A few weeks ago, before most students arrived on campus, 120 students from the Panther Marching Band were tirelessly practicing in 90-plus degree temperatures in McAfee gym.

As beads of sweat rolled down musicians’ faces, one face was still smiling.

“I love marching band,” said Matt Maurizio, a senior music education major from Schaumberg.

Maurizio is the drum major for PMB.

Of the nine students who auditioned, only three are chosen to conduct the marching band.

He modestly said he has the leadership quality necessary to lead a band.

But being a drum major is more than just directing. Extensive behind the scenes work goes into marching band.

Maurizio was chosen to help lead the band based on conducting ability, an interview, marching and vocal command demonstrations.

“It’s a lot different than high school,” Maurizio said.

College marching band is much more education-based, he said. It’s more for entertainment than for competition.

Approximately 120 students make up the band. Maurizio is one of three drum majors who conduct the band.

Maurizio said he randomly chose to play the trumpet in fifth grade.

In high school he participated in both band and choir.

“I just never quit,” he said.

It’s his love for leadership and music that makes the senior music education major want to teach high school-level music after graduation.

But that’s not all Maurizio brings to the show.

Maurizio is the mild mannered one, said Kaylie Diel, fellow drum major and senior music major.

“He’s the glue that holds everything together,” she said.

He tries to get everyone in PMB involved by spreading the idea that the whole band is here to collaborate, said Jeffrey Steiner, marching band director.

Maurizio gives out more respect than he expects to get, Steiner said. And students respond to that with even greater respect.

Maurizio is also a student worker for the music department, and is the “point man” for the Panther Marching Band Festival on Sept. 30.

Twenty-five bands are signed up for the competition, but it’s open to as many as 40 marching bands.

Maurizio also does behind-the-scenes work for this, dealing with much of the organization and scheduling.

Steiner believes Maurizio has a unique and important role in the band.

“Matt is very independent in terms of decision making, and is creative in problem solving,” Steiner said. “That’s one of the things we need in the band.”