Submitted by Kari Stebbing
Music Director
Rim of the World High School
Brenden Watson – who has been Rim of the World High School’s assistant drum major – recently received the highest honor a drum major may receive – Avant Garde Champion.
Brenden has been working all year on his skills. He has gone to several competitions throughout the year, competing against the biggest and toughest schools in Southern California. They compete through the Student Academy of Musical Leaders (SAML) at rotating high schools. The students are judged on a variety of categories and are often given very harsh criticism for being even a tiny bit in error.
Brenden has continuously throughout the year ranked high in his category, receiving third and sometimes second place. As a sophomore, he had to audition and compete in front of a panel of judges to even be allowed to compete in the Avant Garde competition with the highest ranked drum majors. It is exceedingly rare to have a sophomore placed in this category.
On April 13, Brenden competed against the other Avant Garde drum majors from Santiago High School, Loara High School, Martin King High School and a few others.
Brenden was crowned the champion of the season, receiving the gold medal and the Aurora Memorial award. We are told he is the youngest drum major in SAML’s history to ever win this championship.
In his routine – which can be viewed on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9SY5OMOLiw – Brenden twirls, throws and catches his mace while marching down a field. He choreographed his routine to music that he chose.
He was judged on being in time with the music, having his body remain stationary throughout the mace moves, leadership posturing, creativity and success of mace moves, the proper salute and several other items. To achieve what he did, as I usually say, he basically needs to be a perfect robot, with full control of his body at all times.
Brenden will be Rim High’s head drum major for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.
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