DOWAGIAC — As the Dowagiac Marching Band performed its end of the season performance last Thursday, some members still had several years of band seasons to look forward to. For Rebecca Franklin, this performance was more symbolic.

As the lone senior on the 2019 Chieftain Marching Band, her last performance served as a moment of reflection of her own personal growth and the friendships she has formed.

Her band career started in the sixth grade at Dowagiac Middle School. She began playing the alto saxophone and then switched to the tenor saxophone. A tenor saxophone is slightly larger and heavier than an alto saxophone.

“My first day I remember thinking, ‘this is the coolest place I’ve ever been,’” Franklin said. “I just always had a smile on my face.”

That smile was still evident Thursday when Franklin said navigating band was a solo trip, as no one in her family had previously been a member of a marching band. 

Performing among her friends and fellow band members makes Franklin feel like she is on top of the world.

“I feel a lot of energy afterwards, kind of like I have a high,” Franklin said.

In between invitational and marching band festivals, Franklin said lots of practice and preparation goes into preparing for competitions.

The most challenging part of band is to able to march well and play with equal precision, Franklin said.

“It’s very difficult, but when I do it right, it’s the best feeling,” Franklin said.

Although she was the only senior on the marching band, Franklin said she took on a leadership role, and it gave her an opportunity to know more of her younger peers in the halls of Dowagiac Union High School.

“I feel like through band, I am able to know more people,” Franklin said. “Whereas, If I wasn’t in band, I would be at school with a whole bunch of other kids in different grades.”

As the band sat among themselves, during the concert a slideshow displayed photos and memories of the season. A photo of Franklin among her friends popped up on the screen, showering the only senior on the marching band with support as cheers came from the audience. 

“It’s pretty emotional,” she said following the slideshow.

As a senior, Franklin was able to be part of the band’s revival of doing a pop themed halftime show. Band Director Shane Oakley said Dowagiac had not done a pop-themed show in a number of years.

For Franklin, the pop-theme made this year’s halftime show especially memorable.

Franklin said “Mamma Mia: The Music of ABBA” was one of the most exciting shows she has ever performed in her four years on the Chieftain Marching Band.

In the song, “Dancing Queen,” which was the band’s final number, the tenor saxophones had a melody they performed.

“We don’t usually have a melody, so that’s a pretty big deal,” Franklin said.

As she held her tenor saxophone in her hand and waved goodbye to some of her fellow band members who have become more like family, Franklin said the moment was bittersweet.

Dressed in her marching band uniform, Franklin is not sure what is next for her in the world of music. As she makes decisions regarding where to attend college, playing her saxophone will continue to be on her mind.

“Every time, I say, ‘it hasn’t quite hit me yet.’ It still hasn’t,” Franklin said. “I’m sure sometime it will. It’s just kind of crazy.”