OC music students contracted by prestigious drum corps 

Garrett Minor and Clay Roesler earned the opportunity to march with a competitive drum corps.

January 22, 2020 - Drum corps are a marching group who play percussion and brass instruments, and competitive corps only accept the most capable drummers. This spring, OC students Garrett Minor and Clay Roesler achieved this impressive honor.

Joining a drum corps requires multiple levels of auditions, the first of which typically includes a weekend of daily practice and auditions. Those who the corps are interested in will be called back for additional try-outs. After the try-outs are concluded, those chosen for the corps will be contracted to play with the organization. 

Minor has played the drums since 2008. He became serious about playing when he joined his high school marching band as a sophomore. Minor later learned about drum corps during his junior year, leading him to start auditioning. 

Roesler started drumming when he was in sixth grade. He discovered drum corps as a freshman in high school. Roesler’s first audition was during his freshman year of college with Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, located in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas. He tried out three times before he was accepted.

Minor has been a part of multiple drum corps. He first marched with Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps in 2018 and later went on to join Vigilantes Indoor Percussion, which he currently marches in. Minor is also in the process of auditioning for Colts Drum and Bugle Corps; he hopes to be contracted by them this month.

Minor and Roesler are the only two current OC students to be contracted by drum corps. Roesler has credited daily preparation for his success in drumming.

“My success definitely [comes from] practicing nonstop every day,” Roesler said. “The amount I practice in one day is probably four hours if not more, but I think the average person would practice one-two hours a day.”

Minor also spoke on practicing daily, as well as getting private lessons from a teacher who knows what the drum corps expect. He also emphasized gaining experience through auditioning for drum corps.

“Even if you get cut, it’s always worth the experience,” Minor said. “You learn so much during a camp that you wouldn’t get if you weren’t there.”

OC Distinguished Visiting Professor of Honors Mike Knedler has followed both Minor’s and Roesler’s success stories. He credits their achievements to their steadfast commitment.

“In terms of drum corps, they’ve exhibited their own drive and interest; it takes a lot of dedication,” Knedler said. “It’s highly stressful because you are under pressure to perform perfectly. They both know what to expect, and they are capable of meeting those demands.”