If you’ve attended a Fenwick sports event, you may have noticed a certain band rallying the crowd to make the experience that much more enjoyable. The talented musicians you may have seen comprise the Fenwick pep band—a group of students who play music for the school’s sports games and its pep rallies to promote energy in the crowd. To learn more about the Fenwick pep band, Sara Vogelsperger, a member of the class of 2026 and of the band itself, offered her personal input on the inner workings of the band.
According to her, the pep band itself is a group of students enrolled in the classes Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, and Percussion I and II. In fact, being a part of the pep band is an integral part of each of these classes, and thus there are no tryouts required. Being a member of the band presents the opportunity for students to express their musical talent and use that talent as a source of school spirit.
When asked how songs are selected for the band to play, Sara shared that, “Mr. Zelm will select several songs for the band to try out, and we’ll play them together as a band. Then, the whole band will provide input and Mr. Zelm will finalize it.” The students of the band have a considerable role in how performances will pan out, considering that Mr. Zelm, the organizer and conductor of the pep band, looks to the students for their personal opinions on what the band should play. Sara also mentioned that, though they were given freedom in which songs to play, it’s quite common for “Vehicle” by The Ides of March to be chosen. Keep an ear open for the song next game you go to, and chances are you might just hear it!
However, a lot more effort goes into preparing for games and pep rallies and the like than just choosing a song. Over the summer, the dedicated band spends a week practicing music and marching together under the guidance of Mr. Zelm. Once game day arrives, the pep band songs are run through one last time before the big performance.
When it comes to traveling, the pep band doesn’t do outside competitions, but it does still commit time to traveling for the sake of Fenwick’s own games. Especially during the football season, trips to Triton field are not uncommon as the musicians dedicate their abilities to cheering on Fenwick’s football team and keeping the crowd engaged in the games.
At one of these games, you may just see Sean Nairn (’25) or Charlotte Brew (’24), two exceptionally talented members of the band who play trumpet and alto saxophone, respectively. In fact, these two students were selected for the Illinois Music Educators Association District 1 Festival (ILMEA) and competed with more than 1000 other students to earn this opportunity. The ILMEA Festival takes place every year and features proficient musicians, such as Sean and Charlotte, from across Illinois to rehearse and perform under the instruction of experts in the field of band. Make sure to offer your congratulations for this prestigious accomplishment if you happen to see them!
All things considered, the Fenwick pep band is decidedly a group of students with considerable talent when it comes to music. They work together with the help of Mr. Zelm to encourage Fenwick’s own sports teams and to rally students. Their efforts to bring that energy to the school are greatly appreciated by all students, especially how much hard work they and Mr. Zelm put into creating a positive atmosphere for other students. No doubt it’s an admirable group that provides an incentive to enroll in pep-related music classes. In the immortal words of Sofia Frech (’26), “Fenwick pep band is super fun and interesting!”
