LaVange was head drum major of the Howland Marching Band from 2010 to 2014
HOWLAND
John T. LaVange, a former Howland High School Marching Band drum major, is the new head drum major for The Ohio State University Marching Band.
LaVange, 20, a sophomore soon to be junior finance and economics major, became the first from the Mahoning Valley to win the coveted position since 1968 when Jack Swinehart of Warren G. Harding High School led “the best damn band in the land.”
The 2014 Howland graduate, who was head drum major there from 2010 to 2014, has been serving as the understudy drum major and was chosen Sunday from among six candidates to lead the band for the 2016-17 season.
He said he is “just happy to be a part of the experience, knowing the honor that people have had before me and to share this with them now.”
LaVange’s parents, Elaine LaVange of Howland and Scott LaVange of Boardman, led a large contingent of family and friends onto the field when it was announced he had won the job.
“I did the best I could and came out victorious. My parents are incredibly proud of me,” said LaVange, who transferred from Warren to Howland schools as a youth.
“We’ve been pretty much training constantly. It was nice to relax with family and soak in the moment.” he said.