SAKS High School band director honored by magazine for making a difference
By
Dan Whisenhunt
Star Staff Writer
02-07-2008
He waves his baton, twisting his wrists, managing the music in front of him. Gene Inglis moves like an engineer, turning an invisible knob for more treble, holding the bass drum at bay with a flat hand. The Saks High School band director stops his students often. Sometimes it's to make adjustments. But sometimes he pauses to marvel at his young musicians. His teaching style recently earned him a spot as one of the 50 band "Directors Who Make a Difference" in School Band and Orchestra magazine. The magazine recognizes a director from each state in December of every year, but Inglis is clueless about who nominated him. And, to hear him tell it, it's his students who deserve praise.
"I don't always stop because it's bad," Inglis told his students Wednesday after he stopped them in the middle of practicing for a district band competition. "It's so good." Inglis calls himself the "blue collar band director," saying he's not great, but he works hard. He grew up in Stevenson, got his degree at Jacksonville State University and led bands in Rome, Ga., for nearly 30 years. He came back to Calhoun County in 2003 after retiring so he could be closer to family. For the last four years, he's led the Saks High School band to superior ratings in district two concert Band Assessment. He's getting his students ready to do it again. "You have a whole lot more confidence in here than you do in a performance setting," he told his students. "You have to carry your confidence with you." Clark Hunt, who's finishing up his music education degree at JSU, was once a student of Inglis in Rome. Now he's a student teacher in his class. He has a hard time picturing himself without the influence of his mentor. "He taught me to be an adolescent growing into a man through music," Hunt said. "He taught me responsibility, and leadership and selflessness toward others and the music as well." Tandria Briskey, whose daughter Jerelle Boyd plays saxophone at Saks, said Inglis is "down to earth. You can talk to him." "I think that he's brought pride back into the band," Briskey said. "I think he's also elevated the band." |
January 28, 2008
Congratulations go to the following Saks Band students for competing in the Alabama Bandmasters Association’s All-State Band competition this past Saturday at Jacksonville High School.
The following students were named to the ABA All-State Band:
Byron Jackson - Percussion
Ashley Smyre – Bass Clarinet
Jasmine Simmons – Clarinet
Sierra Coleman – Alternate Flute
And the following students won membership in the ABA All-District II Honor Band:
Byron Jackson
Ashley Smyre
Jasmine Simmons
Sierra Coleman
Courtney Duncan
Kirsten Steward
Hunter Burns
Announcement: October 29, 2007
Saks H.S. Band: G. Inglis, Director
Congratulations goes to our band for receiving all superior ratings at the Concourse of Champions Marching Contest held at Oxford High School this past Saturday. The band, drum line, and drum major were named 1st place in class competition. In overall competition, the band placed 3rd out of all classes. Congratulations on a great job!
Announcement
October 1, 2007
Saks H.S. Band
G. Inglis, Director
Congratulations go to our band for receiving all superior ratings each division of competition (band, drum major, color guard, and percussion) at the Mid-South Marching Festival in Gadsden, AL on September 29, 2007. The band missed best in class competition by less than one point (.37) in a field of 13 bands in class 2A. In overall competition, the band scored put them 5th out of 37 bands in all classes. Congratulations on a great job!
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