Terrell High School senior Drum Major, Kevin Espinoza, was never supposed to be in a band. As an incoming sixth grader Kevin discovered an accidental error on his class schedule. “I noticed that band was on my schedule as an elective on the first day of school,” he shared. “I honestly did not want to be in band but I was too shy to speak up so I basically stuck it out.”
Once he participated in his first chair test as a clarinetist, he made first chair. “I realized I was actually pretty good and I really didn’t practice that much.” Kevin embraced practicing and maintained his first chair placement and decided to return to band the following year.
As a seventh grader, Kevin’s band director challenged him to play in the eighth grade band and he accepted. “I was surrounded by all these people who were better than me and it motivated me to be better,” he said. “My chromatic skills and tone improved, but more importantly I improved as a person. I learned how to motivate others and to give encouragement, because people encouraged me.”
Then COVID hit and Kevin suffered academically and personally. He started not caring about his grades and he never practiced outside of school hours. “My spark sort of died,” he shared.
Towards the end of his eighth grade year, he started practicing again and when it came time for placement in the high school band he was one of three incoming freshmen to be ranked in the “Wind Ensemble” - which is code for “Varsity.” “It helped to ignite my spark again and I signed up for high school band,” he said.
When he showed up on the first day of high school, he realized he had missed all of summer band camp. “I did not know how to march or how to play any of the marching show music,” he shared. “I didn’t know anything. I was fortunate they let me stay on as a backup.” Eventually a full-time marching spot became available and he was placed in the marching show permanently. During Concert Season in the spring, he auditioned for his seat and remained a member of Wind Ensemble.
As a sophomore, Kevin was finally able to attend his first summer band camp. “It was horrible,” he said. “It was 100 degrees outside and we were outside for hours, but I finally learned how to march properly and was able to perfect my technique.”
That was also the year that Kevin decided to take on a new challenge and learn how to play the oboe. The oboe is the second hardest instrument to learn how to play and while the oboe is not utilized in marching season, it is a major part of concert season in the spring. “I committed to practicing on both the clarinet and oboe during the fall so I could be ready for concert season in the spring,” he said. Once again, Kevin was a member of the Wind Ensemble as a clarinetist and he played oboe in the Symphonic Band learning the different music pieces for both bands.
As a junior, Kevin was given a leadership position when he was named a Squad Leader during marching season. “Being a squad leader helped me to learn how to communicate with other people. I learned that sometimes you have to communicate differently with different people,” he shared. “It also gave me confidence. The band directors saw something in me and it made me think what else I might be able to do and that was when I started thinking about trying out for Drum Major.”
When Drum Major tryouts rolled around in May, Kevin decided to put his name in the hat. Tryouts are a week-long grueling process. It entails learning how to conduct, creating a salute, playing your instrument and participating in an interview with all middle and high school band directors.
“I thought I wasn't going to make it and that I wasn’t good enough,” Kevin shared. “When I saw that I had been selected, I was shocked but I was also so excited.”
“Being a Drum Major is challenging,” he said. You have to be professional and you have to think on your feet. Drum Majors must be trustworthy and gaining the trust of those you lead is very important.”
Terrell High School Band Director, Roderick Boyce, has nothing but praise for Kevin. “Kevin is truly dependable and finds ways to better himself and the band program as a whole. If he’s not helping out his peers and his directors, he’s bettering his campus as a whole by being involved in other organizations and groups. He is a blessing!”
In addition to serving as Drum Major, Kevin is also the Student Council President and Senior Class Treasurer. He is also on track to graduate with his Associate Degree next May and is ranked in the top ten in his class. After graduation, he wants to major in International Business.
“I am so proud of the band and I am proud of myself. I wasn’t even supposed to be here. I signed up for sixth grade band by mistake.”