Meet the Officers


Head Drum Major: Jesse Ames

Class Year: 2024

Major: Architectural Engineering

Favorite Part of Pep Band: I love meeting new people at band camp and getting to know them over the course of the season. I met most of my best friends at band camp, and I can’t wait to meet more!

Why I Joined Pep Band: I loved marching in high school and could not pass up the opportunity to march again. I also love football and basketball and we get great seats!

Other Involvements on Campus: Concert Band, Sax Quartet, Architectural Engineering Institute

Fun Fact About Me: My favorite cereal is Oh’s!


Assistant Drum Major: Jessie Hart

Class Year: 2025

Major: Robotics Engineering/Mechanical Engineering

Favorite Part of Pep Band: Performing an amazing show!

Why I Joined Pep Band: I marched in high school and absolutely fell in love with it.

Other Involvements on Campus: Club Lacrosse, SWE, WiRE, HPRC, Bionics Club

Fun Fact About Me: I was born on Christmas!


Assistant Drum Major: Anthony Burns

Class Year: 2026

Major: Physics

Favorite Part of Pep Band: Exhibition during marching season, it’s amazing to see so much talent and dedication to band in one night.

Why I Joined Pep Band: I’ve been playing music and doing band for most of my life, and it is by far my favorite activity I’ve ever had the pleasure of participating in.

Other Involvements on Campus: I’m in the guitar club, as well as SRA.

Fun Fact About Me: I used to be a triathlete, and I still keep up with my swimming now.


President: Rachel Gealow

Class Year: 2025

Major: Chemical Engineering

Favorite Part of Pep Band: Performing our halftime show and spending time with all my friends!

Why I Joined Pep Band: I loved playing mallet percussion in my high school marching band and wanted the chance to learn another show!

Other Involvements on Campus: None

Fun Fact About Me: I started learning how to play the alto saxophone last year!


Vice President: Ethan Lockhart

Class Year: 2024

Major: Architectural Engineering

Favorite Part of Pep Band: Band camp and marching the halftime show

Why I Joined Pep Band: I loved marching band in high school and also band camp

Other Involvements on Campus: Brass Ensemble, Sound Logic, Concert Band, Esports, AEI, Ski and Snowboard Club

Fun Fact About Me: If you’ve seen the movie Gnar, then you know I’m the best skier on the mountain


Secretary: Abbigail Cote

Class Year: 2025

Major: Chemical Engineering

Favorite Part of Pep Band: I love playing music with my friends! Spending time every week learning and performing music lets me relax and put energy into something creative.

Why I Joined Pep Band: Marching band made some of my best memories in high school, and I wanted to continue playing in college. Fortunately, the Pep Band has been just as fun, and become so central to my campus life.

Other Involvements on Campus: Concert Band and Flute Choir

Fun Fact About Me: My favorite book is The Secret History by Donna Tartt!


Treasurer: Jay Hokkanen

Class Year: 2025

Major: Computer Science

Favorite Part of Pep Band: There’s no better way to start the year than a crazy week of band camp!

Why I Joined Pep Band: I loved band in high school, but we did not have a marching group. When I came to WPI, I was very excited to join a new type of music ensemble, and I’m so glad I did!

Other involvements on campus: Brass Ensemble, Stage Band

Fun Fact About Me: Last summer, I hiked 100 miles of the Colorado Trail in a week 🙂


Communications Coordinator: Mary Pecoraro

Class Year: 2025

Major: Biomedical Engineering

Favorite Part of Pep Band: I love playing in the stands during basketball season, especially once championships start!

Why I Joined Pep Band: I marched in my high school’s band for all four years and really wanted to continue it throughout college. I also wanted to make friends with other band people!

Other involvements on campus: ARC tutoring

Fun Fact About Me: I taught myself how to crochet in D-term of freshman year!