AHS alumna has never stopped marching Avery Pontell-Schaefer finishes college career out in front of the band BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer Amid 34,804 Rutgers University students, Allentown'sAvery L. Pontell- Schaefer achieved distinction. Top photo: Allentown's Avery Pontell-Schaefer, 22, leads the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights. Bottom photo: Pontell-Schaefer appears on the Jumbotron at the International Bowl in Toronto, Canada. The 22-year-old Allentown resident will soon graduate from the New Brunswick campus with a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing and a minor in Italian. She will study abroad in Italy this summer. However, these accomplishments are not what set Pontell-Schaefer apart from the rest during her college career. A recognized leader, teacher and conductor, Pontell-Schaefer achieved the role of drum major in her senior year and saw to it that the 180 members of the Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights always performed their best. "Being a drum major means being the life of the band," Pontell-Schaefer said. And, the college's marching band has a long life history. Founded in 1915, the band originally began as an 11-member band to play music for weekly drills of the Rutgers College Cadet Corps. Although the band played its first football game in 1915, it did not start performing formations on the field until 1928 and it wasn't until 1972 that it went coed. After a tumultuous time in the late '80s and '90s, including operating under a half-dozen directors, the band is now growing under the direction of Timothy Smith, a graduate of Rutgers University. In addition to playing at all home football games, the marching band also performs at numerous competitions such as the United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) High School Band Championships. Pontell-Schaefer, a mellophone player, took her part in the band's history during her freshman year of college. She later served as a section leader for two years and then tried out with 10 other students for one of the three open drum major positions. "I was excited," Pontell-Schaefer said of the opportunity to become drum major. "I wanted to be a bigger part of the excitement on the practice field and on game days." Drum majors have many responsibilities beyond marching and playing their instruments well. They have to learn to conduct, know drill notation, run practices, give commands, and mount and dismount their podiums with decorum. Overall, they must lead by instruction and example. "We set the pace and it's up to us how quickly and well things get done," Pontell- Schaefer said. Beyond guiding the band through every football game and competition, Pontell Schaefer also had the opportunity to lead the band at the Insight Bowl in Phoenix,Ariz., the Texas Bowl in Houston, Texas, and the International Bowl in Toronto, Canada. "They were all so memorable," she said. "One was very different from the next. Experience-wise, the most fun this year was getting to go to Canada during the bowl game. I was the only one allowed to go because I was a senior. It was awesome." During the half-time show at the bowl, Pontell-Schaefer could be seen conducting the band on the Jumbotron. However, moments like that can't compare to being part of a living tradition, according to Pontell Schaefer. She said her favorite memories will always be conducting during the Scarlet Walk, which is a ritual before every Rutgers football game in which the band, cheerleaders and fans line up in front of the stadium to welcome the football players. As a band member, Pontell-Schaefer said she learned many lessons not taught in lecture halls, including the true meaning of dedication. "Because it wasn't always so fun playing a football game in the pouring rain and sleet," she said. "When fans don't have to go, the band has to be there, pretending like they like it." Pontell-Schaefer also learned superior time management skills as she participated in the band while holding down two part-time jobs and taking 16-18 credits each semester. "When it seemed counterintuitive, it actually kept me on point, doing what I had to do," she said. She commended all of her band mates for their contributions, noting that band isn't a required class. She said members volunteer to practice for two hours, three times a week and spend 12 hours together on game days. She also noted that unlike high school bands that learn one half-time show per season, college bands learn three. "The biggest and best this year was the Spanish show, "Malaguena," she said. "You could tell when the band played it that it was their favorite song to play. It had so much enthusiasm and life to it. It got us excited and hopefully got the crowd as excited." Pontell-Schaefer was no stranger to the rigors of marching band as she graduated from Allentown High School where she performed under the guidance of former band Director Pete Mauro. She had played the violin as a child for 13 years and wanted to continue to do something musical in high school. During her freshman year, she started practicing the mellophone, a brass instrument, and stuck with it all four years of her high school career. She also served as her section leader at high school. Under Mauro's direction, the Allentown High School marching band took first place in the USSBA Group IIA Competition during her freshman and senior years. When it was time to go to college, Avery made the decision to stay close to home, where she could have a car and the freedom that comes with it. "It seemed like the right place to be," she said, of Rutgers University in New Brunswick. "I heard they had a great marching band and it definitely was. The thing I was doing all through high school I could keep doing in college." She said joining the marching band in college was the best decision she ever made.More than just an activity, the band program served as an exciting part of her college experience. As a new student, before school even started, Pontell-Schaefer gained many new friends at band camp who showed her the ropes of college and how to get around campus. She said the Rutgers band program is an excellent way to make lasting relationships. "They're the people I know, the people I go out with and the people I continually care about," Pontell-Schaefer said. "If I hadn't joined the band, I would have two friends. With the band there is an uncountable number of people who respect and care about me." Avery said Smith, the band's director, was committed to working with her and gave her many opportunities to shine. "He's given me a lot of opportunities and really had a lot of faith in me," she said, adding that his confidence in her was one of the greatest inspirations for her to try to become a drum major. Pontell-Schaefer hopes to instill the love she has developed for music and performance over the course of her school career in younger students. She said college freshmen considering joining the marching band should know that they would meet lots of people and have lots of fun. Although she will graduate from Rutgers soon, Pontell-Schaefer wants to remain a distinguished part of the college community. "I've considered working for Rutgers," she said. "I would love to do athletic marketing. I love the energy and the game day atmosphere. If I can be involved in that at a profitable level, it would round out my experience." She said even if she doesn't work for Rutgers, she sees herself forever remaining committed to the place that made her who she is through alumni services. "Rutgers, I love it," she said. "I've had so much fun and so much success. It's become so much a part of me. If I can contribute to other people having that experience I would like to." Incoming freshmen interested in the Rutgers marching band should note that band camp is Aug. 22-28 this year.