There’s nothing quite like the thrill of being the drum major of a prominent college marching band, never mind one as nationally significant as the Pride of Oklahoma marching band in OU.
Kaylie Moss, 2020 Sapulpa High graduate, can tell you exactly how it feels; not only the excitement of becoming drum major, but the achievement of determination and overcoming rejection to get there.
In 2020, Moss—much like the rest of the national student body—lost the last half of her senior year of high school to Covid. She was a clarinet player in high school, and submitted to play clarinet in the Pride of Oklahoma for her freshman year at OU, but failed to make the cut. “That absolutely devastated me,” she said, “because band was such a huge part of my identity up until that point.”
Feeling the rejection, she faced up to the reality that her career in band might be over. But a friend convinced her to give it another shot, saying she might be able to earn a spot on the drumline for OU. A few months later, she decided to try out again. “The idea seemed crazy at the time because I didn’t know a single thing about drums,” she said. Her friend, a Sapulpa graduate named Jack Johnson, was on the OU drumline and promised to teach her everything she needed to know to audition for the cymbal line.
She tackled the challenge head-on, learning what she could and practicing every day to prepare for her audition. Her hard work was rewarded when she found out she’d earned a spot in the Pride and marched her first year at OU on cymbals. “It was an amazing experience,” she said. “Being in Pride transformed college from something that I hated to something I loved; I made so many friends and made countless memories.”
Spurred on by her achievements, she decided to audition for drum major, a role that is voted on by the band members themselves. Kaylie said she was surprised when she made it to the final round of auditions, even though she ended up not being chosen that year. “Going through that audition process helped me grow as a person and as a leader,” she said. She auditioned for section leader of the cymbal line, which she received, and marched her second season in Pride as cymbal section leader.
The next year, she auditioned again for drum major. This time, she got it.
“I’m so extremely excited and grateful to have this opportunity,” Moss said. “Filling this role has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was 15 years old. It’s so surreal to be finally living out my dream.”
Kaylie Moss is only the third female drum major in all of OU history. When she was 15, she attended her first OU football game and watched Julie Siberts—OUs first female drum major, ever—perform with passion and energy immediately drew Kaylie to her. Kaylie Moss was, at the time, the drum major for Saulpa’s Big Blue Band, and knew that day that she wanted to become the drum major of the Pride of OU.
“I’m so extremely excited and grateful to have this opportunity. Filling this role has been something I’ve wanted to do since I was 15 years old. It’s so surreal to be finally living out my dream.”
Pride of OU Drum Major Kaylie Moss
The work to become drum major for Pride of OU is extensive, beginning in mid-October and requiring three separate rounds of auditions, submitting videos, and conducting live interviews, never knowing if you’re going to get passed over or move on to the next round.
Kaylie says the band community in Sapulpa helped shape her into the leader she’s now become on the fields of OU. “I had the opportunity to serve the band as drum major for three years, which was definitely a formative experience for me. Being a drum major of the Sapulpa band helped me strengthen my leadership skills and work ethic, which has absolutely helped me obtain the position I’m in at OU,” she said.
She also says that if it worked for her, it can work for any other Chieftain who has a dream.
“Work hard and never give up on your dreams,” she said. “There were many times where it felt like my dream of becoming drum major was out of reach, but I kept working and eventually I was able to reach my goal.”
See Kaylie Moss in action as drum major in the video below:
