New director has been hired, band camp has started and finished. I've spoken to a few students who seem to like the new guy, spoken to a few directors that know him and he's known to be...well, pompous and self-absorbed.
At the end of the day, it's a 1 year contract. I'm sure there will be an option for more years at the end of the contract, but it was set up this time as a 1 year. We'll see how he does, I won't pass final judgment until halfway through the season, both for Marching Band and Basketball Band.
Ultimately, my concern remains the same. Professors in the School of Music who continue to look down their nose at the Athletic Bands and prevent them from being advertisements for our school. It's a systemic issue that is often present in higher level music instruction that holds the philosophy that athletic bands do not play "real music." Sometimes, that concern can be well founded, often it's not. Put a quality band director in front of an ensemble and, choose quality music, and watch what's possible. I'd like to reiterate it isn't all of the professors, but a very large number of them.
It's frustrating to watch it happen, especially after having been in the ensemble under a great teacher and having been there when the new director of bands (Roby George) was hired and what happened the very same semester he started. There's a correlation here. I hope the university wakes up in time to fix it before the damage is irreparable.
