Captain, did not perform because she carried a flag during the procession. She mentioned that watching the returning members play made her reflect on her senior year and her time with the group.
“It was emotional for me because I wasn’t playing. Seeing the returners play made me emotional about already being a senior and how quickly time passes. As a Drumline co-head, seeing my teammates perform so enthusiastically and so proudly made our shared pride even stronger,” said Nguyen.
From the audience, Chance Hernandez ’29 noticed how the performance raised the energy in the chapel and helped prepare the community for the rest of the meeting.
“I thought there was a good energy-setting baseline. They didn’t have to scream, they could use their drums to raise the energy and introduce the other parts of the meeting so the community was ready. It wasn’t just them playing the drums, but also the smiles on their faces and the good vibes, which are important for setting the mood,” said Hernandez.
Aura Lewis ’29 pointed out that Drumline’s presence is central to campus culture year-round, especially at other campus events like games and pep rallies.
“I wouldn’t say people don’t get hyped when Drumline isn’t there, but I feel like it’s a little harder to get hyped because it’s the volume and the beat that gets everybody moving. Drumline sets the tone for pep rallies and events like the first ASM. Seeing them this year, it was nice to watch them welcome people into one of the most important events of the first week of school. I feel like everybody shared in the happiness of seeing Drumline play,” said Lewis.
For Tue Linh Nguyen ’29, a new Lower, the performance was her first time seeing Drumline. She noted how it helped her understand the school’s spirit and feel connected to the audience.
“This was my first time seeing Drumline. It helped me understand why the school has so much school spirit. [Drumline] brought a lot of energy and it was great to see that the performers were excited rather than feeling forced to perform. It was easy to match their energy because they were genuinely happy to show up for the school. These days, it’s hard to find something everyone can get excited about together,” said Nguyen.
Looking ahead, drumline member Cabrera urged the campus community to recognize the athletic discipline behind the music.
“Drumline is so much more than a group of people that come and perform at games. We’ve built a community, just like everybody else. We are a sport, and a lot of people don’t consider it one, especially a varsity sport. We don’t have a varsity jacket for no reason. Please take into consideration the time and dedication we put into what we do. We should [be building] a more uplifting community as opposed to one that shuts us down sometimes,” said Cabrera.
