By Amelia Rogers-Neubarth

Santana Hendricks is a senior in the Ponte Vedra Ocean of Sound marching band. She ran for percussion captain during her junior year, and remained for her senior year, finishing two years in the band as a captain. Santana ran for captain because, “I love the band program and wanted to show it through teaching others.” Santana was chosen as a percussion captain to set and example and bring in a better leadership style to the front ensemble which lacked connectiveness in the past, according to the Ponte Vedra High School Band Director, Mr. Lezcano. Santana was not always in the percussion section through her four years, which is what makes becoming a percussion captain unique.

Each year Santana came to the lingering question of which instrument she would play as she is very talented in multiple instruments. Her freshman year she played trumpet, made friends in her section, but then the mellophone section needed members her sophomore year. These instruments are similar, so she was open to switching. The mellophone section was small, but she enjoyed marching it for the 2023 marching season. Santana said, “I switched instruments because I love doing something new every year.” This allowed her to meet new people among different sections of the ensemble and connect with the band in its entirety, which is important for being a captain. In switching instruments, Mr. Lezcano shared, “Switching to the front ensemble has helped Santana come out of her shell. She is more openly confident in herself and self-advocates in a healthy way.”

Ultimately, the junior season is where Santana found her place. In marching for the past two years switching to front ensemble, which is a stand still percussion section in front of the marching band, was a big change. She truly believed that this was her place in the marching band. Mr. Lezcano would agree, as he mentions, “Santana always leads this section by example and has made this section better performers and better people.  “This section included the people and instrument, the marimba which I love.”

Santana joined the marching band for the love of music she has always had, as well as encouragement to join from friends. In addition to practices on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and performances at football games and competitions, about 18 hours are spent rehearsing. Outside of these rehearsals Santana puts in even more work for this activity. She practices a lot at home, roughly two to three hours per week, while also coming into school early to practice in the mornings to get in that extra 20 minutes.  Every minute and every rep count in a competitive activity like a marching band.

Devoting so many hours of time to marching band balancing school alongside can be tricky. Santana can manage her time very well. She is not employed, so band and school are her main priorities as well as the usual much needed family time. Santana shares, “I’m at band practically more than school but still find time in the morning to do any needed work.”

Santana’s favorite part about being a percussion captain in the marching band is, “having others look up to me and trust I know the answers.” This is huge because the band director isn’t always around to answer questions or concerns, so the student leadership team takes responsibility and is willing to help. The thing Santana loves most about the band is having such a bonded community; everyone truly feels like a friend from every section, even the band director. “This band has been such a crucial part of my high school experience, and I am forever grateful for all I have learned and the relationships I have gotten out of it.”

Pictured: Santana Hendricks (12) playing the marimba.