Since she was in the seventh grade, Melanie Roussel has been a member of the Marching Pride Of Riverside. But for the last few years she has been dreaming of doing more than just playing the flute. Melanie has imagined herself stepping up to the podium and leading the band as the Drum Major. She finally got her shot this year and has won the role Drum Major for the Marching Pride of Riverside for the 2023-2024 school year.

She already is marching to her own beat. During the summer, Melanie went to the Lafayette Music Drum Major camp to learn how to be a proper drum major along with around 50 other students from schools such as Lafayette High School, Central Lafourche, Terrebonne High, and Kaplan High. Out of everyone there Melanie won the award for Most Outstanding Drum Major.

Melanie said she is proud to have won the role and hopes to make everyone proud.

“Even though I know I will never be a perfect drum major, I will continue to work hard to be a great drum major for The Marching Pride of Riverside,” Roussel stated.