Page 4 - Spirit of Batesville

4SS SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2015
SPIRIT OF BATESVILLE • THREE RIVERS EDITION OF THE ARKANSAS DEMOCRATGAZETTE
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Nearly 2,000 Lyon College Scots football fans turned out at Pioneer Stadium at Batesville High School for the team’s 2015 spring scrimmage game.The Scots will play a full football schedule for the first time in more than 60 years.
TRADITIONS
Continued from page 3SS
The band, under the direction of Monty Hill, has begun preparations not only for a marching band, but for concert and jazz bands as well.
Monty Hill, who was named Lyon’s director of bands earlier this year, is in awe of the task that lies in front of him.
“It is the most unique thing that I have ever been a part of,”Hill said of starting a college marching band. “I’m very excited.”
For the better part of 30 years, Hill has served as a band director, mostly for various high schools in Arkansas. His most recent stint outside the high school level was from 2007 through 2012, when he was band director at New Mexico State University.
Hill recognizes just how unique his initial job duties are, including the composition of the school’s fight song, which is already in the works, using the popular New Year’s song “Auld Lang Syne,” which was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns, as the melody.
Lyrics to the fight song are in the works.
Another task for Hill is to establish band-related traditions, such as choreographed cheers and dances. “To be able to be that person that creates all of that is really quite interesting,” Hill said. “We’ve had
great response from the students.”
Uniforms and equipment are on the way, and Hill
said that while the students will have input into the design of the uniform,“we will not march in kilts.”
The Pipe Band will also be involved in pregame activities, with the possibility of having both bands present on the field when the team takes the field. Hill also promised that the color guard, also known as the flag line, will be an integral part of new pregame rituals.
“Lyon College is doing things that no one has do- ne,” Hill said.“They have a certain identity, and I think that is very important to keep that.”
The school has equipped the band department with“a very healthy scholarship budget,”Hill said.“We are able to offer performance grants. [Prospective students] are very excited about that.”
The concer t band, named the Symphonic Winds, will launch in the fall as well, with the jazz band coming online in spring 2016.
In addition, two more residence halls will be avail- able for students when fall semester 2015 arrives.
Bruce Johnston, who serves as vice president of Student Life, said two buildings of equal size and ca- pacity are in the final stages of construction.
Wilson and Whiteside halls will be residences mostly for upperclassmen, Johnston said. One will house females, while the other will house males, though neither has been designated.
“It will probably be determined by the male and female balance, which we will determine in the sum- mer,” Johnston said.