Kennedy Aderogba had simple goals when she joined Pitt’s marching band two years ago: to have fun, learn more, and grow as a person and musician.
She grew up playing instruments, but joined Pitt’s marching band with no prior marching band experience: her high school, The Ensworth School in Nashville, Tenn., did not have a marching band.
So it was a pleasant surprise — but also a testament to hard work and a willingness to learn — when the Pitt sophomore learned she’d be the marching band’s drum major next fall.
“I keep seeing myself in the third person. It’s so surreal to say I,” said Aderogba, 19. “It’s crazy to me now, knowing I’m head drum major. Mainly, my goal was to have fun and learn a cool party trick.”
Aderogba is the first Black woman to be the head drum major in Pitt marching band history.
Women weren’t part of Pitt’s band until 1972 — 107 years into its existence. Crissy Shannon was the band’s first woman to serve as drum major in 2019; De’Jovia Davis was the first Black woman to be assistant drum major in 2021.
“I was surprised,” Aderogba said. “I didn’t know how good I was until after the audition, when people came up to me and said good job. It never really crossed my mind. I really was looking for a way to grow.”
While participating in a marching band is new to Aderogba, music was not.
“I grew up playing the guitar and piano,” she said. “I always had an affinity for music.”
Aderogba chose to play the euphonium when she was in fifth grade — a nod to her older sister, Addesyn, who played the tuba.
Playing instruments helped her manage stuttering, she said, and her fluency was enhanced through music.
In high school, she was in Ensworth’s chamber orchestra and was in Vanderbilt University’s Repertory Orchestra her senior year.
Aderogba is studying business information systems. Although Pitt is nearly 600 miles from her hometown of College Grove, Tenn., Adergoba feels right at home.
“I’m able to really connect with people in my classes and see familiar faces in Sennett Square,” Aderogba said, referring to the main academic building for Pitt business students. “The academic side is awesome, but also the city as well.”
At Pitt, Aderogba switched instruments from euphonium to baritone. She remembers a feeling of having nothing to lose when she auditioned her freshman year.
A message left with band director Brad Townsend wasn’t immediately returned.
“I was in the mindset of, I’m doing this for fun,” she said.
There are around 300 students total in Pitt’s marching band. In the baritone section — which Aderogba nicknames the B-Tones — there are about 18 student performers.
“We’re a really close section,” she said. “We’re all people who love music and love to play our instruments.”
This past winter, Aderogba auditioned for drum major. The process included a video essay and written responses, a recording of Aderogba teaching a music skill to someone, interviews with directors and the musical audition itself.
And yes, Aderogba can do the signature backbend: “The key is your legs, abs and glutes,” she said.
Aderogba attributes her growth within the marching band to hard work and tenacity, skills instilled in her from her parents, mother Shalamarr and father Sam. Kennedy has four siblings: Addesyn, 22; Aubrey, 12; Kaleb, 10; and Blake, 6.
“It’s really cool they’ll be able to see me in the spotlight,” she said. “With that comes the responsibility because not only am I female, I’m African-American.”
Aderogba isn’t taking the responsibilities that come with being head drum major lightly, including leading the band and being its face, planning band camp and handling administrative duties, serving as a guide and role model to students. Aderogba will be in her junior year while serving as head drum major.
“I want people to believe in me,” she said. “At the end of the day, age does matter in some cases, but in the Pitt band, it doesn’t. Your status doesn’t matter. Anyone can be in leadership at any time.”
Aderogba said she plans to lead the band with humility. She will lean on assistant drum majors Gale Clark and Rachel McGregor for support.
“I hope to be very personable,” she said. “I love the idea of being a servant leader. I hope people know I am putting in the work, I’m making them better and they’re making me better. I hope I learn to enjoy myself in stressful situations.”