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CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL<br />
CPSD Bands Gearing Up for <strong>Fall</strong><br />
Changes are coming to the <strong>Clinton</strong> Public School District’s<br />
band programs. Under the direction of Kevin Welborn, some<br />
programs are changing and parents will be expected to take on<br />
more active roles. “Our overall goal is to make the band<br />
attractive to the community, the students and parents,” he said.<br />
“We are focusing on the music we’ll play in our shows and in the<br />
stands, and providing opportunities for people to see the band.”<br />
One major change is eliminating the varsity band program.<br />
The program had about 50 students enrolled who were not part<br />
of the traditional marching band. “If you sign a contract to be in<br />
the band, you will be part of the marching band,” Welborn said.<br />
“We hope to have a bigger marching band this year than we did<br />
before.” There are 173 band students in grades 9-12.<br />
Personnel changes include Steven Ross, assistant director<br />
over percussion, and Robyn Lawson, assistant director over<br />
flutes and color guard. Ross comes to CPSD from Madison<br />
Central High School but worked with the CPSD band programs<br />
throughout the year last year. He holds<br />
a master’s degree in music education<br />
from the University of Southern<br />
Mississippi. He will lead the nationally<br />
acclaimed <strong>Clinton</strong> percussion program.<br />
In working with flautists, Lawson<br />
will fill Welborn’s goal of “a person<br />
leading every section” of the band. In<br />
addition to this and managing the high<br />
school color guard, she will also bring<br />
the color guard program to the junior<br />
high level.<br />
At the junior high level, students<br />
can expect to see a shift from a whole<br />
band approach to a more concentrated<br />
focus on each section. Individual<br />
directors will work with the band in<br />
smaller groups.<br />
The beginner band program at Lovett is also under way.<br />
Incoming sixth-graders interested in band have gone through<br />
instrument testing to determine which instruments the<br />
students will play, and after school starts there will be testing<br />
for any additional students who would like to join.<br />
“We are moving as fast as we can with the beginner band,”<br />
Welborn said. “This has been a popular program at Lovett and<br />
we’re excited to see that trend continue this year.” Beginner<br />
band will be held the last period of the day at Lovett, for brass,<br />
woodwind, percussion and flutes.<br />
Competition Season<br />
The first band competition of the season will be Oct. 3 at<br />
<strong>Clinton</strong> High School, for the Arrow Invitational. The second<br />
event is Oct. 10 at Pearl High School, with the State Marching<br />
Evaluation that day and the Pearl Invitational Competition<br />
that night.<br />
“They hold the Pearl Invitational<br />
the same day since so many bands are<br />
in town already for the state<br />
competition,” Welborn said.<br />
On Oct. 17, the band will travel to<br />
Ft. Walton Beach, Fla., for the Style<br />
March Invitational. An off-week follows,<br />
and then the band hosts the Mississippi<br />
High School Activities Association State<br />
Championship on Oct. 31.<br />
“We have a great group of talented<br />
students who are ready to learn and<br />
grow,” he said. “We have a strong lineup<br />
of assistant directors and we’re<br />
planning for a great school year.”<br />
<strong>Hometown</strong> <strong>Clinton</strong> • 59
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