Area band directors ready for new year

NORTH AUGUSTA -- Before starting their meeting Thursday, members of the Aiken County Band Directors Association cheerfully described how some of them go back a long way. A really long way.

"I remember David when he was five," said New Ellenton Middle School director Bonnie McNeill. "He had a T-shirt that said, 'I'm a future Silver Spirit member.'"

David Hastings was right about that. He joined the Silver Bluff band under the direction of Chuck Deen, now the North Augusta band director. Hastings has served as the Midland Valley High director for nearly a decade and taught Denise Holley, now the Aiken Middle School director.

"We meet three times a year," said Deen. "We do stuff together and try to support each other."

The high school bands are working on their marching shows for the football season, and for most of them, the formal festivals and competitions. Midland Valley will host its annual festival Sept. 26. Deen said the North Augusta band has moved up its festival to Oct. 3 this year. The contests will culminate in late October with the Lower State and state events.

The public school bands get some funding from the Aiken County School District, although the current economic crisis led to a reduction this year. The bands primarily rely on fruit sales and other fundraisers with the help of band parents. Fruit sales should begin by Oct. 1. In many instances, concessions at sports events also support the bands.

The band programs are involved with All-Region and All-State band events. For some 30 years, the bands have provided their own All-County band event - giving even more musicians the opportunity to participate in practice sessions that led to a concert the same day. More recently, that opportunity has been extended to sixth-grade beginning students.

The band directors vary in experience, but all agree how much they love what they do. Kristin Brown was a Silver Spirit band member on two state championship bands in the 1990s and now as director, has led the band to two AA state titles. Stephanie Threlkeld participated in band at Aiken High and now assists that band in addition to directing Schofield Middle School's band.

"I just enjoy getting kids excited about music," she said.

"It's about opening their eyes to more than just Beyonce," said Leavelle McCampbell Middle School's Kimberly Woods.

Sparky Noel of Kennedy Middle School said 15 of his former students are band directors, including Monte Blackwell of South Aiken High. Hastings estimates that nine directors came from among his contemporaries at Silver Bluff.

"With some of the larger families, I'm meeting kids in the second grad," said Hastings, "Some of them who were fourth-graders when I got here are now seniors. It's interesting to watch them grow up."

McNeill, a former district teacher of the year, said she has taught many children of some of her band students.

"When I get to the grandchildren, I will retire," she said with a smile.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com or at 644-2391.