While marching band members were excited to perform in the PIMBA Championship in the fall, for junior Lucy Smodic, the event would also be important in another way. 

She knew she was planning on applying for the drum major position for next year, meaning the championship would be her last chance to play on the field with her friends. The marching band placed second, earning their highest score of the season. 

“We improved by a decent number of points, which was really important,” Smodic said. 

And then a few months later, Smodic and junior Evan Ovitsky were named drum majors. The moment she found out was both exciting and relieving. 

“I was really nervous for like the whole month leading up to it. When I finally got the email, and I called my best friend,” Smodic said. “It was really nice to see that my hard work paid off.”

Smodic plays the baritone saxophone, but her biggest contribution at the PIMBA championship came from the motivation she gave the band. Junior Melody Latt recalls Smodic’s ability to bring up the mood throughout the day. 

“It was really high pressure. Everyone was nervous to place,” Latt said. “But Lucy is really good at motivating people, so she was a huge part in that way.” 

The saxophone is not the only instrument that Smodic has played. When she was in third grade, she started playing violin, then switched to bass in middle school when the band needed one.

Some struggles can come with switching from a string instrument to a wind instrument. Smodic said she had to give herself some grace to keep her motivation up when learning the bass. 

“Being able to laugh at myself was a main part of the learning process,” Smodic said. 

Senior Emaline Cready, who plays in the marching band, called attention to the growth Smodic has shown since their friendship began.

“She’s grown a lot,” Cready said. “She’s just super knowledgeable and just really dedicated to what she does.” 

In addition to developing her musical talents, Smodic said she values the bonds she has created with other musicians. 

Having downtime during long practices encouraged her to create long-lasting friendships and appreciate the opportunities she has. She and some of her friends have a tradition of putting up a Christmas tree and decorating it with items around the band room, Smodic said. 

Along with music, Smodic does many low-energy activities during her free time: knitting, reading, baking, and gardening.

“I’ve always been interested in how things are made, and overall, they are very rewarding,” Smodic said of these activities. “I wish more people would give these ‘grandma hobbies’ a chance.”