Hixson High concert band from 1973 annual.
Six from the 1973 band returned as alumni, including director Frank Hale.
Brass players stood during grand finale of "Stars and Stripes Forever."
“A hundred years is a L-O-N-G time,” said Clark “Skip” Houck as he introduced the next act on the program at Hixson High School’s Centennial Celebration on Saturday, April 18.
The group next to perform was the Hixson High Alumni Band, comprised of former members whose graduations spanned the decades of the 1970’s to the 2000’s. Current school band mates also played alongside their predecessors.
The event was organized by band alumna Karen Ray Bowles. For many of the alumni, it was a another chance to be led by their former band director, Frank Hale, who taught at Hixson for twenty-six years beginning in the fall of 1972.
The aforementioned Skip Houck directed the group between 1969 and 1972, and performed with the alumni band. Both Mr. Hale and Mr. Houck have continued to be active in music, with both being part of the Jericho Brass band. Former assistant band director Rick Rushworth played tuba with the group.
The group met for rehearsals on two evenings in the school band room. One person drove up from Birmingham in order to be part of the event. The band included a mix of musicians who still play in community bands and church orchestras, and those who had just decided to renew their love of music.
During rehearsal, Mr. Hale commented on how well that the group still played, and felt that the audience would like the sound. “They’ll be throwing babies in the air!” shouted one percussionist with excitement.
Musical selections were the Hixson High alma mater (“In the thriving town of Hixson, reared against the sky, proudly stands our dear old high school, as the years go by…”), “America the Beautiful,” “Tennessee Salute,” “The Washington Post,” and “Stars and Stripes Forever.”
The music was well-received by a large crowd of Hixson alumni, with one person asking if the group had recorded a CD. Answer: not yet.
Reflecting on the value of music in the schools and everywhere else in life, Skip Houck said, "The most wonderful thing about music is that you can enjoy it at some level until you rest in the pine box. You can play, listen, study, collect, share, and critique music all your life. It the short time I taught public school music, I hope I convinced a few students that music...and all that goes with it...is a noble undertaking. It is a grand expression of our culture, our values, our hopes, our faith, and our participation in the human race. It is also a way for many people of all backgrounds and life pursuits to come together with a common goal. That happens so rarely in our culture. Beginner, pro, teacher, student, artist, novice...the desired end result is all the same: beautiful music!"
Being back at one’s alma mater, and again playing in the band, may be as close to “Back to the Future” as it gets. If you have memories of the Hixson High Band, please contact me at jolleyh@bellsouth.net. The group may reconvene for future performances, and is compiling a roster of former members.
If you are a former school musician who is looking for a community band in which to play, the following is a partial list of some options. The director is shown in parentheses, and rehearsal information follows. If you know of other groups, please send me an e-mail at jolleyh@bellsouth.net and I will update the list.
TRADITIONAL BAND AND ORCHESTRA MUSIC
Metro Musicians (Bobby Dugan)
Contact Bobby at rdugan@comcast.net
Mondays, 7:30p to 9:00p at Central High band room
Mid-South Concert Band (Jim Souders)
http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/Stage/4931/Band0228.html
Thursdays, 7:15p to 9:00p at Rossville Middle band room
Senior Neighbors Orchestra (Herman May)
http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_146696.asp
BRASS BAND
Jericho Brass (Frank Hale)
www.jerichobrassband.com
Mondays, 7:30p – 9:30p
Salvation Army Citadel on N. Moore Road across from Brainerd High
SWING / JAZZ BAND
American Legion Post 95 East Ridge (Charlie Heintz)
No rehearsals. Group performs for dances on first Saturdays, and other events.
Contact Don Worley at wdonfran@aol.com
Instrumental Magic (Dave Davidson)
http://instrumentalmagic.com
Monday Night Big Band (Paul Lohorn)
http://cmnbb.com/
Spectrum (Erskine Peoples)
Meets Saturdays at 12:30p in lower level of Bessie Smith Hall
Sweet Georgia Sound (Mike LaRoche)
www.sweetgeorgiasound.com
Meets per rehearsal calendar in lower level of First Baptist Fort Oglethorpe
MUSICALS
24601 Orchestra (Mike LaRoche)
Provides orchestra for semi-annual Leap of Faith musicals
at St. Luke United Methodist Church
Contact Mike at mlaroche@comcast.net
Signal Mountain Playhouse (Sandy Morris)
www.smph.org
CHURCHES
Several churches in the area have full-time or seasonal bands and orchestras. Among them are:
Dallas Bay Baptist Church
www.dbbc.org
First Baptist Church Fort Oglethorpe (Mike LaRoche)
www.fbcfo.org
Hixson United Methodist Church (Harmon Jolley/Jeanne Sauer)
www.hixsonumc.org
Red Bank Baptist Church (Don Dameron)
www.redbankbaptist.org
TRAVELING WORSHIP GROUP
Tabernacle Symphony of Praise
www.tabernacleworship.com