The sounds of another marching band season are beginning to fill the Hamilton High School campus as student musicians return for their first week of band camp.

On the opening day, band members focused on rebuilding the fundamentals that will serve as the foundation for the season, including forward and backward marching, proper technique and the habits needed to perform together successfully.

Helping lead the way are senior drum major Ben Bosscher and junior drum major Isaiah Michielsen.

Bosscher steps into the senior drum major position after learning alongside 2025–26 senior drum major Alyssa Bittner, who graduated after providing strong leadership to the program. Although he admitted to feeling some nerves before the first day of camp, those feelings quickly eased once he was surrounded by his fellow band members.

“I didn’t get too much sleep the night before. I was a little nervous when I woke up,” Bosscher said. “But as I jumped into it with all my friends around and everybody helping, it was so much easier than I could have imagined.”

As a senior, Bosscher is excited to help guide the band while making the most of his final season.

“We have a good group this year with lots of excited freshmen,” Bosscher said. “Being my senior year, I’m really excited to go into it and have a strong final year.”

Michielsen is adjusting to a new role as the band’s junior drum major. He said the position requires him to take on additional leadership responsibilities and approach rehearsals from a different perspective.

“It’s a lot different from what I am used to,” Michielsen said. “There’s a lot of leadership that I have to take on. I’m excited to try something new and am looking forward to the opportunity.”

Both drum majors pointed to the close-knit culture within the program as one of its greatest strengths.

“I think the biggest thing is community,” Michielsen said. “Everyone is friends throughout the band, and everyone is cheering each other on.”

That sense of community is paired with high expectations. Each year, members establish goals to keep themselves accountable throughout the season. One of those goals is continuing the program’s tradition of excellence at festival.

The Hamilton High School Marching Band has earned straight Division I ratings at the MSBOA Marching Band Festival for nine consecutive festival seasons through 2025. At the 2025 State Band Festival, the band received straight Division I ratings and all A grades on every adjudication sheet. Hamilton students also regularly earn First Division ratings at MSBOA Solo and Ensemble events.

“I’m proud to be in the position of senior drum major,” Bosscher said. “I hope to lead us to another strong festival full of ones.”

The first day of camp marked only the beginning of the work ahead, but the enthusiasm, leadership and support already on display provided plenty of reasons to be excited for the upcoming season.

Hamilton Community Schools is proud of Ben, Isaiah and every member of the Hamilton High School Marching Band for the time and hard work they are investing in another successful season.