UT marching band picks first female drum major

For the first time in the band’s 136-year history, the drum major is a woman.

Kelly Bradshaw, a 19-year-old music education student from Roanoke, Va., beat out four male finalists in a competition this spring.

“No one expected it of me,” she said. “I’m this little, girlie piccolo player.”

The band has had a drum major since at least 1937. The drum major directs the 330-member band, calls the tunes the band plays during games and has traditionally strutted down the big T formed by the band before games with head leaning back and legs kicking high in the air.

Bradshaw has been in the band the last two years and was chosen by director of bands Gary Sousa and his two assistants after she and the remaining finalist alternated leading the band during the Orange and White spring football game.

“I think she is going to be great,” Sousa said.

Bradshaw will debut at Tennessee’s opening game against UAB on Sept. 3.

“Yes, it’s wonderful to be the first woman, to be a pioneer,” she said. “But just to be the drum major at all is the greatest honor.”