Major Competition : Thousand Oaks: High school contestants march to the beat of Sousa music, guitars and bagpipes as they try to qualify for June’s state championship.

Give students from all over Southern California some military batons, flags, rifles and sticks, confine them to a 90-by-90-foot space and what have you got?

The Drum Major Championships at Thousand Oaks High School on Saturday.

Maces in hand and music blaring, 48 drum majors strutted their stuff to musical pieces ranging from John Philip Sousa marches to electric guitar instrumentals to a chorus of bagpipes.

“I don’t think people realize how hard we work or what we even do,” said Thousand Oaks High freshman Mindy Cabral, who placed second in the conducting category of the competition. Saturday’s contest was the final chance for California drum majors to qualify for the state championship in June.

Mindy said she takes an hourlong class every Sunday and practices for about an hour after school to prepare for the competitions. She has already qualified for the state championship June 10 at Loara High School in Anaheim. But she continues practicing because she hopes to become the drum major for her high school band after the current one graduates this year.

“The drum major has an important leadership role to set a good example and make sure people are doing what they’re supposed to,” Mindy said. “But sometimes it’s hard to keep your friends in line.”

Drum majors from as far away as Bakersfield and San Diego came to the event.

Organizers said the second annual event was twice as big as last year’s, which raised only $150 for the band. They said the event was not meant to be a major fund-raiser but a chance for local drum majors to compete in Ventura County’s only competition.

Among the 24 students who took home trophies Saturday were David Zschernig of Simi Valley High School, who placed second in the show category, and Danny Black of Ventura High School, who placed fourth in the conducting category.

The drum majors were graded in the categories of military, mace, show and field conducting. Judges evaluated their ability to march with the rhythm, the difficulty of their moves, their composure and costumes. The competitors used lint rollers to keep their outfits in ship-shape for a pre-march inspection, where the judges check for loose threads and crooked buttons.

“What you’re looking for is perfection,” said judge Ryan Haansfra, 29, the 1983 national and California drum major champion, who came all the way from Orlando, Fla., to judge the up-and-coming drum majors.

“They have to be flashy, grand and in control. I say to myself, ‘Is this someone I would want to lead my band?’ ” said Haansfra, a member of Tom Peacock’s All-American Drum Major Competition Assn., the group that sanctions the events.

And the competition is fierce, said Haansfra, nodding toward a kilt-clad drum major solemnly concentrating before his performance.

Thousand Oaks High sophomore Robby McCallum, sporting the emerald green uniform of his school, compared being a band member to being an athlete in terms of hours of practice and the suspense of the competition.

“The worst part is right before the music starts,” said McCallum, who will compete with Mindy for the drum major role at the school next year. “You’re out there all alone, just you and the judge. Once the music starts, it’s better because you can get into the rhythm.”

After the music starts, the drum majors march their course, twirling their maces and shouting commands to an imaginary band--with the judge shadowing their every move. The judge speaks into a tape recorder during the competition, stating each drum major’s strengths and weaknesses. The competitors are given a copy of the tape after their performance.

“It really helps a lot for upcoming events,” said Robby, who recently returned to the competition circuit after a broken arm suffered in a roller hockey accident sidelined him for a year.

“The tape puts everything in perspective. It can help you with stuff you can’t see for yourself.”

Robby admitted shyly, though, that judges aren’t always on your side.

“The best part is that if they get in your way, you can clock them with your mace. Of course, I’ve never done it, but I’ve seen it done.”