Drum Major tryouts the spring following the National Championship season was an exciting time for all Buckeyes and marching band members who were still living off the celebration high of “that last game”. In an exiting competition against five great candidates, Kathryn Mitchell obtained the position of Drum Major and joined Shelley Graf as the second female to enter the Drum Major “fraternity”.

Mitchell, a Columbus native who’s mother spent a little over 30 years working at OSU, had grown up cheering for the Buckeyes and going to football games with her father for as long as she could remember. She loved the energy and excitement that existed on Saturdays in the fall.

When she entered high school – an interest in marching band was the farthest thing in her mind. One Football Saturday, when Mitchell was 15-years-old, on a whim, she attended her first Skull Session to watch the marching band perform. The performance left her awe-struck. When Drum Major, Karl Neudorfer, began to spin the baton and toss it high into the air, Mitchell could hardly breathe.

"Although I had seen the band before on the field, it was the first time I had ever seen the Drum Major

up-close. The marching band, combined with the Drum Major -- it was the most amazing performance, and something I never forgot. It really is The Best Damn Band In The Land! For the next two years I went to as many games and Skull Sessions as I could to see the Drum Major perform. I would envisioned myself down on the Skull Session floor and performing as the OSUMB Drum Major. In the stadium I would envision myself as the Drum Major on the field.”

“ The following spring my high school band director, John Stahl, who was an OSUMB alumni introduced me to Shelley Graf. Shelley taught me my first Drum Major lessons.” The next three years Mitchell held the position as Drum Major for Centennial High School marching band. “Learning to be Drum Major was one of the best experiences in my life, it helped me to pull away from the mold of the ordinary high school or college student. At the same time, I was able to be a part of something that brought excitement, joy and pride to the people around me.”

During the summers Mitchell attended every summer session. “Shelley Graf, Scott Sommer and Greg Eyer instructed me on twirling and strutting, their willingness to help me and invest their time made a huge impact on my life. I always will value their guidance, friendship and the opportunities they gave me.” In Mitchell’s senior year she made the decision to take on the challenge of becoming Drum Major for the OSUMB.

“ When I got to OSU, I realized that even though I had come along way in my personal pursuit of becoming Drum Major, I was going to have to work harder than I ever had before if I was going to even have a chance.”

“ My first tryouts in 2000, I did better than anyone expected me too, but it was still about 50 miles away from the great performances of my competitors, Matt Bally, Scott Sommer and Adam Prescott. The following year I tried out again, I felt confident and that I had grown over the year and was good enough to earn a spot. But my performance showed – I was not ready. Afterwards, I felt I had failed myself when I lost at tryouts and feared that the sense of failure would stick with me for the rest of my life.”

The Columbus Dispatch wrote an article after tryouts about women not being able to ‘make the cut’ for a spot as OSU Drum Major. “I knew their theory was wrong - the reason I lost had nothing to do with my gender and everything to do with simply – my work ethic, and I promised myself, that was going to change.” said Mitchell

The following year Mitchell took the example of Adam Prescott’s workout discipline and tried to match his 3 to 4 hour-a-day practice schedule. “I ran, I lifted weights, I watched videos of Drum Majors and studied the movements and presence and every intricate detail I could about the OSU Drum Major. I dedicated myself to practicing strutting and twirling every night in the winter and spring. Although Adam was a competitor, his example really pushed me to work harder and exceed my potential. Greg Eyer and Dale Wagner also helped me understand what the essence being the OSU Drum Major meant and how to work towards accomplishing that goal.” That spring Mitchell was named Assistant Drum Major for the 2002 season and the following year she became the Head Drum Major.

“ Like mostly all the other Drum Majors, I will never forget my “first game”. It was the first game in the ‘Shoe’ against Washington since the National Championship. Almost 900 OSUMB Alumni were there. During the morning practice, I felt the burden to live up to all the great Drum Majors before me, many of whom where standing on the sidelines of the newly built marching band practice field watching my every move. At the same time, I also felt their powerful support of me. Brian Berendts advised me too, ‘just smile and have fun.’ And that is just what I did. That day the marching band and I had a great performance.”

“ The thing I will remember most about my experience as Drum Major was the joy I felt whenever I got in front of people to perform. I had the most fun when I was on the field, in a concert hall or performing with the Alumni Band. Through the marching band I was able to bring excitement and happiness and touch people’s lives all over Ohio. I was able to represent a unique and amazing group of people whose excellence I strongly believed in and who I had spent many years looking up to and respecting. The hard work and the obstacles I faced throughout my time as Drum Major will always have been worth it to me.”

In 2003 the OSU Marching Band again went to the Fiesta Bowl and won over Kansas State. During the off-season Mitchell took seriously her role in recruiting for the future by training many high school students to be OSU style Drum Majors. “Anywhere from 2 to 10 students would show up twice a week to the French Field House for a lesson.” said Mitchell. “It was quite an experience to orchestrate the teaching of these great kids. Being the OSU Drum Major teaches you how to handle tremendous responsibility along with leadership. It was very important to me to give these kids the opportunities that Drum Majors of the past have given me, and carry on the high standards that the Drum Major position at OSU requires. Over the past two years I have seen growth in the excitement for Drum Majoring all over Ohio. I have also seen great talent and potential from these high school students. It is a good feeling to leave a position which you love knowing the future of Drum Majoring at OSU is bright and strong.”