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Memorial High School grad Brian Speckman is one of the Ohio State University Marching Band's two leaders, along with head drum major Joshua Ford.
Via Ohio State University
ST. MARYS - A recent Memorial High School graduate with a knack for leadership and the baton twirl is steadily rising through the ranks of The Best Damn Band in the Land.
The assistant drum major of the Ohio State University Marching Band, Brian Speckman, 19, began his quest for the position while he was still in St. Marys by becoming a part of the St. Marys All Brass Band drum major program.
He then began attending winter drum major sessions at Ohio State while a part of the St. Marys band. Those free, weekly sessions are designed to give aspiring drum majors from all over the country a chance to learn from Ohio State drum majors past and present. The sessions are open to students in grades eight to 12 every Monday from late January to early April in Columbus.
"Originally, when I first started learning the process, my goal was to just be our high school drum major," Speckman said. "Through those winter sessions, I learned a little bit more about the program and I was kind of set on (being an Ohio State drum major) by like the start of my junior year (of high school). And then from that point, I've really worked hard to try to get to where I am now through those winter sessions, summer sessions and everything."
In order to earn the position of either head or assistant drum major, a student must have been a member of D-Row, the drum major training squad, for at least one season, according to the OSU band website. D-Row tryouts take place during the same time as the marching band members try out in early August.
After one season on D-Row, students are eligible to try out for drum major during the spring. Drum major tryouts typically occur near the end of spring semester.
Speckman performs at halftime during a football game against Celina in August 2023.
Speckman became the St. Marys All Brass Band drum major his senior year, then graduated high school in 2024. He then served for one year on D-Row while attending the Ohio State Marion Campus.
Now, Speckman is studying accounting at the main campus and is one of the band's two leaders, along with head drum major Joshua Ford. They both tried out for those roles and were subsequently named to them in the spring.
"A lot of my job revolves around leadership, especially with the new drum major candidates, which we call the D-Row," Speckman said. "One of my main jobs is to help teach them the skills needed for what we do and to help them prepare for tryouts within the band. Once again, it's still a lot of (teaching the skills for) those leadership roles."
Speckman also gets to lead the Double Script Ohio performances and post-game performances at football games.
Being a part of the 148th Ohio State University Marching Band is an honor like no other, he said.
Speckman was named the OSU band assistant drum major following auditions in the spring.
Via Ohio State University
"We always talk about (our) tradition of excellence; it's one of our mottos and it goes back so far. I think to be a part of that history is such a huge honor," Speckman said. "And then along with that, being able to perform for so many people is just exhilarating to me."
The skills he has honed over the years include both interpersonal skills and physical conditioning.
"The physical skills would be like how to twirl a baton, specific tricks that they might need to learn: how to do the back bend and the drum major struts," he said. "And then along with that, being a drum major isn't just the performance on the field, it's everything off field and like getting them acclimated with how to lead a group and understanding the importance of your image."
Though Speckman and Ford tried out in the spring, the tryouts for this year's band members concluded recently, with the official roster being posted online on Tuesday.
Band members began three-a-day practices this week in the lead up to the football season home opener against Texas on Aug. 30.
"We have three, three-hour practices every day with like a two-hour break in between for lunch," Speckman said. "We'll have those until Friday, and then Saturday we have a preview that's for family and friends. That's kind of testing (and) double-checking to make sure everything's ready for next week."
Speckman became the drum major for St. Marys All Brass Band his senior year. He graduated from St. Marys Memorial High School in 2024.
Speckman began his drum major career as a ninth grader at St. Marys Memorial High School. The school's program is led by Josh Barnes, a former St. Marys drum major, and is very similar to the OSU drum major program.
"We do train our section leaders, our drum majors and our field commanders to be leaders within the band and to lead their peers," St. Marys director of bands Maddy Frankenhauser said. "Yes, it's what you see on the field as far as our drum majors go, but they're also behind the scenes, doing work as leaders in the band."
Though it's not required, Frankenhauser said her staff definitely encourages their students to attend Ohio State's winter drum major sessions.
"That's the best place to go and learn new techniques, new tricks and stuff like that," she said. "That's a valuable piece of having this program, is having the kids be able to go and learn at OSU."
For any current or future Roughriders thinking about trying their hand at the drum major position, Speckman warned it's a lot of hard work. And it's worth it, he added.
"It's going to be scary … like I remember my first time ever doing any performance out at St. Marys and it felt like I had a brick in my stomach," he said. "But the feeling of knowing how hard that person worked to get to that spot, and then having them understand that you can do more if you work for it. That's a message I'd want to drive (home), not only to people that are interested in marching band, but in general."
