Practical. Calculated. Driven. It’s easy to spot those traits within minutes of talking to Tompkins senior drum major Alex Lebsack. Digging deeper reveals another side, the ‘why’ behind the painstaking hours of music practice, his countless tennis swings and all the pages he turns for his courses.

Performances – he lives to put on a show and wants to be great at it. The adrenaline high during, and the payoff once the show is over, make it worth the effort.

“If it weren't for the performances, practicing would start to feel sort of dry,” Lebsack said. “Whenever you know that there is a performance coming up, practices don't feel boring or like practice. They feel like you're just getting in the right mindset. Whenever you do get to that performance, you're not worried. You're not scared. You're not anxious. You're just there enjoying the moment, and you can enjoy the performance because you know that all the practice you've done has helped you get there.”

Whether playing his euphonium, serving on the tennis court or directing the band, Lebsack’s work ethic and charismatic personality have made him a natural-born leader. Teachers, coaches and directors took note of those traits early when he entered Tompkins as a freshman.

When he and his family moved from out of state to Texas in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Lebsack overcame the isolation by contacting his junior high school band director and taking virtual band classes. The classes introduced him to band and he met friends, some of whom he has the chance to lead as a drum major this year.

“There are formal auditions for leadership positions, but we start observing, seeing how kids are in class and rehearsal and around the rest of the band,” Tompkins Band Director Stephen Bond said. “Alex was on our radar pretty early as a freshman. His junior year, he was a brass captain, so he was already serving as a student leader.”

On the court, he’s a letterman and leader for the tennis team. Lebsack’s approach to his sport has made him an integral part of the team and an example to other student-athletes.


“He’s able to balance intensity and focus while being personable and approachable,” Tompkins tennis coach Renee Richardson said. “Alex is fearless about emptying his tank. He will give a task his all regardless of how much energy it’s going to consume.”


He approaches every task, including schoolwork, with the same focus and intensity.

Lebsack entered his senior year with a GPA of more than 4.6 on a weighted scale. As a tennis athlete and a drum major, his athletic period and band period only allow for four points. He is an all-A student taking AP classes with his eyes set on becoming a neurosurgeon. He said that he’s always been fascinated with how the mind functions, and that his interest in biology will keep him driven to succeed.

He thinks his involvement in band, especially the responsibilities of being a Tompkins drum major, will help him on his journey. Though he doesn’t plan on playing for a marching band in college, he is aiming for an all-state position this year at euphonium and leading the marching band to a state marching contest appearance as a drum major. These goals are in reach, and he knows it will take discipline to get there. He’s keenly aware his commitment to fine arts will help prepare him for the next level of life.

“This position gives you the foundation of being able to handle adversity, being able to make it through stressful and anxious situations,” Lebsack said. “That's the number one thing for band — it’s not just the musicianship. I feel like I can go into life and do anything I want because I’m mentally prepared to overcome each challenge.”