Since childhood, music has always offered drive to one University drum major.

Senior Matt Koehler has 12 years of experience in music and is currently enjoying his fifth year as a member of the University marching band. His enthusiastic disposition both on the field and off have made him a well-known personality on campus, as well as a source of inspiration for his fellow band members.

Originally from Louisville, Ohio, Koehler gained interest in music from watching his brother play drums for the high school marching band. He picked up the trumpet in the fifth grade and never looked back.

Following in his brother’s footsteps, Koehler joined the marching band upon entering high school, where his skills continued to develop. He auditioned to be drum major, the person in charge of leading the marching band, his sophomore year and was then sent to attend George Park’s Drum Major Academy: a weeklong summer program teaching the skills necessary to be an effective drum major.

After attending the academy for two summers, Koehler became drum major for his high school band his senior year.

Following high school, Koehler’s passion for music never subsided. After visiting multiple colleges in Ohio – with particular interest in BGSU, the University of Cincinnati and Otterbein College – he decided on BGSU for the feel of the campus and the opportunities it presented for his musical aspirations.

‘It was the atmosphere here,’ Koehler said. ‘The music program especially attracted me to BG.’

Immediately upon coming to the University, he declared his major as Music Education for both choralists and instrumentalists alike and signed up for the University marching band.

After two years of playing trumpet in the band, he was promoted to drum major at the beginning of his junior year. This year is his third holding the title.

‘Matt is extremely talented and has an engaging personality,’ Marching Band Director Carol Hayward said. ‘His energy is very contagious and the band picks up on it.’

Among other things, it is the energy with which Koehler delivers his performance that makes him a standout character. At games and other events where he can be seen leading the band, his passion is almost palpable.

‘Matt Koehler is probably one of the most energetic people on the Falcon Marching Band,’ senior mellophone player Catherine Pape said. ‘He keeps everyone very involved and makes everyone keep a positive attitude.’

Having a good deal of energy is an important aspect of being a drum major, Koehler believes.

‘The energy that I put into being a drum major is the energy that I am going to get from the band in return,’ he said. ‘That then, is what is sent to the crowd.’

Koehler believes the effect music can have on a sporting event is often overlooked; its role in the mood of the crowd being nearly that of the subconscious. It is from the pride carried on the notes of an enthusiastic fight song he says, and other songs like it, which give Falcon loyals the courage to wear their orange and brown boldly at times when the situation looks grim. Revitalizing the crowd can have a reciprocal effect on players too, and it is the understanding of this fusion of sport with art that most interests and inspires Koehler.

‘I love getting people involved,’ he said. ‘I try to pump up the band as much as possible to get that energy into the stadium.’

After Koehler completes his role as drum major at the University, he aspires to teach high school music, wishing to work with both choralists and instrumentalists. His drum major experience, he said, has given him the knowledge and confidence to become a teaching professional and the teaching aspect of the position is one of its greatest perks.

‘One of the most rewarding parts of being drum major,’ Koehler said, ‘is seeing the progress of the others in the band.”