new shs band leader introduced at meeting

Newly-hired Seymour High School band instructor Rhett Butler was introduced to SHS band members and their parents Tuesday night at a Seymour High School Band Booster Club Meeting that drew a standing-room-only crowd in the high school cafeteria.

Booster club leaders and SHS students welcomed the 28-year old Butler with countless handshakes and hugs as hotdogs and hamburgers cooked on the grill outside at the first official booster club meeting of 2008.

Butler said he’s appreciative of such a cordial welcoming from the community.

“Everyone has been really warm so far,” Butler remarked. “There seems to be a lot of energy and a buzz in the air. I’m excited to meet everybody.

“I’m sure I’ll learn a lot of names and I’ll forget a lot of names tonight. I’m not overwhelmed yet but I’m sure I will be before it’s over.”

The SHS band’s booster club president John Staser said Tuesday’s gathering was an occasion everyone involved with the band has been looking forward to for some time now.

“Tonight is the kickoff of our year,” said Staser. “This is a new parent-welcoming meeting and it gives everyone a chance to finally meet Mr. Butler, our new band leader.”

Butler, who was formerly the drum instructor at Karns High School, was hired last month to replace popular former SHS band leader Michael Carter.

Although this will be Butler’s first job as a high school band leader, optimism and excitement surrounding the future of the SHS band appears to be at an all-time high.

“Oh man, parents and students are so excited about this guy,” Staser commented. “All of the kids haven’t met him yet but the ones who have all seem to really be excited to have him as their new leader.”

Staser said Tuesday’s meeting gave all parties—Butler, the booster club, the students and the parents—an opportunity to get on the same page before the 2008-09 school year gets really cranked up.

“He’s going to lay down the ground rules and we’re going to lay down the ground rules,” Staser added.

The Seymour High School band is arguably the best kept secret in the county. Under Carter’s tutelage, the SHS band finished in the top 10 nationally—based on judges scores at various USSBA team competitions—in each of the past two years.

“Obviously, we have some very talented kids here,” said Tom Fitzharris, a band parent who said he’s kind of taken on the role as “the band’s PR guy”. “We were ranked 8^th in the nation last year. I don’t think there are too many other groups around here that can say that.

“The biggest challenge for us is for this band to continue what Mr. Carter started and for the band to stay nationally-ranked,” Fitzharris continued. “So far all of the parents and kids feel like (Rhett Butler) is going to bring it. He’s young, energetic, excited and very talented.”

Rebecca Hatmaker, a rising junior flute player in the SHS band, said although Carter will be missed, it seems like all the returning band members have the utmost confidence in their new leader.

“I think he’s awesome,” Hatmaker commented. “He gives us a chance to reach a new level and build on what we’ve got. Mr. Butler is like a new dad to us because everyone in band is like a family.”

Rising junior French horn player Fallon Whaley said from what she’s seen so far, it looks like Butler can not only help the band stay at a high level, but he might be able to add another dimension to it.

“He’s into a lot of stuff that Mr. Carter wasn’t,” said Whaley. “He’s into more visual stuff but he’s also a percussionist like Mr. Carter. This is his first band and I think he’s going to make us really good.

“We’ll have an amazing show with an amazing new director. It’s going to be a great year,” Whaley added.

Fitzharris added that the booster club wants to promote the upcoming Foothills Classic—an annual band competition scheduled for October 4 that Fitzharris claims is the most widely attended single event in the county year-in, year-out—as an occasion for the entire Seymour community to come together and celebrate the SHS band’s success.

He said he expects up to 3,000 spectators and some of the best high school bands around to be at this year’s Foothills Classic.