College of Education music ed major and band member among Auburn University’s Miss Homecoming finalists

From winning national band competitions to recording video game theme songs, Auburn University College of Education student Julia Wright’s Auburn experience has been anything but ordinary.

Now, the senior music education major and member of Auburn’s Marching Band is adding another high note to her résumé: a spot among Auburn University’s top five Miss Homecoming finalists, with the winner to be crowned at halftime of Auburn’s Sept. 13 football game vs. South Alabama.

“Maybe it’s recency bias, but being selected as a top five Miss Homecoming candidate is one of the most thrilling experiences I’ve had at Auburn,” Wright said. “I’ve spent my whole life believing in Auburn and loving it, so it’s incredibly exciting to represent the College of Education and the Department of Music on such a big stage.”

For Wright, Sept. 13 will be a celebration of the journey she’s taken since arriving on the Plains, from the football field to her academic pursuits.

“My classroom experience has been nothing short of amazing,” she said. “The hands-on opportunities Auburn provides are truly unmatched. Getting to work in real classrooms with elementary students as early as my second semester was not only fun but also reaffirmed that I chose the right career path.”

From band room to classroom

Wright’s passion for teaching was sparked in high school when she joined band and discovered the harmony between her love for music and her gift for leadership.

“Music education became the perfect place for my skills and my passion to combine,” she said.

That passion has flourished at Auburn, where she’s been immersed in real classroom experiences since her second semester. Her sophomore year was especially formative, when she taught five music classes every Friday at local schools in need of full-time music teachers.

“It was challenging, but so exciting to bring music to these children and share in their joy of learning,” she said.

Such hands-on learning and connections to the community are what Wright says set the College of Education apart.

“One of the most amazing things about Auburn’s music education program is our partnership with local elementary schools, many of which didn’t have music teachers at the time. We get early, hands-on teaching experience, and the kids get to fall in love with music,” she said.

A program that stikes the right chord

Wright credits Auburn’s music education program — and its faculty — for shaping her into the educator she’s becoming.

“My professors continually challenge me to grow, not just as a musician and future educator, but as a person,” she said.

That support has helped her thrive both inside and outside the classroom. Through the Auburn University Marching Band, Wright has traveled across the country, helping Auburn’s band win a national competition sponsored by Metallica. She even helped the band record the theme song for EA Sports’ College Football ’26 video game.

“It’s been surreal,” she said. “These experiences have shown me how far music can take you.”

Being named a Miss Homecoming finalist is one of Wright’s proudest accomplishments. Her campaign reflects the values she holds dear: community, creativity, and the power of education.

“My favorite thing about Auburn is how everyone supports one another,” she says. “The Auburn Family is real, and it’s something I’ll carry with me forever.”

A band of support for the future

Wright will complete her internship work this spring and hopes to land a teaching job soon after. Long-term, she dreams of pursuing a master’s and doctorate in orchestral conducting, blending her classroom experience with her musical ambitions.

As she enters her senior year, Wright reflects on the lessons she’ll take with her: “When one door closes, another opens. Some of the best opportunities come from unexpected places — even if they’re not what you originally planned.”

And on Sept. 13, as the stadium roars and the spotlight shines, Wright will have her own band of support — a lasting bond she’s built among the many students, teachers and musicians whose lives she’s already begun to shape.

“I grew up hearing about the ‘Auburn Family,’ but I never realized just how real and meaningful it is,” she said. “It truly feels like everyone around you wants to see you succeed, and that’s something special.”