When Northwood’s marching band performs during halftime, you may have noticed someone wearing a football uniform in the flute section. It’s not a costume; it’s sophomore Ethan Do.

It all started in sixth grade when Do began playing flag football and joined Concert Band as a flautist. He is now both a wide receiver on the varsity team and a flautist in the marching band. 

While many students tend to drop a commitment due to time, Do’s schedule worked out perfectly, as Marching Band and the football team practice during zero period and after school, respectively.

“Some days it’s extremely exhausting,” Do said. “I may only eat and go straight to sleep after coming home. It’s hard work but it all pays off on Friday nights, when I get to be on the field doing both.”

Do emphasizes that the main challenge with juggling these activities is the compromises he has to make. For example, while Marching Band does their pregame pep tunes, he has to get in uniform and warm up before the opening kickoff. Similarly, when football has their halftime meeting, Do’s out on the field performing. 

“During home games when the marching band performs, I’ll be with the team on the field, and as soon as halftime hits, I’ll run over to the band waiting to march onto the field,” Do said. “I perform during halftime still wearing all my football gear. When the show is over, I rejoin the football team for warmups and finish the game.”

In the end, he emphasizes it’s all worth it when the grind turns into greatness. 

Do’s coaches and band directors have supported his choice to participate in both, often making special arrangements, such as letting him perform in his football uniform 

“Ethan is awesome!” Marching Band director Whitney Tavlarides said. “He works so hard for both programs on the field. Ethan approaches music with care and dedication, and is a very talented musician. We are incredibly proud of him, and happy to make it all work for our musician athletes in all sports.”