Clair Jansma, a 2020 TK graduate, was named the new director last spring after completing her student teaching with former director Ray Rickert. This summer, she quickly enlisted the help of some other TK grads and friends, to help her with the band’s summer camp.
Brooklynne Shy (Class of 2022) and Kaitlyn Lipscomb (2021) returned to help with the color guard. Tessa Wenger (2023), Cash Rabley (2024), Jenni Logan (2022), Haley Bovee (2020), and Haden Bovee (2023), all helped with the marching band on the field and in the music rooms.
“We all know each other and have been in band together. We all work as a team - like each one of us is an individual puzzle piece putting together this whole picture. I know every one of these people here are good people,” said Jansma.
Clair said being back at TK as the band director is “surreal. It’s like my life has come full circle,” she said. “It’s definitely different with a lot of unique challenges, but I learned a lot from Mr. Rickert. I’ve done band camp four years as a student and helped all four years after I graduated from here, so this is my ninth year at TK band camp. And this year, I have a lot of good friends and really talented people here to help me.”
Each of the alumni returning to band camp said they are excited to help their friend and the band continue TK’s reputation of excellence.
Haley Bovee graduated with Jansma in 2020 and is looking forward to starting her own career as a choir teacher after completing her student teaching this fall. At TK, she was active in choir and band and helped lead the band as a drum major. This year she sees band camp in a different way.
“Band camp was always a positive experience for me. The staff here this year are all my friends. It’s been great working with a team who all know each other and want the same outcome for this band. It’s especially nice to be able to help my friend get started in her career,” said Haley, who is majoring in music education and musical performance at Western Michigan University and hopes to teach middle or high school choir in the future.
Tessa Wenger said she’s impressed with this year’s band. “There are a lot of really talented kids here and especially a lot of new members who are picking things up really fast. I’m really impressed. It’s fun to be back and I especially wanted to come back to help Clair. Everyone here wants to be here and wants to prepare good shows, and it gives me my band fix for the summer,” said Wenger.
She attends Western Michigan University studying theatre design and tech with a minor in marketing. Her dream is to work on a Broadway show sometime.
Haden Bovee enjoys seeing band camp through the eyes of a leader instead of a student. “Clair is one of my friends. We were in band together and so it’s nice to be able to help her out,” he said. “Also, this is a good resume builder for me. Going into music education, this shows that I’ve been a staff member at band camp. It’s just really cool seeing how Clair is teaching and how she goes the extra miles to make sure everything is organized. It’s insightful. For me, helping lead the students is fun and honestly getting to play music is always fun."
As soon as he gets done with his week at TK, he heads back to Western Michigan to attend his own band camp for the Western Broncos Marching Band. He is majoring in music education and jazz studies and hopes to become a professional saxophone player one day and possibly also teach.
Rabley said band camp was always a fun week for him. “I was really excited when I got the chance to come back this year to help. It’s a great experience for kids and I know Ms. Jansma is going to do great things with this band. I wanted to help her with her first camp and just show her my support." Rabley will attend Western Michigan University this fall to pursue a degree in English Literature.
Jenni Logan also appreciates being able to come back to help. “Watching Ms. Jansma start her career here is really exciting. I’m glad I am here to help her. She has such a dedicated staff here who all really want to help her keep the program growing and strong. Friday nights here at TK were always so much fun for me as a band student and I just want to make sure more students have that same opportunity.”
Logan is attending Central Michigan University studying music education.
Two former captains of the color guard also were eager to return and offer their help. “Honestly, band camp was my favorite week of the summer. So being able to come back and share that excitement,” said Brooklynne Shy. “I wanted to share my love for color guard with the students this year and help Clair with her first year.”
Kaitlyn Lipscomb echoed those remarks. “Brooklynne and I both want to be teachers, so this is like coaching and teaching and giving us experience in an activity we both love. We also really wanted to come back and help Clair. This is a big moment for her, and I can’t wait to see what she can do.”
Shy attends GRCC and Ferris State University and Lipscomb attends Central Michigan University. Both hope to teach in the future.
Jansma said she’s thrilled so many of her former bandmates agreed to return to help with camp this summer. “It’s just amazing working with these people. They are all so talented and I know we all want the same thing. I know TK is a tradition-rich district and I love how we do things. It works, so I don’t feel like I need to make big changes. We are still going to do different shows at each Friday night home football game. That’s something most schools don’t do.”
“This all makes me feel so amazing. It’s so cool to see them practicing and I can’t wait to see the band march out on the field for the first time,” said Jansma.
The TKHS Trojan Marching Band will take the field at Bob White Stadium for their first Friday night football game performance Sept. 6.