Signups to join Milton’s Marching Black Panthers are underway until May 30. Band Director Mr. Ryan Hewitt and current members have been handing out flyers.
Any student in grades 8-12 can participate. Students who join make a core group of friends and they get better at music skills, they perform a lot and get to improve quickly, said Mr. Hewitt.
“On May 22 from 2-3 p.m. students who are new to band get a chance to come to the school and try it out,” said Mr. Hewitt. Students should expect a lot of support from Mr. Hewitt and instructors that will always be willing to help if needed.
This year’s band camp will be July 28- 31 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and August 4-7 in the high school band room. There will also be a rookie day on the Thursday before band camp, July 24, 8 a.m. -12 p.m.
“This year we are excited to have a new Color Guard instructor named Sara Segraves,” said Mr. Hewitt. “Coach Sara is a Milton alumni who did Color Guard for six years in Milton’s Marching Band and then taught Color Guard for Milton’s Marching Band after high school for a while.”
The theme for the marching band next year is Emo Barbie. “We are hoping it serves as a sequel to the Barbie movie,” Mr. Hewitt said.
Mr. Hewitt said he has been teaching for 18 years, and this is his fourth-year teaching at Milton. He said he would like to give encouragement to students who think they can’t do band. “You will see lots of improvement from the beginning to the end,” he added.
