Travelling across the country, spending nights on a charter bus and performing at different venues across the nation seems like the kind of activity reserved to rock stars and famous celebrities. This image is a difficult one to picture a marching band completing. However, in the case of the Phantom Regiment drum corps, summertime for the members is characterized as such, and Coppell junior Aaron Fisher will be the newest snare drum addition to join in.
Being selected to be a part of the Phantom Regiment drum corps is a difficult feat and high honor since corps is thought by many to be one of the best drumlines in the country. Securing one of the four open snare drum positions out of 50 competitors in itself is an honorary feat, however, Fisher was also able to do this while being the youngest member on the corps by two years and the only high school student on the drum line.
“It was really a surprise to get this,” Fisher said. “I mean, as a percussionist, drum corps are always something that we know about, but not a lot of kids from this area make them into it. I love playing the drums, and I know that this is going to intensify that feeling, and make me better.”
Despite his obvious excitement at making a spot in the Regiment, there are several sacrifices that Fisher must give up to make this dream come true. Along with the time he must spend practicing with the rest of the Regiment members, he has to manage schoolwork and the demanding schedule of the CHS honor band.
“The regiment requires a lot of time,” band director Brandon Slovak said. “Weekends and summers are given up. I remember doing it in college – and that’s the time that most kids do it so they don’t have to balance high school band on top of the corps – and I don’t think I’d be able to do it again if I had to go back. It’s very challenging.”
Fisher will be the sixth Coppell High School percussionist to make the top 12-drum bugle corps in the last three years, continuing in the excellence of the school’s band. However, unlike the other players, he has the advantage of a longer time to play as part of the Phantom Regiment.
“The average age of most people in the band is around 19,” Fisher said. “And the age maximum is 21. This gives me six good years to practice and improve my skills as part of the Regiment, which is something that a lot of people don’t get. While the fact that I’m so young can be a little bit daunting, it’s also a benefit at the same time.”
Phantom Regiment, which has its official holdings in Chicago, will require Fisher to spend most of his summer away from home. Since December, Fisher has been flying out monthly to attend practices that fill up his entire weekend, and once the summer arrives, these flights will become much more frequent. As one of the 150 people in the corps, and one of the 20 drum line members, Fisher’s role in the band is integral.
“Aaron is sacrificing so much to be a part of this,” Slovak said. “Not only does the corps require a good deal of money, but he also has to spend all of his summer switching between charter buses and high school gyms, cut off from the rest of the world and his friends. He’ll see his family maybe once through the three-month process.”
The Regiment requires all members to learn a 10-minute song for a contest, which will then be performed at 45 shows around the country. Between May 18 and June 20, the band will rehearse at a “boot camp”, where they will practice for 12 hours a day. Following this, the band will go on tour, where they will practice for six hours each morning every day, while traveling to various areas around the United States.
“Aaron’s worked really hard for this, and he’s put in a lot of effort,” fellow band member and classmate junior Alex Park said. “He really deserves this. I respect the amount of time that he’s put into practice, on top of his schoolwork, and I look forward to watching his show in the summer. I’ve heard how good they can be, and I’m sure Aaron will add to that.”
While the performances mostly serve the purpose of entertainment, there is a competitive aspect to it, which is why so much practice time is required. Similar Drum Corps will be performing alongside Phantom Regiment, and the entire tour will end with a finals week during which the winner will be announced.
“Even though it is a competition, it’s really more for entertainment purposes,” Fisher said. “We’re going to be travelling the country and performing shows – if anything, it’s just going to be tons of hard work but also tons of fun. Sure, it’s not so fun that I’m missing most of my summer away from home, but I know that it will be an experience unlike any other that I’ve ever had, and I’m excited for it.”
