Drum major

Sandee Katz

performs in Fla.

FREEHOLD TOWNSHIP — New Year’s Day was a special occasion for a Freehold Township High School sophomore.

FTHS drum major Sandee Katz was one of 25 drum majors selected to perform during the halftime show at the Capital One Bowl (formerly the Citrus Bowl) in Orlando, Fla.

Auburn defeated Penn State, 13-9, in the Jan. 1 football game.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience," Katz said, describing the halftime performance. "It was a real honor to perform with so many talented kids from around the country."

In addition to the drum majors, 1,200 high school and college students performed with cheerleaders, dancers, twirlers and marching bands.

Katz said there was some stress involved during the performance.

"We only had two days to practice the routine as a group," she said, noting there were 70,000 fans sitting in the stadium watching and millions more watching on television.

"That didn’t help," she said, referring to the stress factor.

According to Ilse Whisner, public information coordinator for the Freehold Regional High School District, Katz was chosen to participate in the event by Capital One, a professional production company specializing in large-scale entertainment events. An invitation came after a recruiter from the firm saw Katz compete at the George N. Parks Drum Major Academy at West Chester University, West Chester, Pa., last summer.

Katz is the daughter of Terrie and Bryan Katz, She plays the mellophone in the FTHS marching band. Her brother, Donny, is a senior at the Freehold Regional High School District’s Science and Engineering Learning Center at Manalapan High School.