Sounds of the season by Hazel Green Trojan marching band
HAZEL GREEN- It is as much a part of high school football as the players and coaches on the field. Across Madison County band students are working after school to get in step, pass off their music, and get in the right formation.
At Hazel Green the marching band is under the direction of Patrick Harper who has been band director for 15 years. It is a special season for the marching Trojans. This year they get new uniforms for the first time in 13 years.
Harper said that the new uniforms will be ready in September and will have all the latest in fabric technology like breakaway straps and moisture wicking material built in.
“Uniforms on average will last about 10 years so we made the old ones last a little longer but we were sewing on pieces to get through the next game. It’s a $65,000 investment to do the whole band. We always take donations. We’ve had several businesses donate and we give them a plaque,” Harper said.
The band is marching 123 members the largest since Harper has been here.
Harper went to Bradshaw High School and UNA where he played in the marching band. He played clarinet in concert band and mellophone in marching band.
“I wanted to do a jazz show and so the show is called “Anything can swing” and includes familiar tunes everybody can relate to,” Harper said.
“We’re taking music from different genres and doing it in a swing jazz style. Our opener is Fur Elise by Beethoven, then Amazing Grace, some familiar tunes like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and swinging it, then some Michael Jackson with Beat It, Billie Jean and Bad.
It’s a fun type show because the kids can just lean back and wail. I’ve got one of the strongest horn lines I’ve ever had,” Harper said.
The band went through two weeks of band camp in July under some of the hottest weather of the summer.
“The kids have been great. They came out ready to work and I was proud of them.”
The band’s first performance will be at Buckhorn on Sept.1 then at home against Columbia on Sept. 8.
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