After two years donning the candy-cane-striped suit, sophomore Garhett Daves is trading in his saxophone for a whistle and headset, assuming the role of drum major for the SMU Mustang Band.
Daves was announced as senior Chris Cook’s successor on Sunday, March 29, via the band’s Instagram. All it took? An essay, interview, audition and months of learning how to do a front handspring.
“I wanted to focus on bringing the ‘wow’ factor for my live audition, so I did learn how to do a front handspring,” Daves said.
The live audition was just the final part of a much longer application process, which opened in October. As the current drum major, Cook played a large role in the selection, saying it was important to him to help the band directors make the decision on his successor.
“I really wanted to simulate what a game day would look like to a drum major,” Cook said. “Actually coming out onto the field, being confident, putting yourself out there, or leading members of the Mustang Band.”
Daves’ two friends, Tani Oda and Addy Acciarito, coached him in acrobatics, but he also had to develop his conducting skills. Most of the other applicants had served as drum major in high school or had conducted before, Daves had zero experience with it and said this was a disadvantage he had to overcome.
“I felt like I had to put in extra effort towards other factors of the interview and the whole process in general because I didn’t have that prior conducting experience,” Daves said.
He may not have conducted before, but Daves has been surrounded by music for a long time. The sophomore began piano lessons at eight years old before picking up the saxophone at 12 for his middle school band. He continued through high school straight into the Mustang Band, where he has served as the alto saxophone captain. What he lacks in conducting experience, Daves makes up for in spirit, key to leading the self-proclaimed “Hub of SMU Spirit” and “Pride of Dallas.”
“Garhett distinguished himself on many of the audition elements,” Band Director Charles Aguillon said in an email. “Of course, [the drum major’s] role at Mustang football games is a huge help in getting the crowd engaged.”
The passion comes easily to Daves, who said the band is more than halftime show performances and dashing suits.
“The band has given me plenty of opportunities,” Daves said. “They’ve given me financial support to SMU, they’ve given me lifelong friendships, they’ve given me a place I can learn.”
Outside of band, Daves loves rock climbing and hiking, and is also a part of the Engineers Without Borders club at SMU. The band has a special place in Daves’ heart, though, which led to his pursuit of the drum major position. The sophomore hopes to provide similar positive experiences that he’s had in band to other students while also expanding its reach across SMU.
“I really hope to expand the Mustang Band’s influence on campus,” Daves said. “I feel like the past two years, we’ve done a lot of growth, and I think we can further that growth and influence on campus by collaborating with other organizations.”
The band has grown considerably in recent years. Since his freshman year, Cook said the band has nearly tripled in population. Much of that happened during Cook’s tenure as drum major, which began in 2024. Cook said joining the ACC played a large role in the band’s ascension.
“I was the 52nd band member to join, now we’re at 125,” Cook said. “That transition [to the ACC] kind of took everyone by surprise. It brought the largest freshman class the Mustang band has ever seen. The Mustang Band has grown with SMU.”
As drum major, Cook wanted to maintain the tight-knit community he experienced in a band of 50 even as it continued to grow.
“[Mustang Band alumni] love to say that the people they invite to their wedding or the people they meet first week eventually, when they first come here to see you, and I couldn’t agree more,” Cook said. “I think that speaks a lot to the community that we really try to build.”
After graduating in May, Cook is attending the University of Texas at Austin to pursue a PhD in physics, but assured that he would come back to visit.
For now, Cook is high-stepping into the sunset, but Daves appears ready to fill his marching shoes.
“I think the most important thing, not just the drum major does, but the whole band does, is bring that community to first-years and make them feel like they’re part of something,” Cook said. I hope that’s something he continues doing.”
