Kenneth Salas
Soprano Sax
This senior, who had the unique challenge of balancing marching band and cross country, lives by the principle of leaving no regrets on the field. Despite joining the show later in the season, he credits the band and Mr. Hale for allowing him to join and giving him an important role. His gratitude extends to the staff and band moms, who do all the work behind the scenes, and especially his parents, for constantly driving him back and forth from meets to competitions.
The core lesson he learned from band is to keep pushing through all the tough times, because it will be worth it in the end. He advises younger members to give it 100% to see how it pays off. This lesson is complemented by the insight that you should “Don’t expect anything,” because the band’s performance ranking can change drastically from week to week. He is most proud of not falling off the prop yet this season!
His favorite part of the “Motif” show is the ballad in the closer. A memorable, if frantic, moment from the season was making it just in time for a performance at Paul Dunbar, which involved a near-full-speed sprint by his mother to retrieve his forgotten instrument. He will miss the simple tradition of the food and snacks at the contests.
Looking ahead, he plans to go to college to get a degree in Computer Science. He believes his band experience will be crucial in the future by helping him make friends in college and ensuring he doesn’t become distant, as the challenges of life cannot be faced alone.
Carter Wells
Front Ensemble
For the Pit Section Leader, being a Marching Colonel means having the confidence to not listen to anything the judges have to say. This mindset, coupled with a great sense of humor, led to the year’s top accomplishment: being cool enough for Mr. Hale to laugh at his jokes. He notes that his time in the band has fundamentally influenced him, teaching him to laugh when he sucks at something, but not let it stop him from trying again.
His favorite part of the show, “Motif,” was a percussion highlight: getting to bring the crotales out for the first time since 8th grade. A memorable moment off the field involved a bit of roughhousing that resulted in a minor injury while trying to tackle Christian Peach—a clear sign of the close-knit, playful environment. The tradition he will miss the most is simply being a big boy.
Looking ahead, he plans to go to UK or UofL and explore careers in STEM. He fully expects his marching band experience to pay off in the future, especially by helping him secure more money with a pep band scholarship. His primary piece of advice to younger members is direct and essential: “PLEASE COUNT.”
Finally, he has a very specific message for a band member named Katie Waugh: “I’m sorry that I gave you an empty capri sun, and I hope you find the room in your heart to forgive me for my evil misdeeds.”
Aaron Hunter
Trombone
For this senior, being a Marching Colonel is all about being good at what you do while having fun doing it. This spirit has profoundly influenced their life, as the band is a big part of the reason they want to pursue music as a career.
Their biggest takeaway from band is the importance of knowing how to be a good leader, even without a position. This self-taught discipline is combined with a healthy sense of skepticism, as they warn younger members that “One more time” is the biggest lie you’ll ever hear. While he has no official leadership role this season, he is most proud of the band’s near-victory against Lafayette and is confident they will beat them this weekend.
When it comes to the show, “Motif,” his favorite moment is the visually striking transition after the ballad when the band is at the prop. Off the field, a favorite memory involved the whole team making a Pokémon Unite group and training for a tournament “for no reason”—a perfect example of finding fun together. The tradition he will miss the most is the legendary “girghquake.”
Looking ahead, he plans to go to college and major in music and minor in philosophy. He believes his marching band experience is already set to pay off, as it’s going to get me some good collage money. His final message to the program is one of pure thanks and excitement: “Thank you for making my marching years so enjoyable and I can’t wait to see what y’all do next year.”
Gunner Soper
Trumpet
For this Section Leader, the marching band experience has been a powerful lesson in both teamwork and leadership. They credit the program and staff for teaching me how to be a great musician and showing them how to effectively lead others—a skill they plan to use when they eventually have to lead people in their future trade career. Their final message to the program is one of pure gratitude: “Thank you for helping me through my years in band.”
The key lesson this senior will carry forward is simple but vital: Don’t quit, the hard work pays off. This perseverance is evident in their proudest accomplishment this year: coming within .45 points of beating Lafayette and showcasing the band’s growth.
Being a Marching Colonel, to them, means the simple joy of being in the band and going to pep games. Their favorite part of the season wasn’t a specific drill move, but the overall experience of going out to competitions every weekend with the band. A classic tradition they’ll miss is the Watermelon Smasher, and a favorite memory from this season was the cooling relief of the fire truck spraying them at band camp.
Looking ahead, this senior plans to go into a trade school, equipped with the discipline and leadership skills honed during their time in the Marching Colonels band.