Kassie Mathews is the Oglethorpe County marching band’s newest and youngest head drum major in 11 years.
The sophomore and former assistant drum major was also one of the first three eighth-graders to march when the program opened back up to middle schoolers three years ago. She’s now leading the largest group of eighth-graders in the high school band.
“It was a little nerve wracking in the beginning, but now I feel like I’ve gotten the hang of it. I know how to be a good leader,” Mathews said.
The multi-instrumentalist has been involved with bands in and out of school since sixth grade. Picking up saxophone, oboe and piano in the last few years, Mathews has played in the school’s band, jazz band and the Classic City Band in Athens. Band director Lee Jones credits her success to her extensive experience and dedication.
“She does a fantastic job. She's a hard worker,” he said. “She’s gotten up on the podium and quickly taken to directing the band, not just with her conducting, but also running rehearsal and relaying instructions to them.”
Mathews is guiding the band through a space-themed show this season inspired by Neil Armstrong’s moon-landing speech. The production “One Small Step” will take audiences into liftoff with featured audio from NASA and musical selections, including “Hyperbolic Trajectory,” “Mercury,” “Moon River” and “I’m the Doctor.”
“We knew we’d like to try a space show, and ‘Moon River’ was a ballad I’ve wanted to do with a band for a while now,” Jones said. “I thought it would be a very beautiful thing and have some nice impact. We felt we were ready for some of the things that we wanted to do with that.”
The band has grown to 45 members this year, including six majorettes and six color guard members. Jones said the younger members have brought energy and a quick-learning spirit.
“The fun and exciting part about (the growth) is they’ve all come with a happy to work attitude and just jump in there and get after it,” he said “We set our entire second song in a day in our last week at camp.”
The majorette line doubled from last year, with instructors pushing for higher levels of difficulty.
“When you double in size, you have more people to be in unison in the routine,” majorette instructor Sheila Sims said. “So that’s one of the things that we look forward to working on and perfecting when we go to competitions.”
This year, the auxiliaries will also be working together for the first time in recent years to tell a visual planetary story with a routine that includes large “planet” yoga balls.
“They have stepped up to their challenges this year,” color guard instructor Jeanne Jones said. “We are incorporating a lot more body movement and some harder tricks, and they've really stepped into it and embraced it.”
The band will compete at the Lake Hartwell Marching Band Competition and two Georgia Marching Band Collective Competitions this fall. Jones said the group’s attitude and growth in numbers make him optimistic for a good season — one small step at a time.
“It’s a strength in numbers thing where they don't feel as isolated when there’s more of them out there,” Jones said.
2025 OCHS marching band
Drum major: Kassie Mathews
Flute: Pharmoni Bryant, Ansleigh Treadwel and Emma Satterfield
Clarinet: Eh Khu, Madelyn Flores (senior) and Marlene Bahena
Alto sax: Victor Ross and Henry McFalls (senior)
Tenor sax: Maddie Carter
Trumpet: Ethan Paul, Aydan Aziz, Xander Bryant, Luke Bell and JJ
Casper
Baritone: Nevaeh Perry and Eli Austin
Trombone: Colin Fricks and Rylee Stanley
Sousa: Benji Ditty and Marty Barclay
Tenor drum: Lyla Bryant (senior)
Snare drum: Nate Webb
Bass drum: Kayleigh Fortner, Caden Caldwell, Charley Nation and Blane Latimer
Snare/bass: Carl Tittle
Front ensemble: Ryan Campell (senior), Maeve Haydock, Dipper Gerow, Molly Graham and Aurora McCurley
Color guard: Kendall McCurdy (senior), Macie Miller, Arrington Clark, Jenna Morlan, Karolina Jorge (senior) and Alexis Brakhage
Majorette: Mya Jewell, Peyton Lewis (senior), Jalynn Morlan (senior), Kensley Mallonee, Anna Kate West and Lucie Iodice