Hope Kiwanis Club Hears Program From “The Sound of Hope”

The Hope Kiwanis Club heard from Christian Davis, head band director for the Hope Public Schools along with band directors Bryan Silva and Woody Boyd.  Mr. Davis said the band is “doing awesome” this year.  He has been at Hope five years but they missed a year due to COVID.  Mr. Davis says when the directors arrive in the morning, it’s not unusual to have twenty or so students working on getting the band ready for practice.

Hope HIgh’s marching band is known as “The Sound of Hope”.  Mr. Davis says there are about 90 students in the marching band this year, up from about 70 last year.  There are 12 seniors, 15 juniors, with the sophomores and freshmen each having about 30 in the band    Further down there is about 40 kids in 8th grade, 60 to 70 in 7th, and 108 in the 6th grade.  Mr. Davis noted the school provides everything for the band students.

The band will be marching at the Hope ballgame Friday night against the Nashville Scrappers in Hope.  Mr. Davis termed this year’s halftime program as a thematic presentation about inner beauty.  He urged all the Kiwanians to come out and support the band.  Mr. Davis says the band is 4 to 6 weeks ahead of where they were this time last year.

The band has a variety of contests coming up.  These will include a couple in Texarkana, September 21st at Cabot, the 28th at Bryant, Glen Rose, Paragould, Lake Hamilton, and Hooks, Texas at the “Fire Ant Classic”.

Mr. Davis noted there are five directors and the band has 3 drum majors. He also detailed the leadership structure of the band within the band.  Mr. Davis says all the students in band have leadership qualities.

After marching season the band will be in concert season.  The jazz band is meeting daily now to work on their music.

Mr. Davis closed by encouraging the club members to come see the band every chance they get this year.