MEET THE TEAM – PAULA

Question: How long have you been a drum major for?

Answer: I have been a Drum Major for 34 years. Competitively for 24 of those. 

Question: What are your Drum Major achievements to date?

Answer: I am a 6 times World Champion and just under 100 other major championship titles over my competitive career.

I am the founder of The Force and consider this also a personal achievement to build a successful platform for the art of Drum Majoring.

Question: Favourite memory on/off the park?

Answer:

On the Park: Wining the Worlds in the Senior Grade will always be special. To have won the Worlds in every competitive grade prior, I worked hard for that final recognition. The suspensed name call from the stage by former RSPBA CEO Ian Embelton, and walk up! I have never taken those moments for granted.

Off the Park: Teaching, I’ve been teaching since I was 17, and get a lot of satisfaction watching the young children I have taught grow into young adults, achieving, confident and striving for the best in themselves. I have many fav memories as a teacher but it’s every achievement they make I gain a sense of pride.

Question: What inspires you most?

Answer: Seeing what a hobby can do for you as a person both physically and mentally, the places it can take you, the people you get to meet and the impact your performance can have on others. I be inspired by all the pupils I have taught throughout the years. I know I learnt life skills when I was being taught so it inspires me to see the impact of my tuition on others.

Question: What does your hobby do for you?

Answer: It keeps me mentally strong. It keeps me grounded on how hard you have to work to achieve. I’ve always been ambitious and I get great achievement from using my talent to produce a simple performance or showcase a team performance on the big stage.

Question: Words of inspiration you have never forgotten? If you have forgotten, some words of your own?

Answer: Two of my fav which have stuck with me:

1. Be you, and never change for anyone.
2. The best compliment you can receive is to be imitated

Question: Favourite International gig that you have been to and performed?

Answer: Cheekily I have a few.

International gigs as Senior Drum Major at St.Gallen / Avenches Tattoo / Spasskaya Tower, Moscow.

But for connections and lasting friendships made, the musical performance achieved at venue, links with the community and the length of service to this gig – my absolute favourite is Avenches, Switzerland.

Most fun was Performing in Carnegie Music Hall, Pittsburgh at an impromptu display on stage in my stilettos and backless top!!! Now that was an applause #SLOTPB

Question: Where would you like to perform?

Answer: New Zealand or Australia