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More than music

by Eliza Ollinger
Junior saxophonist, Jean Mcloney, helped Maddie Luther adjust her hat before the final practice — a small moment that reflects the heart of her marching band experience. For Maddie, leadership isn’t about standing out front; it’s about lifting others up, just as her bandmates have done for her.

For Mason County High senior flute player and co–field commander Maddie Luther, marching band has always been more than halftime shows and competitions—it’s been a lesson in friendship, growth, and purpose. After years of chasing wins on the soccer field, Maddie found herself frustrated and rigid, measuring success only by the scoreboard. When she joined the marching band in her sophomore year, something shifted. Surrounded by people who valued teamwork over trophies, she learned that winning could mean something deeper—doing her best for the people around her.

At 17, band has given Maddie more than a new rhythm. It has helped her “kick the bad habits” like lacking motivation and spending time with people who didn’t thoroughly support her, she said. Through band, she found a group of friends who made her feel confident supported and proud of who she was becoming. That sense of belonging soon turned into a calling.

Now Maddie helps teach elementary school students the basics of music, and is happier and more relaxed among elementary kids who are eager to learn and quick to laugh. One of her students even hung her photo alongside family pictures on his bedroom wall.

To them, Maddie isn’t just a teacher-in-training, but a role model, a mentor and a big buddy who makes music fun.

Whether she’s leading her band on the field or guiding a room of second graders through their first notes, Maddie said her purpose is to help others find their rhythm. Her story is one of transformation—from chasing personal victories to inspiring shared ones. And as she looks toward a future in music education, Maddie continues to find harmony in helping others play their part.

In the end, for Maddie Luther, it’s still about the people around her.

Maddie’s feet displayed the discipline and dedication required to march in unison with her fellow band members. Each step tells the story of bonds forged together with hours of sweat, tears and friendship – finding purpose, one beat at a time.
Laughter broke through the chaos as Laura Delisle and Maddie shared an unplanned moment—an accidental poke in the eye turned into a burst of joy. It’s in these imperfect moments that the true spirit of marching band shines: family, friendship, laughter, and the bond that makes every ounce of effort worth it.
With arms full of hat boxes, Maddie and Ebony Eckert, a senior clarinetist, made their way down the hill, balancing laughter with responsibility. “Maddie rarely gets to see either driving or walking,” Ebony joked—because she’s always the first to show up, carrying more than her share to make sure everyone’s ready to play their part.
In a classroom filled with voices, tiny instruments and big smiles, Maddie led her students, guiding their love for music with patience and joy. Maddie has found her rhythm here—turning her love of music into a calling to teach, inspire, and help the next generation find their own beat.
In a quiet moment between classes and rehearsals, Maddie looked up at her mentor, Kat Graves, with admiration and gratitude—a reflection of the guidance that shaped her path. It’s a passing of wisdom from one leader to the next, a reminder that every great teacher was once a student inspired by someone who believed in them.
On her tiptoes outside of the bandroom, Maddie wrapped her arms around her boyfriend, Matt Cole, freshly home from college to watch her senior night performance. The hug captured a fleeting but powerful moment—love, pride, and the bittersweet joy of a season coming full circle.
On the walk to the field, Matt and Maddie laughed at an inside joke with the rest of the band – an easy moment that reflected the closeness and comfort of the group around them.
In the stands, Maddie and the Mason County marching band transformed into the pep band for the evening, filling the night with energy and sound. Dressed in their crisp uniforms, they played not for scores or judges, but for shared joy and school spirit—the heartbeat of every Friday night game.
Maddie’s mom, Janice Luther, wiped away tears as the seniors came back to the stands after the on-field ceremony concluded, a quiet testament to pride, love, and the milestones of a high school journey. In that moment, the music faded but the emotions lingered—celebrating not just a final game, but years of growth, dedication, and memories made.