Ohio State announces first African American female drum major

Former Elyria High School Pioneer Morgan Davis has made her mark at The Ohio State University, and it’s only the beginning for her.

It was announced April 21 that Davis, 20, was one of two members selected as drum majors for college’s 2018 marching band.

Davis is a third-year student who recently earned the position of an assistant drum major, or twirler, in the marching band.

According to the university, Davis is the first African American woman to hold a drum major role at OSU.

The sociology and political science minor also is the fourth female in the history of the organization to hold either the assistant or drum major positions.

She will twirl alongside fourth-year student Konner Barr, who is the university’s 62nd drum major.

Davis and Barr were among the six candidates who competed for the two positions.

All candidates were current or former members of the marching band’s D-Row — the drum major’s training squad, Davis said.

She said she went through the competitive tryout relaxed and performed her twirling routine at her best level.

The candidates were required to perform a traditional pregame ramp entrance, an individual twirling routine set to music and a series of five high aerial tosses.

After tryouts were finished, Davis said she heard her name called to the middle of the tryout field by the university’s band director, Christopher Hoch.

Hoch delivered the news and Davis said she was shocked and happy that her hard work paid off.

Her parents Darlene and Michael Davis of Elyria also were in attendance at her tryout.

“When my name was called, I remember looking at my mom and saw her crying,” Davis said. “She was so proud; it was awesome.”

Barr was the assistant drum major of for 2016 and 2017 seasons, and has now passed over the assistant baton to Davis.

She was on the drum major training squad for her first two years at OSU and was responsible for helping the drum majors or filling in any missing positions.

Now as an assistant, she said she is ready to take the field at Ohio Stadium.

Davis began twirling at the age of 10 for the Elyria Deputies Baton Drum Corps. She also did competitive twirling when she was 15.

Davis then brought her passion to Elyria High as the marching band’s drum major in her junior and senior years.

So far, she said she has felt that the high school and collegiate level of a drum major aren’t too different because she has always participated in competitions.

“What’s different (from each level) is, that I’m now in a new leadership position,” she said. “I’m representing the university and the band now.”

Aaron Putka, the band director of Elyria High, started his first year with the school in Davis’ senior year.

Putka said in his time of directing her as a drum major, “she was dynamite.”

He said Davis has worked toward this position since high school.

“It’s no surprise,” Putka said on her position. “But, it is nice to hear because she is very good at what she does.

“Morgan is a great leader. Her level of maturity was high when she left here.”

Putka added that Davis left a good heritage behind at Elyria High with the drum majors and has set the bar high.

He said his feelings went through the roof when learning Davis was the first African American female at OSU to hold the title as a drum major.

“It was bound to happen eventually,” Putka said. “Why not Morgan? Why not now?”

Davis said she’s honored to be the first African American drum major at the university and can’t believe it’s never happened.

She said performing is one of her all-time favorite things, so, now that she can do it with a large marching band is exciting.

Davis added that she is ready perform post-game and lead the traditional lining in the script of “Ohio” in Ohio Stadium.

Don’t miss