Ohio State Newark students march with TBDBITL

Ben Kennedy has always aspired to be the best. But he never truly knew what the best looked like until he saw Ohio State’s marching band.

It hit him amidst a skull session, Buckeye football’s powerful pregame pep rally. By that point, Kennedy had spent years drumming and dreaming of where he could take it. Once he watched Ohio State’s world-famous marching band up close, “I wanted to push myself to a higher level and be a part of that tradition,” he said. “It lit a spark in me.”

Kennedy has kindled it as a freshman at Ohio State Newark — comfortable, affordable and still affords him the chance to play with The Best Damn Band in the Land. He’s one of six current students who are learning the balance, and he’s banging the drum for the campus they share. “I'm proud of the ability to be both a student at Ohio State Newark and a member of the marching band,” he said. “I honestly don't believe I could do it at another regional campus.” 

Making the band

They spent their summers attending band practice sessions three times a week, building to two exhaustive eight-hour tryout days. “And it’s very competitive,” said Danica Marshall, who plays e-flat cornet. “You really need to have a passion for it.” She channeled hers well enough to make the final roster, “and I knew my life was going to be completely changed.” 

Eli Orkis had long visualized that same moment. The nephew of a band alumnus, the junior trumpet player had twice tried unsuccessfully to march in those footsteps. In August, Orkis finally made the band. “It was emotional,” he said. “I’ll admit that I even shed a couple of tears.” 

Finding their cadence

Once three-a-day practices ended and the academic year began, these Buckeyes took to testing the rhythm. They complete their classes at Newark by early afternoon and travel to Columbus every evening for band rehearsal. Kennedy, a Dresden resident, routinely drives 140 miles round trip. Marshall sometimes stays in Columbus until 2 a.m. memorizing music. It’s an undoubtedly tough task, but so far, these Buckeyes are hitting all the right notes. “I'm more than willing to sacrifice and make it work to live this dream,” Marshall said. 

Living on campus has made her dream possible. Marshall hails from Olmstead Falls, a Cleveland suburb. She drove back and forth all summer for practice sessions and rented an Airbnb in Columbus during tryouts. Ohio State Newark supplies the freshman a more sustainable solution. “I'm lucky to have nice on-campus housing here,” she said. “I wouldn't really be able to have this opportunity otherwise.” 

Orkis is in his third year at Newark, with plans to stay and earn a bachelor’s degree in engineering technology. As he learns to balance his new commitment to marching band, he and his Ohio State Newark instructors are playing in tune. “They’re aware of the time constraints and work with me to manage everything,” the Gahanna native said. “I like how much they care about each individual. The whole experience here has been a great one to have under my belt, and I'm excited about my future trajectory.” 

Marching ahead

The near future holds the band’s lone regular season road trip — up north to Ann Arbor for The Game against archrival Michigan. They’ll perform at postseason bowl games too. “Getting there will be the first time I’ve ever traveled on a plane,” said Kennedy. If all goes to plan, their final “Carmen Ohio” of the campaign will cap the Buckeyes’ second-straight national title win. “The band gets championship rings too,” Orkis added, “and, man, I really want one of those.” 

Whether or not this season brings bling, it’s been a sparkling experience for these devoted band members. Marshall and Kennedy are still deciding on a major and may eventually transition to Columbus. Whenever they do, the maturity, mettle and time management they have developed as students at Newark will serve them well — and serves as an example. “Ohio State Newark has helped me stay organized,” Kennedy said. “I think my experience here should inspire other students who may want to be involved on the Columbus campus to do the same thing.”

He's inspiring more than just his classmates — he has worked extensively with an eighth-grade protégé. “I’ve been giving her lessons for a couple of years, and she just made the drumline,” he said. In a full circle moment, “she actually came to watch my first skull session, and she decided she wants to march at Ohio State too.” 

Just another youngster with aspirations to be the best. It strikes a chord with Kennedy, who has struck a balance that allows him to march with maybe the most famous band in the world.