Art Student of the Week: Jessi Lehman

Niwot High School senior Jessi Lehman clearly remembers her experience as a trumpet player in middle school. "There were definitely a lot more boys in the trumpet section," Lehman said, "Pesky middle school boys. And being one of only two girls, I always had a feeling they didn't really think I should be there."

But the stereotypical attitude regarding musical instruments and gender that once dominated the music scene did not have a negative effect on the senior's desire to pursue her interests. "I think it just drove me to be the best I could be, until I got to high school when I started doing it for myself. It was still mostly boys, but nobody seemed to mind so much that I was one of only two girls."

Lehman isn't the only musician in her family. Her sister introduced her to the trumpet, and she knew she wanted to play it from the time she was six years old. Her sister played the trumpet through middle school and high school, and eventually became the drum major for Niwot High School during her junior year, which inspired her to do the same very early in her life.

As a trumpet player and drum major, Lehman has worked hard to master her musical skills and has earned the trust of the other band members, serving this year for the second time as the school's drum major. Band director Wade Hendricks first asked her to be drum major when she was a junior, and she accepted his offer again this year.

"She led the marching band in our first home football game," Hendricks said. Lehman had only one previous year of marching band experience, her freshman year, because Covid "pretty much canceled out my sophomore year," she said. Her junior year was her first year as the drum major instead of marching and playing in the band. "The members of the drumline and the 'drum captain' are the ones that play the drums," Lehman explained. "The 'drum major' is the one that stands on the tall ladder and conducts the band and teaches them everything about marching."

The season started off well with a win at the football team's first home game, and the band provided amazing energy to the evening as the Niwot varsity football team won their home non-conference game against Greeley Central by a score of 22-16. "I have high hopes for the rest of the season," Lehman said. "I loved playing in the band freshman year, meeting great people, and making lots of friends, and I have to say I enjoy teaching the band as the drum major quite a lot. I created great relationships with everyone in both roles, and I couldn't choose between one or the other."

Lehman has contributed her leadership skills to the high school in other ways. "As a senior drum major, Jessi helped run our week-long marching band camp," Hendricks said. Lehman spoke enthusiastically about the experience. "It was lots of fun. It took a lot of tedious planning to make sure things ran smoothly and I think it was successful. I learned a lot about what tactics to use when working with the band and how I can communicate with them effectively."

In addition to her role as drum major, Lehman also studies jazz. "She is a great contributor in the Advanced Jazz Band class," Hendricks said. She enjoys having the opportunity to play a wide variety of music. "When I played the trumpet in marching band freshman year, which is also what I played and currently play in jazz band, I didn't have a preference for any style of music, I just enjoyed playing whatever I could," she said.

When asked about her last year at Niwot High, Lehman is optimistic. "I hope to have a good last year of high school. There have definitely been some bumps through all of it, but I can confidently say that if I remember anything from high school in 30 years, it will be how I felt about marching band. I'd say my top 10 best experiences of high school have probably been during or directly related to marching band. I probably would've had a much less great time if I hadn't been part of it."

When she is not playing music Lehman likes to sew, rock climb, read comic books, and care for her pet gecko, Randy. "I hope to go to college after high school," she said, "get a degree in environmental science, and join one of the jazz bands while I'm at CU Boulder. Go Buffs!"