BY JOHN HILLSMAN | FOR THE OBSERVER
BEAUREGARD — In February 2023, the band directors teaching in Lee County Schools were invited to a meeting with assistant superintendents Dr. Brad Hunter and Dr. Jason Wright and Dr. Anna Shepherd-Jones, director of federal programs, accountability and improvement. The purpose of the meeting was to develop goals and strategic planning for the band programs in the school system.
One of the outcomes was that LCS would host the first ever Lee County Schools Honor Band. The dates of Jan. 12 and 13 were chosen and a decision was made that the event would be hosted in the V.E.S.P.A. (Venue for Educating Students in the Performing Arts) auditorium on the campus of Beauregard High School.
In the fall of 2023, Carlton Wright, band director at Alabama A & M University, and Regina Yates Raney, band director at Austin Middle School, were selected to be guest conductors for the inaugural event, with Wright directing students in grades 10-12 and Raney directing grades 7-9.
Students from Beauregard High School, Beulah High School, Loachapoka High School, Smiths Station Junior and Senior High Schools and Sanford Middle School were selected to comprise the Lee County Honor Band.
The original plan was to host a two-day event with rehearsals on both Friday and Saturday morning with the event culminating in a concert at 1 p.m. Saturday; however, because of the school closure on Friday, the practices and the concert all occurred on Saturday.
Students met at 9 a.m. and immediately began rehearsing. The first rehearsal session ran until noon. After being treated to lunch, it was back for a second rehearsal. Following a short break, the students presented a concert for the parents and community at 4 p.m.
Beauregard High School Principal Richard L. Brown Jr. welcomed the audience members, followed by comments by Hunter and board of education member Dr. Rusty Courson. According to event coordinators Gene Butler, John Hillsman and DeZayveon Dickerson, the event was a resounding success, providing a positive experience for the school system’s young musicians. For many students, it was their first honor band activity.
In addition to the event coordinators, band directors Belinda Wright, Chris Cox, Jason Hallberg, Michael Floyd and Alex Rochowski all assisted with hosting the event. Ken McConnell and Wendy Burroughs, president and treasurer, respectively, of the Beauregard Band Booster Club, Chef Jason Haywood, Lori Messer and Lucious Lapelis prepared and served lunch. Marcia Hillsman hosted the band directors and guest conductors for dinner and an evening of fellowship following the event.