After the Baldwin marching band lost a member before their PIMBA championship performance last October, senior Jonathan Pickell stepped up to fill the spot.
“Toward the tail end of our marching band season this year, due to unforeseen circumstances, we lost a player,” Pickell said.
Pickell was asked on a Friday to fill the spot at the championship, which would occur the next Saturday, giving him just a week to learn the drill, a process that typically takes two full weeks. However, the lack of time to learn the drill was not the only difficulty in filling the missing position.
“I learned the required drill and headed to section breakfast at 9 a.m., and later I marched the sousaphone that evening, an instrument I do not play,” Pickell said.
Pickell was able to learn a missing position and do it with an instrument he does not usually play, which made it a particularly special moment for him.
“That evening’s performance was the single proudest moment of my musical career thus far,” he said. “It was truly an incredible experience that made me very proud to be in the Baldwin band.”
Senior Zaynah El Maghrabi commended Pickell for his ability to step up.
“We were newly without this key player, and within two days, Jonny stepped up and dedicated extra time to learn and memorize the sousaphone part,” she said. “By the time championships came around, Jonny had everything memorized, and it was truly a spectacle to get to watch as he performed one of the most key parts after having such little time to memorize all of it.”
Pickell and El Maghrabi were drum majors together for the Baldwin High School Marching Band for their senior year. Together, the two worked together to delegate responsibilities.
“We both cooperated very frequently in order to discuss having an even amount of work between the both of us, but Jonny would go out of his way to plan before football game events,” El Maghrabi said.
This opportunity to be in a leadership position taught Pickell about himself and his fellow band members, he said. He also believes that he has been able to contribute to the band positively in a way that will hopefully continue after he graduates.
One tradition that Pickell helped begin is the marching band’s game of football.
Starting his junior year, Pickell and Evan Schoming, who was then a freshman, came up with the idea for a band football game. The two had often talked about football together, so they decided to set up a game before a Friday night football game.
“We texted each other and decided to set up a draft. We picked different people who wanted to participate in the game and then we held the game on a Friday before the actual game,” Schoming said.
That year, the game occurred before a band practice and had about 14 people participating. However, this year the game consisted of 30 players, several cheerleaders, and numerous fans. Treats and pizza were also provided for participants after the game. However, the football game was just the beginning of fun activities.
“Throughout the year we tried to implement more community activities that existed outside of the band structure,” Pickell said.
These types of events made Pickell stand out as a leader for the band.
“Jonny was a great leader during this past marching band season, helping organize certain events like these. He also is a great friend as we get to talk sports all the time and he is very kind,” Schoming said.
Beyond just conducting music for the marching band, Pickell has also encouraged respect for those who help the band.
“A sort of tradition that Adam Drischler and I attempted to implement this year was a more positive group dynamic towards our volunteers,” Pickell said.
They encouraged members to thank volunteers and bought gifts for volunteers as another form of a thank you. Members of the band feel that Pickell has made a lasting positive impact.
“I believe wholeheartedly that Jonny’s time as drum major will make a long lasting impression on the band for years to come,” El Maghrabi said.
Besides marching band, Pickell has participated in many other Baldwin’s music programs, such as stage band, pit orchestra, honors Highlander choir, and Baldwinaires. He has also been a part of several Pennsylvania Music Educators Association and Three Rivers Young People’s Orchestras ensembles.
Being a part of an ensemble or team and being able to experience the result of all the hard work put in is always a rewarding experience. PMEA and TRYPO, two youth music programs, have given Pickell this opportunity.
“During my time with the TRYPO YPO orchestra, we played ‘The Planets’ which has a beautiful chorale moment that was magical to hear live, knowing the work that went into creating it,” Pickell said.
Both of Pickell’s parents were musicians, which began his interest in music.
“My father ran the Upper Saint Clair marching band for my whole childhood,” he said.
However, Pickell’s older brother, D.J., has also inspired him, as he was also very involved in music throughout high school.
“My parents are both incredible musicians that I’ve always looked up to, but my brother D.J. has always been my role model,” Pickell said. “He had an extremely successful musical career throughout his schooling that inspired me to pursue music in a similar way.”
Pickell has not always played the same instrument during his time being a musician.
“I initially started on percussion when I was 4 years old and later transitioned to euphonium in fourth grade,” Pickell said.
Pickell enjoys the friendships he has made through music events and being able to play his instrument, he said.
“I really enjoy the feeling of progress being achieved on a piece of music,” Pickell said.
Pickell plans to pursue music as a career through college. He plans to attend either Duquesne University or Baldwin Wallace University and he will study music education.
