Schools

In step with the bands

By PAULETTE LASH RITCHIE, Times Correspondent
Published September 20, 2007

Kaitlyn Bugden, 14, (left) and Lindsey Ryan, 16, (center) march with their clarinets during the Marching Sharks' band practice at Nature Coast High.
	[KERI WIGINTON | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT Video Springstead High prepares for competition [MAURICE RIVENBARK | Times] Davon Smith, Miranda Hoover, Mitch Weber and Alex Carlson play during Springstead High's marching band practice as the sky darkens. [MAURICE RIVENBARK | Times] Hernando High's marching band, the Royal Regiment, performs during a recent practice session. [RON THOMPSON | Times] Susie Raines (left) and Sara Stephens practice a flag routine in the Central High Band Room after school.

It's football season, and high school bands across Hernando County are hitting the fields at halftime. Sparkling with school colors, these hardworking student-musicians have been preparing for weeks to entertain and dazzle the fans.

But there is a lot more to the band program than summer camps and football halftimes. The students perform in concerts, participate in parades and compete in competitions.

Here is a rundown of the four Hernando County high school bands with some comments from the band directors.

SPRINGSTEAD HIGH: Eagle Brigade Marching Band

Number of students in band: about 90

Director: Richard Dasher

Staff assistants: Steve McNeely and Sal Basile run the percussion end of things, Katrina Summers is in charge of the color guard, and Tom Damato is general all-around help with winds, marching and music.

Special trips planned for this year: The band plans to travel to marching festivals in Ocala, Chiefland, Seminole and Tarpon Springs, and hopes to play at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg for the Florida Marching Band Tournament FMBC championships. Also planned is a spring performance at Disney World.

Concerts for the public: Winter concert in December and Spectrum concerts in the spring.

Halftime lineup: The show is called "To build a fire ..." and includes Pegasus, Andante and One More Time, Chuck Corea. It is all Latin jazz.

Needs: "We pay a lot for transportation to the various performances."

Of note: The band finished second and third in the state the past two years. The goal this year is to return to finals and perhaps bring a championship to Hernando County.

Booster club: Dasher said this parent support group is "very strong; we could not do what we do without their fundraising, organizational and morale support. They are out there at every practice, encouraging the kids and cheering. Awesome. Val Moore is the president."

Why you are a high school band director: "I was a performing musician for a year or so out of college, but I found something missing, so I went back and got the teaching degree. That was 26 years ago, and I am so glad I did. I am the happiest I have ever been now."

HERNANDO HIGH: The Royal Regiment

Number of students in the band: 71

Director: Joseph Harrin

Staff assistants: Josh Nagel, percussion instructor; Dave Carr, volunteer assistant director

Special trip planned for this year: A day parade at Disney World and a three-day trip to Disney World in the spring to march down Main Street in the Magic Kingdom.

Concerts for the public: A Christmas concert in December and the main program in May called Kaleidoscope, a pops concert. "We use this concert as our main fundraiser."

Halftime lineup: Tommy, by The Who

Needs: "We are always in need of money for various items. Right now we need a golf cart, so parents can follow in parades with water and emergency help."

Of note: Hernando High is the only band in the county to ever be invited to play for the president: Jimmy Carter in 1977.

Do you have a booster club? "Yes. It is growing more and more every year as the band grows." Greg Steinman is chairman.

Why you are a high school band director: "I am a director because I had three teachers that inspired me every day to love music. They taught me to truly appreciate what it is to teach and to perform. Two of those teachers still work in Hernando County, Mr. Bruce Brazinski at Parrott Middle School and Mrs. Kathy Thompson at Challenger K-8 (formerly of Hernando High). The last being Dr. Bobby Adams of Stetson University."

Number of students in the band: 45

Director: Everett Johnson

Staff assistant: Donea Swafford, flags

Special trip planned for this year: The band hopes to go on a spring trip to a regional concert festival.

Concerts for the public: There will be three, all at 7 p.m.; one on Dec. 18, one on March 4 and the last on May 17 in the Central High School auditorium.

Halftime lineup: Music from the tone poem Scheherazade, by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Needs: Keeping more students involved in the band program from the middle to high school level at all area schools.

Of note: "I want my students to understand that band is not about winning contests, but is about developing character traits which they can carry with them throughout their lives."

Booster club: "We have an active booster club which strongly supports the band through various activities, such as suppers, the band concession stand at football games, and our annual Breakfast with Santa." The band booster club president is Mark Byers.

Why you are a high school band director: "I have been so blessed in my life to have worked with wonderfully inspiring teachers and colleagues. Mr. W.T. Binion Jr. was my band director at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, Ala., and his great motivational leadership set me on the path to becoming a band teacher myself. I then had the great opportunity to have been in the Troy State University Band under the leadership of Dr. John M. Long, one of the nation's foremost band directors. I owe so much to these two great teachers."

NATURE COAST TECHNICAL HIGH: Marching Sharks

Number of students in the band: 38

Director: Tim Brightbill

Staff assistant: Michael Schreiner, color guard

Special trip planned for this year: The Marching Sharks are scheduled to attend the Seminole Sound Band Competition in Pinellas County, the West Coast Invitational in Tampa, the Tarpon Springs Outdoor Music Festival, the Tri-County Invitational in Chiefland, the Florida Band Masters Association music performance assessment in New Port Richey and the University Marching Classic in Orlando.

Concerts for the public: There will be four: Dec. 11 and 12, and May 19 and 22 at the school's Black Box Theater.

Halftime lineup: "A Star Wars Epic"

Needs: Operational funds, a dry-cleaning sponsor, a larger equipment trailer.

Of note: Last year, the Sharks were third in their division at the Tarpon Springs Outdoor Music Festival; they received an excellent rating at the Florida Band Masters Association performance assessment.

Booster club: Headed by Debbie Layne. "What we need is more active participation from the parents."

Why you are a high school band director: "Because I absolutely love it." Brightbill said he enjoys "evoking emotional responses" from the audiences who listen to his band's music. 

[Last modified September 19, 2007, 20:45:28]