Known for being one of the oldest collegiate bands in the nation, the University of
Arkansas Marching Band is turning 150 years old in 2024. The musical ensemble originally started in 1874 as a part of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) but later developed into the band that is known today.
This school year’s head drum major is Juan Ramos, a senior majoring in music education with a focus on instrumental education. He was the only returning drum major, and he said he believes it is an honor to lead the 150th year of the band.
“There aren’t that many who are as old as we are,” Ramos said. “Think of Ohio State.
They’re super famous, but they’re not as old as we are. Mizzou is going on band 139, and we’re band 150.” Ramos said the Razorback band’s motto this year is tradition, passion and excellence. He said those qualities “have always been pillars” in the marching band’s existence. “It’s an honor because people like me are not normally in positions like this,” Ramos said. “Marching band is not normally for people who are of Hispanic origin, let alone being the guy at the front. It’s special to me because this is my dream come true but on a bigger level. I represent something to a group of people now.” “We’re talking about 350 people and only four people get to be drum majors. Being the leader for maybe one of the most important years in our band’s existence is humbling and beautifully scary,” Ramos said.
Ramos said he loved every second of being the head drum major because he believed he was fortunate enough to be born at the right time to be with a group of people he thinks is one of the best, if not the best, marching band he had seen in a long time.