MinChan Koo, the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band’s first Asian drum major in 2011 will step into a senior leadership role with band’s 2012-13 drum majors. Joining Koo is Andrea Bailey from trumpet section and Jim Behmer from the alto saxophones.

“It’s going to be amazing,” says Koo, a native of Seoul, South Korea majoring in management.

“I’m really happy with the way Andrea and Jim thought through their goals before they tried out. They were prepared for the job before they were even chosen. I’m really thrilled to work with them.”

Besides leading the band during the 2012 football season, the trio will have the unique opportunity of leading them through the streets of Dublin, Ireland, when the band participates in the 2013 St. Patrick’s Day Parade there.

The drum majors were chosen through an extensive series of interviews and tryouts culminating in a session where they worked directly with the band on Friday, April 27.

Bailey is a civil engineering major from Indianapolis and was a drum major at Mt. Vernon High School. Behmer is an aeronautical-astronautical engineering major from Elyria, OH.

The band’s student leadership structure includes Section and Rank leaders (in bold type) and 10s:

Drum Majors

MinChan Koo, Seoul, South Korea

Andrea Bailey, Indianapolis, IN

Jim Behmer, Elyria, OH

Golden Girl - MerrieBeth Cox, Roselle, IL

Girl in Black - Cecilia Daizovi, Ossian, IN

Silver Twins - Jordan Foster, Attleboro, MA & Alyssa Lyzen, Brecksville, OH

Piccolo

Tom Pansino,Louisville, OH - Section Leader

Mae Christiansen, Plymouth, IN - Rank Leader

Clarinet

Laurel Donaldson, Geneseo, IL - Section Leader

Nicole Bianco, Valparaiso, IN - Rank Leader

Kyle Zak, Troy, MI - Rank Leader

Alto Sax

Ethan Gastineau, Brownsburg, IN - Section Leader

Reid Steinbach, Tinley Park, IL - Rank Leader

Shelby Stierwalt, Martinsville, IN - Rank Leader

Ryan Kobert, Orlando, FL - Rank Leader

Tenor Sax

Johanna Smith, Somerset, WI - Section Leader

Trumpets

Doug Booth, Plymouth, IN, Section Leader

Alex Campbell, Fort Lee, VA - Rank Leader

Chris Bierhaus, Westport, IN - Rank Leader

Dale Denton, Pendleton, IN - Rank Leader

Ian McCampbell, Landenberg, PA - Rank Leader

Sam Yates, Paducah, KY, Rank Leader

Horn

Jared Willits, Lawrence, KS - Section Leader

Kyle Scherer, Monroeville, IN - Rank Leader

Trombone

Zach Collignon, Santa Claus, IN, Section Leader

Kristen Blankenbaker, Anderson, IN, Rank Leader

Elliott Mantock, Fishers, IN - Rank Leader

Andy Nelson, West Lafaeytte, IN - Rank Leader

Baritone

Mike McCormick, Washington, PA - Section Leader

Tuba

Matt Miller, Elkhart, IN - Section Leader

Rebecca George, Cranberry Twp., PA - Rank Leader

Alissa Macino, Carol Stream, IL - Rank Leader

Percussion

Adam Pierce, Fulton, MO - Section Leader & Tenor Segment

Dan Page, Ashburn, VA - Snare Segment

Eric Nelson, Elmhurst, IL - Bass Segment

Kristin Kaley, Normal, IL - Cymbal Segment

Big Bass Drum

Chelsea Arthur, New Carlisle, IN - Crew Captain

Big Ten Flags

Jenna Lewis, Cloverdale, IN - Section Leader

Golden Silks Color Guard

Kayla Taylor, Westfield, IN, Section Leader

Danny Durio, The Woodlands, TX

Ari Batistatos, Schererville, IN

Golduster Dance Team

Jordan Lanthier, Austin, TX - Section Leader

Student Office Heads

Advancement, Chief of Staff - Elizabeth Ladue, Granger, IN

Clothing - Rebecca Wiser, Greenwood, IN

Library - Luke Howard, West Lafayette, IN

Operations - Braxton Felts, Pendleton, IN

R & R - Chris Norman, Oceanside, CA

Supply - Andy Nelson, West Lafayette, IN

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