Whether they’re a drum major, section leader or a welcoming role model, senior band members are a crucial part of the overall band community.

Senior James Dooley’s band journey started in sixth grade when he was required to take a music course, with that, Dooley was inspired to stay with music for the rest of his school career.

“I like the connections that I’ve built through music,” Dooley said “I made a lot of friends with it. And that’s why I keep doing it.”

Dooley loves a lot of aspects of being a musician in the band, he especially loves all the experiences that come along with it, such as All-State, a state-wide musical event for high school students, competitions and concerts.

“I love doing All-State. It’s a lot of fun and you get to hang out with the best musicians in the
state for a weekend, all day rehearsals, but you make a lot of friends,” Dooley said. “I’m [also] in a jazz band with my peers. And I love football nights every Friday.”

Dooley’s passion for music has led him to some great opportunities within the band, including, but not limited to, being the student-president of the Londonderry branch of the Tri-M, the music honor society.

“I have been section leader for a while as well as the Tri-M president,” Dooley said. “It’s a lot more of a status, but I do a lot of running meetings. I sit with the board to discuss what we’re going over on the meeting nights and I do business with FOM [Friends of Music] during meetings to get updates. I help a lot with organizing meetings, [to] boost morale within the section, and just be a senior role model.”

Senior Josh Conty joined the band when he started high school. He was assigned the cymbals his Freshman year, but as his first band season continued he realized he wanted something that tested his limits more.

“I got bored so I wanted something harder to know like the quads instead, and now for the last three years I’ve been playing them,” Conty said.

Now as Conty’s senior year progresses, he reflects on his time in the band and is looking forward to his future with music. Conty reminisces the memories he made in band over the years, his favorite being the Disney trip he took his freshman year.

“I had some really good friends that year and it was my freshman year so I just liked being around mostly upperclassmen all trip so they made it fun,” Conty said.

Conty has a unique perspective as he is the only senior band member on the football team. Over the past couple of years, Conty has had to balance practice and band rehearsal.

“The hardest part about being on the football team and in band is going right from practice to band rehearsal,” Conty said, “some nights I’ll be at the school until 8:30.”

After starting band in the 5th grade, now senior Nathan Beaulieu is getting ready for his final year in High School band. Beaulieu chose the saxophone knowing his dad had played it throughout all of his band years, Later on this brought him and his dad much closer. He has had a different experience being in band, with his dad being the music director. Beaulieu looks up to his dad and enjoys the memories they create together throughout the band season.

“I looked at him as he was running the band. I’ve always felt pressure to do band, but I would say that I still have a joy for it, and I still like to do it in my free time,” Beaulieu said.

At the start of his junior year Beaulieu auditioned to be a drum major and he landed the role. Beaulieu has now been doing it for the past two years.

“It can be hard sometimes. I realize that a lot of the band looks up to me. Most of the time though, it’s rewarding,” Beaulieu said.

Senior Madeline Rolfe has been in band for all of her middle and high school experience, and she’s loved every second of it. Her time in the band has brought many firsts and well-loved memories, such as playing her first parade in New York City.

“I liked when we went to New York City for the St. Patrick’s Day parade [during] my sophomore year,” Rolfe said. “I like seeing the crowds of people because it was probably the most people watching us. It’s really cool because of how many people were there.”

Rolfe’s love of playing in the band stems from the relationships she’s formed with the band’s other members

[My favorite thing is] the friends I’ve made,” Rolfe said. “It’s easy to make friends with people because there’s so many people and they’re [all] nice.”

Rolfe always strives to create a positive environment for newer band members, as well as being an experienced senior role model and helping out when she can.

“I like to create a welcoming environment for everyone, especially freshmen because I know what it’s like going from middle school to high school.” Rolfe said. “You’ve got to let freshmen, sophomores, even juniors know [that] I’m here if you need help, I just want people to know [that I’m here for them].”