Nicole Sanford, a 2014 graduate of Traverse City West Senior High School, has been named the Drum Major for the 2017 Spartan Marching Band at Michigan State University. Sanford, previously the Drum Major for the Traverse City West Senior High School Marching Band, credits her TCAPS instructors for her success. 

“I will be forever grateful to my teachers who helped me get where I am today. Rachel Linsmeier, Pat Brumbaugh, and Flournoy Humphreys provided incredible input and support,” says Sanford. She says Linsmeier, the second female drum major in the history of the Spartan Marching Band, was her main inspiration. Linsmeier was a student teacher when Sanford became drum major and became her band director the following year.

Sanford graduated with a year of college credits earned while in high school, and is the recipient of multiple annual scholarships including a scholarship from the College of Music, honors brass quintet, private donors, and for being drum major. This year she will team with current drum major Evan Bahm.

Pictured: Sanford (left) with Rachel Linsmeier