Xavier Saints come and go, but their impacts can last a lifetime. Xavier senior Avery Arens will be moving on from her musical career here at Xavier to attend The University of Iowa this upcoming fall to major in Communications. 

“I am so excited to continue my music career at The University of Iowa. I think Iowa will be a great fit for me. I love the campus and I cannot wait to audition for the marching band there,” Arens said.  

Arens has been involved in music from a very young age and her dad has always been a huge inspiration for her and motivates her to achieve her goals. Music has and continues to be a part of her life. 

“I have played the piano for 12 years now, as well as the flute for eight years, and I have loved every minute of it. I have been playing for so long that it has become something I can’t live without,” Arens said. 

Arens has been involved in band all four years of high school. This year has been especially unique for Arens as she is the drum major for the second year in a row.

“My role as drum major has affected my musical career because it has made me an overall better musician and team leader,” Arens said. 

Kelli Swehla, the director of Xavier’s band department, also thinks Arens has had a major impact on the band department during her years at Xavier and her leadership has allowed the band to grow.

“Avery has been the top student leader this school year as well as being junior drum major last year and a member of the flute section prior to that as well as a member of JBO for four years. Her leadership has been crucial to our success, especially this past fall during marching band. While we were still getting used to our PPE requirements and what we were able to do for marching band, Avery was helpful in getting our band in a position to be able to have a marching season. Avery has been helpful in keeping us centered in that mindset as well,” Swehla said. 

Although this year has been different, Arens as well as the other Saints in band, have taken on these challenges head first. 

“We still found ways to bond and overcome challenges through all the obstacles this year thrown in our way. We still managed to make this year a great year in band,” Arens said. 

Arens’ favorite memory in her four years of band was going on a trip to Toronto with the rest of her band friends. 

She hopes that music will always be a major part of her life and in her career and is blessed she has been given opportunities here at Xavier to excel in her musical talents.