By Althea Peterson

Transcript Staff Writer

If at first you don’t succeed, try try again.

Perseverance really pays off, especially for University of Oklahoma music education senior Chauvin Aaron, four-year Pride of Oklahoma marching band member.

After spending three years among the finalists for drum major, Aaron finally heard his name announced last weekend at the Pride’s annual year-end banquet.

“Perseverance — deciding just because I didn’t get the position before didn’t mean I couldn’t do it,” Aaron said. “It was just that (band members voting) felt I wasn’t the best candidate.

“I think the first two times, I prepared more physically, but this year, I just focused on doing well, doing my best, as opposed to not making mistakes.”

Drum major candidates have preliminary auditions during the fall dead week before finals, said Pride director Brian Britt. After this preliminary audition, three finalists are selected for a final audition during the football bowl trip during winter break. Besides Aaron, the other two finalists were juniors Adam Basset and David Sherman.

“(Aaron’s) going to do a really great job,” Britt said. “He’s worked very hard as a member and as a section leader … I think that was reflected in the final vote.”

However, candidates are not aware of who will be next season’s drum major until the entire band finds out at the year-end dinner. Being in the finalist position twice before, Aaron said he wasn’t sure if his name would be announced, with the other qualified candidates in the running.

“There’s always that beacon of hope, but you have to prepare yourself for the worst,” Aaron said. “The first year, not saying I didn’t expect to make it, but it was really hard. It was awkward for other people afterward. The second year it was less painful. It was almost like I because desensitized.”

But the third time was a charm for Aaron, even though he admits the thought of being the next drum major strutting down Owen Field hasn’t sunk in yet.

“I’m still kind of stunned,” Aaron said. “I’m very blessed to have the support of the band.”

That’s not to say that Aaron isn’t looking forward to what is ahead, because he said he’s been working for this for so long — ever since being drum major for two years in high school, playing clarinet in Pride and leading the running band around Oklahoma Memorial Stadium the past two years.

“The first time I saw (former drum major) Clint Williams — when he got up on the podium I could see the connection he had with the band,” Aaron said. “I knew then I wanted to do my best to strive for that position.