By Lexie V. Owen | Echo
Hannah Koritz and Brittany Smith sit on a couch together and talk about their shared passion: drums. Hannah has a cross around her neck. Brittany wears bright colors that reflect her vibrant personality. Many may recognize these two girls from seeing them on stage in chapel. Brittany is usually behind the djembe (jim-bay) and Hannah behind the drum set.
Hannah Koritz is a freshman international business major. Brittany Smith is a senior photography major. This is Brittany's second year playing the djembe for chapel.
They sat in fascination as they listened to each other's stories. They both laughed as Hannah counted on her fingers the number of years she's been playing. Her interest in drumming began ten years ago.
"My elementary school teacher had a drum set in his room," Hannah said. "My music teacher was in a rock band and he'd show us all these cool videos. He'd teach us basics and I'd just be watching. But then I started watching Youtube videos and went from there."
Brittany has been playing for six years. Her interest was sparked when she saw a Phil Collins concert on TV. She received a drum set one Christmas and began taking lessons immediately. At the mention of Phil Collins, Hannah began singing and they both started playing imaginary drum sets.
Both girls started their drumming careers playing for their youth groups, and then progressed to worship for their whole church. Some members of Brittany's congregation were surprised to see a female take a seat behind the drum set.
"The other drummers couldn't make it, so my youth pastor talked me into drumming for the service," Brittany said. "It was fun to shock people," she laughed. "I could tell the male drummers in my church felt a little intimidated."
Hannah has similar experiences when she tells people she can drum.
"I love the surprise people get and seeing their reactions," Hannah said. "Female drummers are so interesting, because there aren't many female drummers out there. We need to have more of them!"
When high school ended, Brittany and Hannah brought their love of music to college.
"When I came to college, my drum teacher said, 'I don't think you need lessons anymore. Just go for it!'" Brittany said.
And she did. Both she and Hannah were attracted to Taylor because of the God-centered environment. Both came with a desire to honor the Lord with their music and fulfilled it by joining a chapel band.
"I want to make the music in chapel more than what it could be," Hannah said. "Seeing a female drummer, I think, can change the perspective and give it a new feel."
According to Chapel Coordinator Keith Cantrell, both musicians have a different approach to being part of a band.
"I have been in worship bands before where the drummers just want to do their own thing," Keith said. "Brittany always wants to make sure her drumming compliments all the other instruments. Hannah is always watching her team members and changing the song's dynamics along with them. Maybe listening to others just comes more naturally for girls."
Brittany and Hannah take on their roles in chapel as serious responsibilities and unique privileges. They find their greatest reward in helping Taylor students worship.
"As intimidating as it is seeing all the students there, I love seeing everyone worshipping and the hands being raised," Brittany said. "You can tell the sincerity of the students when they're worshipping."
Hannah nodded. She smiled as she described her own experience.
"How I worship is playing the drums and being able to let everything go and just play," she said. "It's humbling to be able to play the drums up there and it's so cool to watch. Something's different when you're up there helping people worship."
Drumming has helped Brittany and Hannah grow in their own spiritual lives as well. For Brittany, it has been learning that God had a plan for her drumming all along. For Hannah, it's been learning to play through mistakes.
"What I've learned about drumming is that we all make mistakes," Hannah said. "I give God the praise throughout the whole time. I just focus on him. Sometimes when I mess up, I just start smiling," she said, grinning. "I do that because I'm glorifying God and it doesn't matter if I mess up."
Both hope to use drumming to glorify God for the rest of their lives. Though she doesn't see herself playing professionally, Hannah dreams of playing for nonprofits and one day planting a church in Albania.
"When I was over there three years ago, God put this dream in my head that I'd start a church plant there and start up a worship band," Hannah said. "It's my goal in life to go worship over there."
Brittany aspires to be in a band, but remains open to where God leads her.
"I see music as a great art and I want to continue to be part of it," Brittany said.
When Hannah and Brittany take their places behind their drums in chapel, they're more than girls with rhythm. They're drummers who have dedicated their lives to honoring God with their art.
