Nearing the end of her freshman year at the University of Georgia, Aizhia Poblete heard that it was time to audition for drum major for the Georgia Red Coat Band. Filling that position in that band had long been a dream of hers. Just getting into the Redcoat Band was hard enough since there are 400 members and students vie for each position. She was just one of thirty-six mellophones but getting to be the drum major would be something else indeed. After considerable thought, she decided to audition—just to get feed back maybe so she’d be really prepared for the next year. Twenty hopeful people tried out. These semifinalists had to conduct a prepared piece and make appropriate song calls based on the football plays.
That round of competition narrowed it down to seven, and she was still in the running. Excitement overwhelmed her, but still she told herself she didn’t have much of a chance. Sophomores very rarely made drum major. She was in it for the experience.
Final competition came on G-Day.
“I don’t think that most people know about G-Day,” Aizhia said. “On that day the bulldog defense plays the bulldog offense. The stadium was full, and I got to conduct half a quarter. I loved it. I was confident and had fun with the band. I think the other members had fun with me, too. I was still skeptical though. I knew that everyone else there was qualified. They had proved themselves worthy. Being the drum major is a big honor, especially for someone as young as me. Maybe I’d at least proved that I’m strong and worthy. I could wait.”
The next morning Aizhia woke to lots of texts of congratulations. She’d made one of the four UGA Red Coat drum majors and was delighted to accept the big responsibility that comes with it. She was the sophomore and would work with two juniors and one senior. A most exciting year lies ahead for her.
Just last year, Aizhia was finishing up her senior year at Appling County High School, where she had served as drum major for the 2021 Appling County Marching Pirates. She’s grateful to her former band directors—Jonathan Hickox and Jim Perry—for their help and support, their prayers and patience, as well as that of her family members.
She’s found herself energized and happy at UGA, involving herself in several things on campus. Along with the Redcoat Band, she’s also a part of the Student Government Association, the UGA Tate Honors Society, Sigma Alpha Iota, the UGA horn Studio and Ensembles, and the Franklin Residential College.
During her tenure at UGA so far, she has attended all the home games and one or two of the out-of-town ones. The band went to the Orange Bowl in Miami, and on the way there Aizhia ran into a few people she knew in Nahunta. She was able to travel with the band to the championship game in Indianapolis as well. The memory of the community behind her and the thrill of winning national championship still give her goose bumps.
“That was just an experience you cannot trade for anything,” Aizhia said. “I’ll remember it the rest of my life.”
As of this moment, Aizhia is a music major on a premed track, minoring in comparative literature and intercultural studies. Her interests are broad and cover a wide range of studies. Come August though, she’ll return to UGA and start her sophomore year. However, this time she’ll be a drum major. She can check off another dream.
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