For many artists, performance is a craft in itself. Molding the human body into a discipline that demands time, attention to detail, and the most amount of dedication can be a journey that requires more passion than talent. Marching band, in particular, is said to have all three components, alongside melodies, time signatures, and what most would view as a community worth being a part of. One of NHS’s drum majors, Asher Pohlman, paves way for the Marching Millers this year.
Pohlman’s story begins with bassoon, his first instrument in middle school, and still the instrument he has focused on throughout his high school music career. With freshman year approaching for Pohlman, he decided to pursue tenor saxophone in his jazz band class. Fast forward to junior year, Pohlman used his free block to pick up tuba in the intermediate band. A casual observer might say the experience has been an adventure, but the drum major role for Pohlman is contrastingly another route.
“Most of all, I really enjoy just being around everyone in the marching band. Secondly, being able to have the privilege to conduct the band and really feel the music is so wonderful. I’m so happy I got to do it,” Pohlman said.
The marching band isn’t always confined to school grounds. The indie pop band AJR performed with Noblesville Marching Millers this past July at the Ruoff Music Center, which in turn curated a memorable moment for Pohlman.
“My experience was pretty fun because I hadn’t played tenor in over a year, so picking back up again just to do a concert for an international band was really fun,” Pohlman said.
Because this was the first time Pohlman has played an instrument in the marching band since the 2023 season, his peers, like senior Nika Spaulding hadn’t had the chance to play and march alongside him.
“It was interesting that he still had a leadership position, but he was kind of just on the same level as everyone else,” Spaulding said. “So he was still able to be in charge, but he also had a completely different role than he usually does.”
Pohlman’s friends and fellow marchers aren’t the only ones who see him as a leader. This sentiment is also shared by the school’s band director, Eric Thornbury.
“If students don’t respect the student leader, the hardest job will be to lead peers,” Thornbury said. “I think you can learn to be a leader, but I also think that there’s charisma that some people just have and other people don’t have. And I think Asher has that charisma.”
Many of Pohlman’s peers not only recognize his charisma and leadership skills, but also come to realize the passion he possesses.
Even though the responsibilities of a drum major might seem daunting, Pohlman’s peers say that passion is what surpasses it all for him.
“I think it just reinforced my love for the performing arts in general,” Pohlman said. ‘It’s definitely motivated me to be on my game this year.”
