Annette Photography

Behind Noah sits his passion for music, and in front of him, a life filled with even more.

Senior Noah Oppenhuizen, on top of being one of the most impressive percussionists to watch during the drumline’s performances, helped start arguably the most important drumline tradition to date: Minion Day.

Every summer, the FHC marching band holds Band Camp, where members of that year’s marching band gather and learn the music and drill for the upcoming football games. Each day has a different theme, similar to homecoming spirit days, where different sections of the band (trumpets, percussion, etc.) will dress up according to that theme.

In Noah’s Band Camp before his sophomore year, the drumline decided to dress up as minions from the ever-popular Despicable Me franchise for the theme “movies.” On that fateful day, they adorned themselves with denim overalls and an overwhelming amount of yellow paint. What they didn’t know was the long-standing tradition that this circumstance would create.

“During snack time, [the drumline] hoarded all the bananas, and they put all of the banana peels in my hat,” Noah said. “I cleaned it, but it’s still kind of disgusting.”

Unfortunately, Band Camp doesn’t always have “movie day” as a theme. So, naturally, the drumline finds some way to fit Minions into the daily theme, similar to how Noah fits music into his busy course schedule. Noah somehow has eight classes in his daily schedule—four of which are music classes, which makes it pretty apparent how central music is to Noah’s life.

“I guess I’ve always been into music,” Noah said. “When I was little, I’d be singing or playing on little plastic drums. But, I guess, sixth-grade band was when I really started getting into music.”

Noah, like many other high school musicians like him, began his drumline journey in sixth grade when choosing which music class he would go into. All Forest Hills Public Schools (FHPS) students are offered a choice of three music classes when setting up their sixth-grade schedules to immerse them in the program and show what a great opportunity band, orchestra, or choir can be. 

At the time, Noah (obviously) chose percussion. However, all throughout middle and high school, he was intrigued by the notion of being in choir but, unfortunately, couldn’t fit it into his already bursting schedule. Luckily, this year, he was able to work out a compromise with both musical groups.

“I asked Mr. Burns and Mr. Ivory if I’d be able to do both classes at the same time, so now every day I switch between Central Singers and percussion,” Noah said. “It’s pretty fun, but it’s a little bit more stressful.”

Although significant pressure comes with being in eight classes in a day, it’s all worth it for the experience he’s gaining—both in memories and in musical exposure, which is very helpful in the professions he is considering going into.

“The plan is to go to [Grand Rapids Community College] for two years and then transfer to Western [Michigan University] for either music production or audio engineering, so I would actually work in a recording booth,” Noah said. “I do a lot of music production at home on my laptop.”

On top of music production, drumline, Jazz Band percussion, and Central Singers, Noah has also been drumming in the FHC talent show since his sophomore year. In the most recent variety show, he performed two acts: a drumming solo and in a trio with some of his friends. 

However fun the Random Acts of Talent show may be, Noah has found that one of the most exciting parts of high school music is drumline—especially during Homecoming season.

“It’s more thrilling if there’s more people there,” Noah said. “At the homecoming assembly, when the whole school is [watching drumline], that’s super fun. The more people there are, the more fun it is, and the cooler you feel.”

Even though his final FHC talent show was two weeks ago, and marching band season is long passed over, Noah hopes to make a lasting impact on FHC that will last for generations, like the tradition of drumline dressing up as minions at Band Camp and the faint smell of banana in his hat.

“I’m proud that I’m able to show people the stuff that I’ve put a lot of time and effort into,” Noah said. “When I feel like some people out there might actually show respect towards [my performance], it makes me feel great.”