Pride of Granbury

When Jeremy Ross arrived as Granbury High School principal in 2010, one of the first orders from then-Superintendent Ron Mayfield was to “help grow the band.”

At the time, only 25 eighth-grade students from the two middle schools had signed up to continue band in high school.

“The band was the weakest prong of an otherwise extremely strong fine arts program including choir, theater and visual arts,” Ross said.

Oklahoma native and experienced Texas public school band director Mark Eastin was ushered in to lead Granbury band.

Today, more than 200 students perform in the high school marching band, the “Pride of Granbury.”

“The hiring of Mr. Eastin, along with the continued support of central administration, the school board and band parents, has elevated the band to one of the best in the state,” said Ross, a former band director.

Ross said it’s not all about numbers.

“But it does make me proud to know that our Pride of Granbury is more than 200 students strong now,” he said. “More than that, though, as with any extracurricular program to which a student is invested emotionally and financially, band provides a ‘home base’ as well as an accountability group.

“Students who commit to their extracurricular programs are more likely to have good attendance, good grades and will almost always finish high school on time and many with honors.”

CONSISTENT WINNER

The band is a perennial award winner, receiving top honors in regional and area marching competitions. The band has also won sweepstakes honors, receiving first division ratings in University Interscholastic League (UIL) marching, concert and sightreading performances.

COVID-19 has disrupted the schools and related programs, including the band.

Classes closed last spring and delayed opening this year. The band didn’t have much time to prepare for the first football game.

“We had about 13 hours of rehearsals this year,” Eastin said. “We normally have about 50 to 60 hours of rehearsal time.”

The planned show, “What the World Needs,” was shelved in place of the less extensive production “Smile.”

Because of COVID-19 concerns, the band has not packed into school buses and traveled to out-of-town games. At home games they perform before the game and limit the number in the stands.

Eastin chose to focus on community performances instead of UIL competitions. Marching bands advance in UIL contests every other year. Next year is the year Granbury can advance.

Three weeks ago the band shut down temporarily because of the number of COVID-19 cases. More than 20 band students were out because they had come in contact with people, mostly family, outside the school day.

“That cost us our first community performance,” Eastin said. The band, however, regrouped and performed Friday night for the community in Pirate Stadium.

“The kids have rolled with it,” Eastin said. “The kids have been great knowing this is a year like none other that we’ve seen.”

Eastin is hoping for normalcy next school year. The show “What the World Needs” is planned for next football season.

‘FLAGSHIP PROGRAM’

Superintendent Jeremy Glenn said the band is one of the “flagship programs” of Granbury ISD.

“I have been incredibly impressed with Mr. Eastin and his entire staff in moving the program forward and teaching the kids about how to earn success,” the superintendent said. “In my two years in Granbury, I have seen our band kids highly motivated to be not just good - but great. Each year brings a new layer of learning and achievement that will pay off in big dividends for all of these students.”

GISD Communications Director Jeff Meador has witnessed the band’s growth.

“I love seeing the band perform not just on the marching field but also in the concert hall,” he said. “We have not only a great high school program but also strong groups at the middle schools. They have all been challenged this year due to COVID-19, but the directors and students have overcome quite a bit to continue their learning and training.”

Awhile back, Eastin took time to reflect on his long teaching career.

“I have come to cherish these days spent with the best kids in the world,” he wrote. “As my career in this crazy business now seems to have a shelf life I am more and more mindful of how lucky I am to be able to share my passion with students and parents who are just as passionate as I about this thing called band.

“I was apparently born to spend Saturdays on a bus, going somewhere to make art on a football field ... to find new levels of success, overcome past challenges and seek excellence ... most importantly we get to do this thing we love with those we love and share in the joy of performance with our band family ... we celebrate with our fellow competitors the love of the activity and share in knowing the hours of hard work and dedication that each has put into this day, making everyone a champion in their own right.”