Marching for the Pack

Is it hard to choose between your dream of becoming an architect and your love of music? Not if you are Heidi Charron or Giana Malak, both sophomores in the School of Architecture and both members of the NC State Wolfpack Marching Band. High Point native Charron plays the trumpet. Philadelphia area resident Malak plays the cymbals.

Charron says managing the rigors of architecture academics and the time commitment required to participate in the marching band is worthwhile because she could not choose between her two interests, even though she forfeits valuable studio time for the love of music.

“I love design and I love music. It’s hard to pick one to give up,” says Charron, who also plays in the Pep Band for Wolfpack basketball games. “I spent 15 hours at CarterFinley Stadium for the Miami game this fall. Football season means that two-day weekends all become one-day weekends, so lots of work has to go into studio projects and other assignments in that one day.”

Malak, who last year was a member of the Carolina Hurricanes Storm (dance) squad, too, has “overloaded her schedule since middle school.” Her father is in academia and advises her on time management. He convinced Malak to give up band after high school. What he had not planned on, though, was that her NC State orientation counselor was a drum major in the Marching Band.

After encouragement from the counselor, Malak tried out for band and made it. She says, “I don’t feel fulfilled

Giana Malak, left, and Heidi Charron, right, are musical architecture students. Photo by Dan Jahn.

unless I have a lot on my plate. I’m lazy if I don’t have much to do.”

Although playing in the band requires lots of time, it also required some missed practice. Charron explains, “It stresses me out to be late and one time I was an hour late because our review ran long. Giana and I just have to learn things on our own that we miss at practice.” “Last year my academics were not as stressful, having been mostly non-design related,” says Malak. “Now that I’m understanding my course work, I have a greater appreciation for being here and have developed a stronger dedication for studio work.”

In addition to the Marching Band, Charron plays in the Pep Band that plays for women’s and men’s basketball games and works parttime in the Materials Lab (shop). Charron adds, “I really enjoy both bands. Pep Band doesn’t require as much practice, but there are a lot of women’s and men’s basketball games.” She explains that members earn points for each game in which they participate in Pep Band. Charron plans to get in as many basketball games over the break as possible. Last year, she earned enough points to be chosen as one of the 30 members who flew to Maryland to perform at the NCAA women’s tournament.

Right: Giana Malak building a model in studio. Below: Heidi Charron working in the Materials Lab.