Pine School alumna Katie Bayard, a graduate of the Class of 2010 and a freshman at the University of South Florida, will be a familiar presence at USF Bulls’ football games this fall.  With no previous marching band experience, she survived a grueling audition process and earned a spot in the marching band – as first trumpet.  Only thirty trumpeters earned places in the marching band, including just four women.  She also won a prized place in the show band, which features the top 30 marching band players.

Katie credited her success to her parents and Marcus Rabb, Director of Fine Arts and band director at The Pine School.  Under Mr. Rabb’s direction, Katie was first chair trumpet all four years in high school and was a member of The Pine School Jazz Ensemble and Concert Band. She also participated in the pit orchestra for school musicals and was a member of the Four County Honor Band for two years. In her senior year at The Pine School, Katie received the Performing Arts Award.

 “Katie is not a music major,” her father Harry Bayard said.  “Yet the music program at the Pine School was so strong, it has set the stage for an extremely positive college experience.”

In addition to her marching band commitment at USF, Katie, who has declared a marketing major, was selected to become a part of the Bulls Business Network, which only accepts the top 150 freshman business students.  She has a busy schedule at USF, but she says it’s worth it.  “I would never give up either one,” Katie said of the band and BBN.  “So far, college has been a great experience that I have been sufficiently prepared for because of The Pine School.”