That example includes resilience. Alana did not originally plan to march in college, but her parents encouraged her to join. When she first auditioned for drum major, the tryout was delayed, and the morning it finally happened, her grandfather passed away. “It was a hard day,” she recalled.

While she didn’t earn the job that first time, instead of stepping back, she doubled down, returned, and became drum major on her second try. She immediately credited her band community for believing in her.

“The people made me stay,” she said. “They saw the leader in me.”

Alana described the drum major position as “a little mini-director,” the connective tissue between the band directors and the students who power Showtime’s sound. She carries her section leader mindset into the macro version of the job, creating a culture that balances discipline with support.

“Yelling doesn’t make people want to be there,” she said. “You need leaders who mentor, who teach, who listen. We’re all students first, so communication matters. If someone needs time for homework, let’s plan for that, and then, when we’re on the field, everyone gives 100 percent.”

While she sees the importance of meeting her bandmates where they are, she is clear-eyed about the dedication and sacrifices required to meet their ambitious goals.

“If we want to be the best in the MEAC, that starts with how we practice: long nights, clean sets, 100 percent effort,” she said. “When we watch our videos at the end of the year, I want to know we gave everything.”

The Orange Blossom Classic is the ideal showcase to put the band’s growth on full display. Founded in 1933, the Classic remains one of the signature stages for HBCU football. This year’s event kicks off at 4 p.m. ET on ESPNU, and tickets to the game remain available.

Alana embraces this moment—and the friendly spotlight shared with FAMU’s Oloyede, whose barrier-breaking appointment adds historical weight to the halftime narrative. (Alana, too, is among Howard University’s first female drum majors, which makes their matchup especially symbolic.) 

Heading into the game, Alana’s demeanor is indicative of her vibe as drum major: bring the energy, do the work before the lights come on, and let the performance speak for itself.

“I’m ready to give the crowd a show,” she said. “It’s better to start preparing earlier than later.”

When asked how she’ll measure her success as drum major, Alana doesn’t cite trophies or rankings. She talks about process: the hours logged that no one sees, the trust built within sections, the roar when the band concludes a strong performance.

“It’s knowing we put in the work,” she said. “That’s how I’ll know.”

She also thinks about the next generation of musicians watching Showtime from the stands and the ESPN stream.

“It’s other kids watching Howard University,” she said. “I want more people to come watch Howard because we are as good as we want to be.”

The belief that “we are as good as we want to be” isn’t a mere slogan for Alana. It informs why she advocates for clear communication so students can balance rehearsals and academics, why she insists on rehearsal standards that raise the floor for performance, and why, when she and the band step onto that Orange Blossom Classic field, the band behind her will carry a shared conviction. Showtime isn’t just going to play; it’s going to set the tempo.

“I’m ready to turn up Howard to another level. This Classic, we’ve got to show people who we are.”