Penn State University has selected Ellie Sheehan as the new drum major for its famed Blue Band, marking the first time in the group’s 126-year history that a woman will lead the band.
Sheehan, a fifth-year marketing student from Hollidaysburg, Pa., joined the Blue Band as a piccolo player during her freshman year and has been preparing for the role of drum major ever since.
She said her dream of leading the band began as a child attending Penn State football games. “I remember being 8 years old, watching the drum major’s flip and the band spelling out ‘PSU’ and ‘Lions,’ and thinking, ‘That’s what I want to do,’” Sheehan recalled.
The audition process for drum major included performing the iconic flip, conducting two musical pieces, and completing an interview. The flip—an acrobatic move performed before home games as the band enters Beaver Stadium—has been a Blue Band tradition since 1977. Sheehan said she had been practicing the move since last fall in preparation.
The drum major is responsible for leading warmups, performances, and serving as a spokesperson for the band. Sheehan said she views the position as an opportunity to give back to the organization she loves.
Music has been a lifelong passion for Sheehan, and being chosen for the historic role is a milestone she said makes the experience even more meaningful. “Becoming the first female drum major makes it special, but the most important part for me is supporting the band and the Penn State community,” she said.
The Blue Band will debut Sheehan as drum major at Penn State’s home opener against the University of Nevada on Aug. 30.
Source: WPSU