Mackenzie Boyd reacts after finding out that she will be the field commander for the Belpre Marching Band for the 2025-26 season. (Photo provided by Mackenzie Boyd)

BELPRE — Mackenzie Boyd is heading into her senior year at Belpre High School after she found out she will be the next field commander for the marching band.

“I’ve been in band for going on six years now,” said Boyd. “I was pumped and so excited when I found out.”

Boyd has lived in Belpre for the entirety of her life and has always attended Belpre schools. She joined the band in seventh grade and played the clarinet and bass clarinet throughout her musical career. It’s always been one of her favorite hobbies.

Boyd said that the band went to states for the first time in 20 years in 2021 and they’ve gone each year since.

She said her favorite part about being in the band is “the community it built and the responsibility and the honor and pride of being in such an esteemed activity.”

Mackenzie Boyd has been part of Belpre Safetytown in Bill Van Pelt’s group since 2023. She said that she was part of it when she was a kid so she was excited to be able to volunteer. (Photo provided by Mackenzie Boyd)

Boyd said her twin sister, Kaylea Boyd, was one of the four students who tried out for field commander and even though she didn’t get it, they are both very supportive of each other.

“We’re both really close and she was so excited for me,” said Boyd.

Boyd said she’s going to miss playing on the field but she’s excited to try something new and to see what all of the other instrument sections do during sectionals at band camp.

Band takes up almost all of her free time but she does find ways to balance school and participation in other activities.

Boyd works closely with William “Bill” Van Pelt who is the band director and coordinator of Belpre Safetytown. She said that she did Safetytown when she was younger and she enjoys teaching and helping the little kids.

Mackenzie Boyd and her mom, Rachel Boyd, on their way to a Mother/Daughter Banquet that was held at Walnut Street Church of Christ in Belpre on May 10. (Photo provided by Mackenzie Boyd)

“I went there when I was younger and at the time, I was sad to be apart from my mom and the volunteers helped me through the emotions,” said Boyd. “And I want to be that for someone and do the same thing for those children.”

Boyd has been taking college classes through Washington State of Ohio and even though she still has one year of high school left, she has a general idea about what she wants her career to look like.

“I want to be a Christian counselor,” said Boyd. “Johnson University and Oklahoma Christian University are both Christian-based schools.”

Since her freshman year, she’s taken a variety of courses like psychology and environmental science. Her goal for when she starts college is to major in theology.

Boyd has been attending Belpre Church of Christ for the past two years and recently started an internship with them.

Boyd had the opportunity to try on firefighter gear at the Belpre Volunteer Fire Department as a student volunteer at Safetytown on June 4. (Photo provided by Bill Van Pelt)

From the beginning of June to August, Boyd will be attending a weekly internship at the church to learn the behind-the-scenes of how the church is organized.

“I’ll probably go there every Tuesday and they’re pretty flexible so it’ll work with my band camp schedule,” said Boyd. “I’ve been going to church my whole life, and I just have always known that I’ve wanted to be in ministry.”

She said a lot of her inspiration comes from her dad who earned his bachelor of science in ministry.

Boyd spends a lot of her time practicing her music for marching and concert band season but in her free time she enjoys hanging out with her friends, including her twin sister.

Her family, which consists of her sister, younger brother, and parents, have two small dogs named Finley and Lila. The dogs are 4-year-old Yorkie, terrier, and shih tzu mixes.

“I’m pretty music-focused but I do sketch even though I’m not very good at it. I think it’s a lot of fun,” she said.

Boyd said that she was inspired by music at a very early age since her grandpa was in different country bands and her parents were part of the church praise team. Music has been her inspiration for her entire life.

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