NATCHITOCHES – The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band has named its drum majors for the 2025-26 academic year. The Fall 2025 leaders are Head Drum Major Mason Windham of Texarkana, Texas, and Assistant Drum Majors Jarrett Thomisee of West Monroe, Timothy Pursell of Warrensburg, Missouri, and Rhyan Bowen of Delcambre.
Director of Bands Anthony Pursell said planning for the 2025 season begins during on-call week in January and the selected student leadership will be a part of shaping the plans along with the faculty and staff. The new drum majors were selected through a rigorous audition process with input from their peers in the band. The selections were announced after the band closed out its 2024 season with its annual performance in the Natchitoches Christmas Festival of Lights Parade.
Windham is a sophomore music education major and was bass drum section leader this past season.
“I understand that we (the drum major team) are the face of the band,” said Windham. “I do not take this lightly, so I will always be striving to put my best foot forward. On a more personal level, this is an opportunity to grow as a leader, as a musician, as a team player and as a person. Serving as drum major is a chance to be an example for others. In order to be that example, I know that I must be the best that I can be.”
Windham said he will try to remind the band of the power and pride that the band has been known for.
“I will encourage the members from day one to be the best version of themselves so that the band can be the best version of itself,” said Windham. “In order to do so, we need to hold each other to the highest standards of accountability and respect. I also plan to encourage a high level of procedural execution and participation because I believe the strength and pride that the band is looking for comes from the integrity of the members.”
Thomisee is a sophomore music business major. He served as saxophone section leader last season and is an active brother in Kappa Kappa Psi Band Service Fraternity.
“It means a lot to hold this position,” said Thomisee. “This position has been filled by many before me and holds a great deal of pride in this band program. I know that together this drum major team will work to ensure that the 2025 edition of the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band is the best sounding band in the land. We together will strive for the excellence of those who have marched before us and pave a path for those who come after us within this program.”
Timothy Pursell is a sophomore music education major and was marching baritone section leader during the 2024 season.
“It means a great deal to me to be able to call myself a drum major of the Spirit of Northwestern,” said Timothy Pursell. “This organization has given me so much in such a short time, and I owe it to the organization to give as much as I can back. I will try and help the Spirit of Northwestern continue and maintain its excellence by bringing purpose to every rehearsal for myself. As a drum major, I should be able to lead with confidence and purpose and will strive to have and keep that standard throughout my time as Drum Major.”
Bowen is a freshman music education major.
“It means the world to me that I am holding this position,” said Bowen. “The Spirt of Northwestern is a respected organization, so it is an honor that I can have this opportunity. I will always give 110 percent to help the SON continue its excellence because they deserve nothing less. They are the greatest group of people I have ever met.”
For more information on the Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band, go to https://www.nsula.edu/music/spirit-of-northwestern.
Caption
The Spirit of Northwestern Marching Band has named its leadership team for the 2025 season. This season’s leadership group, bottom row from left, Assistant Drum Major Jessica Breaux of Slidell, Drum Major Evan Bryant of Bossier City and Assistant Drum Major Rikki Landry of Lafayette, handed off leadership to, middle from left, new Assistant Drum Majors Rhyan Bowen of Delcambre, Timothy Pursell of Warrensburg, Missouri, and Jarrett Thomisee of West Monroe and top row Drum Major Mason Windham of Texarkana, Texas.
