Scottville native leads CMU marching band

MT. PLEASANT — Scottville native Julie Claveau has the distinct honor of being only the fourth woman to be drum major of the Central Michigan University Chippewa Marching Band’s 91-year history. The 2009 graduate of Mason County Central High School is in her senior year at CMU and plans to pursue her master’s degree.

She has been a member of the CMU band her entire college career and served as assistant drum major for two seasons.

“I have enjoyed the past four years in the band and am looking forward to my last two seasons,” she says. “I have met some incredible people who continue to remind me why I do what I do; to inspire others to do what they love. My lifetime friends have come from The Chippewa Marching band and the leadership skills I have learned from the roll as drum major I will never fully know the entire capacity of its value. I will always be proud to be a Chippewa and will carry this pride with me.”

Julie says attending a small school like MCC helped her prepare for the drum major role. “Many of us fall into the mindset that we are just people living in a small town. When attending Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and CMU’s Drum Major camp, I had the opportunity to see who else was out there and what other people had to offer in their leadership roles. I wanted to inspire members back home as these people I encountered at camps did.

“This drive allowed me the courage to acquire the roll of drum major in high school as well as the confidence to do musicals, forensics, and compete in the Miss America Scholarship Program. All of these events have brought me to where I am today as a member of The Chippewa Marching Band where I am still learning about myself as a servant leader.”

Julie’s undergraduate major is in elementary education and early childhood development and learning with minors in integrated science and language arts.Her master’s degree will be in early childhood development in learning.

She says she would like to get a teaching job working in a program with young children. “Ideally, I would love to become a curriculum director and elementary school principal.”

Some of the highlights of her CMU career have included performing a pre-game show at The Big House at University of Michigan as well as the recent win for the football team against New Hampshire.

“The atmosphere in the stadium that the fans, students and band brought was incredible. I could not be more proud to be a Chippewa when everyone comes together to support the time with our pride.”

Photo by Morgan Taylor, CM Life.