Hope High School

HOPE – The mythical magic of a classic tale will take the Hope High School band program, and the HHS Bobcat Marching Band, into the 2018-2019 season with a renewed commitment.\r\n

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Hope Bands Director Julie Gladden enters the second year of her tenure here with some 300 students enrolled in the band program from grades 5-12.\r\n

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Gladden expects about 65 students from the Hope Academy of Public Service and 75 students from Beryl Henry Elementary School to join the beginning band program this year, while she expects the junior high level program to have about 85 students from HAPS and Yerger Middle School.\r\n

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The fall marching band program at Hope High School currently has about 70 students enrolled, most of whom have been working during the summer on developing marching skills and learning the music for the fall.\r\n

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“Phoenix Rising: A Band Reborn” will take its thematic music from the classic “Firebird” tale and the legend of the Phoenix, the mythical bird that ends its life in spontaneous combustion, only to be reborn from its own ashes.\r\n

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“It’s a thematic show; it’s a story,” Gladden said.\r\n

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That’s a tall order; but, Gladden sees it as the rebirth of a band program with a proud history.\r\n

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“We will add to the show through the season,” she said. “I’d like to have the first two parts by the first game; but, it’s still a young group.”\r\n

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She is starting with two fundamental cores for the marching band program: Instrumental development and physical conditioning.\r\n

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The HHS band has completed its summer band camp, which involves the entire band. Sectional rehearsals and private instrumental lessons build the musicality for the 7 minute, 30 second show, and for the rest of the year.\r\n

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But, putting the sound onto the field in a pageantry that tells the story of the show at halftime each Friday night and in contest competition has required both learning and honing marching skills and band members having the physical stamina to present the show.\r\n

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Playing almost any instrument requires either lung volume to produce a proper sound, or rhythmic ability and physicality to produce a percussive tempo. Ask any brass player or drum line member.\r\n

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Consequently, each summer camp session started with some 30 minutes of conditioning exercises and running on the 16^th Street practice field. After conditioning work, Gladden took the students through the paces of developing and honing their marching skills.\r\n

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“We will take this show to all four of our marching contests,” Gladden said.\r\n

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The HHS bands program will also host a marching competition at Hammons Stadium on Oct. 9. Gladden said bands are still registering for the contest, the first ever for the program.\r\n

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“We’re excited about it,” she said. “All of Arkansas is open to come.”\r\n

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The Hope Marching Invitational is expected to host 10-12 bands, and will serve as a warm-up for Arkansas regional competition on Oct. 23.\r\n

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HHS drum line members Damien Richmond, Kevin Morales, and D’Shawn Brown have already begun to establish the line, having won the Most Improved Drum Line award at the East Texas Drum Line Camp at Pleasant Grove High School in Texarkana in June.\r\n

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The junior bands program will also be active in football season and throughout the year, Brandon Ellis, junior high director, said.\r\n

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“We’re going to be ratcheting things up and doing a lot,” Ellis said.\r\n

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He said the junior high band will perform in the stands at each Thursday night home junior high football game; and, the band will compete in a spring concert contest.\r\n

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Gladden said the program has room to grow.\r\n

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Students and their parents can contact Gladden at julie.gladden@hpsdistrict.org online for information.\r\n

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She said the Hope Band Boosters organization will continue to be active in band pursuits this year. Gladden said the group intends to meet the first Tuesday of each month.\r\n

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“It’s not just limited to parents,” she said. “We want active community members who will help support the bands.”\r\n