When Elon sophomore Amanda Draznin was in her high school marching band, she felt disconnected from the group. With over 150 members, Draznin said she barely knew the people outside of her section. Now, Draznin is one of 73 students in Elon’s Fire of the Carolina’s marching band.
“I know everyone’s names, I know most of their majors, their hometowns, their roommates,” Draznin said. “I can actually connect with people a lot deeper than I was able to in high school.”
On Sept. 21, Draznin — who plays tenor saxophone — found herself reflecting on her high school band experience as FOTC was joined by nine high school bands for Elon Band Day. The annual event invites high school students to join Elon’s marching band to participate in a football halftime show.
Southern Alamance High School was one of the schools in attendance, with over 30 students participating. Southern Alamance band Director Ashton Albright said he was proud to see his students get a college game day experience.
“Just getting to be down on the field with them and see all my students get to participate in something like that is breathtaking,” Albright said. “It’s great.”
Albright and Southern Alamance’s band have been participants in Elon Band Day for the past three years. Albright said in addition to the collegiate experience, the event’s affordability — costing $5 per student — made it an easy “yes.”
“It was hard to pass up the opportunity,” Albright said. “The fact that they’re able to participate in a halftime show with them, learn some fun and engaging music, get to participate with those college students and all get fed a lunch for $5, it’s incredible to get to have that experience with them.”
The students got to campus at 1 p.m. to join FOTC rehearsals and at 4:50 p.m. followed the band’s parade to tailgate. The students winded their way through campus then through Rhodes Stadium where bleachers were sectioned off for them.
While the high school band didn’t join FOTC for stand performances, the students often joined in for the chants. When it was time, the students filed down the stairs and onto the field one-by-one.
Almost five minutes later, all the students were clustered together as they waited for halftime to officially start.
Southern Alamance junior Ali Lopez said she was excited to play for the crowd — which was much larger than what she was used to.
“The adrenaline you get when you're down there and you finish performing,” Lopez said. “I like hearing it all come together and everything lines up, and the flag work hits when the band hits.”
Lopez is a member of Southern Alamance’s color guard and said it was inspiring to work with Elon’s color guard for the day.
“They have all these classes and then they do this,” Lopez said. “You have an option when you get to college to do color guard.”
The combined bands played three songs once they were on the field, “September” by Earth, Wind and Fire, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and “Say Amen” by Panic! At The Disco.
Lopez said “Say Amen” was her favorite of the three since it was the easiest to memorize.
Fire of the Carolinas trumpet player and sophomore Ela Pease said her favorite part of the day was watching students come out of their shell.
“They are very quiet and very timid. And by the end, I know all their names and they know our names,” Pease said. “I like showing those high school students that if you did come to this school and you were in this band, that’s what would happen. You would have a family. You would have your people.”
Albright said Elon Band Day is a valuable partnership for both the schools invited and the university hosting, as it allows students to see themselves in a college marching band and encourages them to apply to Elon.