The Brownsburg Beacons Pathfinder drum corps has five current members: Gianni Tapia, director; Gabriel Tapia, snare; Gloria Damulira, bass; Michaela Tima, 6-top; Mark Knecht, III, cymbals.
The Brownsburg Beacons Pathfinder Club would perform their first drum corps routine before all the Pathfinders. Not only was it their first time performing in public, this was also the first Pathfinder drum corps in Indiana.
The history-making path was cleared during a time the club was searching for ways to obtain a drum set. However, like many clubs in Indiana, they were in full fundraising mode for the International Pathfinder Camporee in Gillette, Wyoming. “I did not want to have two fundraising campaigns going at the same time,” said the club’s director, Mark Knecht Jr. “
Then Indiana Youth Director Charlie Thompson let clubs know that the conference had purchased drums and were going to make them available to a club. Brownsburg jumped at the chance. “God had provided a way for the Pathfinders of Brownsburg to have the drum corps experience,” said Knecht.
It was time for find someone to lead this new team. A TLT Gianni Tapia, volunteered without hesitation. “Drumming has this incredible power to unite people which I first experienced at a leadership weekend where I was first introduced to drum corps,” she said.
Once the team was formed, the Pathfinders took over completely. The only things the staff had to do was get the drums to practice and then get out of the way. The Pathfinders were highly motivated to succeed.
They were really excited when Pastor Charlie let everyone at the fair know that they were the first drum corps from Indiana.
“When I found out we were the first, I was surprised,” said cymbals player Mark Knecht III.
Michaela Tima remarked that it was a nice opportunity to do something that stood out. “After the experience, I felt proud of what we accomplished as a team.”
Tapia said he was grateful for the opportunity to create an environment where everyone felt supported and encouraged to do their best. “Leading the drum corps was about more than just winning a competition,” he said, “it was about building friendships, growing as musicians, having fun together, and most of all, bringing glory to God.”
Mark Knecht Jr. is director of the Brownsburg Beacons Pathfinder Club.
