Since the start of school, the rising sun threw stringy shadows across the football field, illuminating the marching band as they repped the most difficult part of the show. Drum Major and junior, Akouvi Noglo’s hands guide her peers through the time with each cutting movement.

“[The Drum Majors] are the first kids here every day at 6:15. And on performance days, they’re here all the way until the last, and we ask people to leave,” Kelly Weber, the 10th grade Band Director at AHS, said, “They do all the stuff getting the podiums out there, they unlock the stadium, they’re setting up the long rangers. They’re pretty much always asking ‘what do you need, what do you need?’”

Drum majors have so much to do for every rehearsal and performance, which means there is a lot of pressure to be on top of it. Previously, during Noglo’s sophomore year, she was a field manager.

“Field manager is a lot of the -I don’t wanna say gruntwork- but it’s a lot of hard work with props and organizing and attendance. I mean, she really proved a lot of what she could do in that as well, just cause it’s a snapshot of a little bit of what it’s like to be a drum major,”  Weber said.

Noglo is used to pressure in band, as a field manager, playing difficult instruments, and expecting a lot from herself.

“Akouvi has very high standards for herself, and sometimes would not be the kindest to herself when playing the flute,” Weber said.

Band and instrument challenges

Before marching band, Akouvi’s eighth grade year in band she began learning the oboe in addition to the flute. By freshman year, she was playing the reed instrument full time, and she was the only one.

“Eighth grade was when I was getting into [the oboe], but I was awful at it,” Noglo said.

Noglo navigated learning the new instrument with grace. Considering the oboe is a delicate reed instrument, the right sound doesn’t always come out if it’s not being used perfectly. Those challenges, piled on top of being the only student to switch to oboe, brought out her character.

“You’re putting yourself out there because every mistake you make the entire band knows, because everything you play as a solo. So I think that really showed us how tough Akouvi is mentally,” director of the 11 and 12 band and the Marching Hawks, Jennifer Williams said.

This mental strength and perseverance was the perfect foundation for a leader in the Ankeny Band program. It became apparent that not only was Noglo a natural leader but she’d been willing and aspired for the role of Drum Major for a long time.

“I was considering it freshman year. I was plotting,” Noglo said.

The process of choosing leaders in the band program is very similar to applying for a job. There’s an application to fill out, an interview, conducting a song with the full band, and a unique requirement of a minute-long “elevator” speech given to the band directors about why you should be selected.

“She knocked our socks off in that interview. It was like, okay, she’s gonna be great. It could be her,” said Williams.

After her elevator speech in an echoing room with only her voice to fill it, Noglo left, knowing she spoke her truth and could only imagine what would come of it. The results were being released one afternoon in the spring. Mercer and her other friends from band were with her when she finally opened the results.

“I’m looking down and I see my name and the blood curdling scream I let out, no one will ever understand. I lost my voice for a full 24 hours after that,” Noglo explained.

How she leads

Her excitement and genuine happiness at being honored with this leadership opportunity isn’t just for what she’ll receive in fame or experience. Noglo is excited to help the band in whatever way she can.

When talking about the morning run during band camps, Mercer said, “There’s usually a few stragglers and Akouvi’s always there. She’s always helping out. She runs with them, paces with them.”

Noglo is great at making everyone feel included. She may be a leader, but she’s willing to follow the pack during those three laps to make sure the slower students don’t feel separated from the whole group.

“Akouvi has this really good sense of leadership as an act of service for others, not leadership as an act for myself,” Weber said.

The ease and love with which Noglo gives is incredible, and she enjoys it just as much as those who get to know her. It’s only junior year but her leadership and love for this activity has already created a lasting impact on her peers. The dedication to success creates a unique culture and closeness.

“In band, it’s almost like we’re all just siblings. We’re all brothers and sisters kind of,” Noglo said.