As Pine Belt schools wrapped up this year’s band camps, there are many performances to look forward to this school year.
Oak Grove High School band director Jerry Pickering said band camp is a chance for students to get help and focus on the fundamental skills of music, marching and movement.
“They will apply these skills and concepts into the fall season show,” Pickering said.
The OGHS band’s fall season production is called “Sleight of Hand,” and will include songs like “Pure Imagination” from the 1971 film, “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.”
“The show depicts scenes and a story from a magic show, and it will use original music composed by Mark Waymire,” Pickering said.
Sumrall High School’s camp also focused on fundamentals, according to Sumrall band director William Garner. He said the band’s fall season show is called, “Go West” and they will perform famous western themes from movies like “Magnificent 7,” “Blazing Saddles,” “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” and much more.
“It should be fun music for any audience,” Garner said.
Keeping with the theme of fundamentals, Hattiesburg High School’s band focused on building the skills and strengths every band performer needs. Hattiesburg High band director Fredrick Hawkins said during this summer’s band camp they were focusing on rebuilding because many of the students in the band are freshmen and need a boost.
“We are basically rebuilding the program and reestablishing what it means to be a marching band,” Hawkins said. “(the band) has kind of gotten away from it in the past couple of years, and we are trying to reestablish the greatness I heard Hattiesburg (High band) used to be.”
The HHS band’s fall show is inspired by the discography of Bruno Mars. Hawkins said his music is something people young and old can relate to.
