Drum roll, please. Michael Wilson, an Iola High senior, attended Phantom Regiment, a drum major camp for high school students. Wilson attended the camp in Rockfield, Ill., June 7-9.
Matt Kleopfer, Iola high and middle school band instructor, said the camp attracts the best students from around the nation. Drum majors from all over the country come to learn and perfect their art.
The Regiment kept Wilson very busy throughout the day.
“During the day they’d give us leadership stuff to work on,” Wilson said. “They taught us conducting methods and verbal commands.”
For verbal command practice Wilson said the students had to get out of their comfort zone.
“We would stand in front of a bunch of people and had to yell at them and tell them what to do,” Wilson said.
Wilson learned a lot from his time there.
“There is a level of respect for everyone in the band,” Wilson said. “Everyone is equally important.”
He also added he wants to work on discipline and rehearsal etiquette with the band.
One reason Kleopfer wanted Wilson to attend this camp is so he could see in person how others rehearse.
“There was no way to put into words what the best of the best is like in rehearsal,” Kleopfer said.
For the upcoming year Wilson wants to try and “make our band the best in the area.”
He would also like to do more marching. The band plans to perform at the University of Kansas and Kansas State University band days and might attend Neewollah.
“I’m really, really glad he got to do this,” Kleopfer said. “Not many get to do stuff like this.”
The Iola corps’ next trip will be to Wichita for Drums Across Kansas on July 16 to watch bands perform in Cessna Stadium.
Senior attends Phantom Regiment
