Bob Ryszka, 21, is about to finish his seventh and final season with the Blue Knights, but his drum corps experience has been very different than most. He was a member of the corps’ soprano line for four years starting in 2001, in the color guard the next year, was drum major last year, and is now spending his final year back in the guard. As Ryszka now prepares to “age-out” of this activity in less than a month, he reflects on the incredible journey he has made throughout his time in the drum corps activity.
“These seven years have been a great experience for me,” said Ryszka, who never actually intended on joining the color guard during his fifth year. “I planned on taking a year off in 2005, but our drill writer called me to fill a mellophone spot, and when I got there I ended up filling a color guard spot. This was a very different experience because I have never spun a flag in my life. I learned how to do drop-spins my first day, and from that day on, I really liked guard.”
Ryszka’s diversity of positions in the corps has made him a model corps member of the Blue Knights as he puts the corps’ needs before his own. He pushed himself to be drum major in 2006 to have more of a leadership role with the corps, and to help challenge everyone to reach a new level of excellence.
“Being a drum major gave me an opportunity to see how the little things in drum corps really mattered, and how much responsibility you have when you’re a leader,” he said. “Even though I’m back in the guard this year, I still think I’m a leader, but in a different capacity. I do my best to lead by example, and I think that’s the most effective way one can successfully lead a group.”
After being in the corps for so many years, Ryszka has learned many great values that he will carry with him for the rest of his life. He proves that the lessons learned in drum corps are not easily forgotten.
