By Traci Chapman
Managing Editor
Okarche’s band program is making its mark both on its students and beyond the district at large – and it’s an achievement even more notable due to the fact that six years ago the district had no band program at all.
The school and the community at large do have an instrumental music history. Photos provide evidence of a community band dating back to 1914. Something happened, however, and for about 30 years the district did not offer a band program – until 2017, when administrators put a plan in place to change that.
It started small, and with a different director. Ryan Seibert helmed the fledgling program until leaving before the 2020 fall semester for a job in Newcastle.
That left an opening – and an opportunity – for someone Russell Harris. He’s made the program his own, while creating an enthusiasm among students that’s led to growing participation and new opportunities. They are opportunities that have shown band members what a difference music can make in their educational journey and in their lives.
In the two years he has been at Okarche Public School District, Harris has shown them that much and more, Superintendent Josh Sumrall said recently – and in the process has turned the program into something recognized by schools much larger than his own.
“We’ve been so happy about what’s going on with our band, with our program and what it offers the students,” Sumrall said last month. “Mr. Harris has invested himself in their success and so has the district in a bigger sense.”
That bigger sense is a million dollar band room nearing completion, something that when ready will provide facilities some larger schools don’t enjoy. But for now, on a Thursday morning, Harris and his 15-member high school band is practicing where they do each day – in the annex of the school’s gymnasium.
That circumstance hasn’t proven a hindrance. Last year was the first Okarche has presented a winter guard team – an eight-member group that wowed judges and audiences alike earlier this year, as they won competition after competition. It was an incredible start and just one example of how Harris wanted to expand opportunities in Okarche.
That was just the beginning, however. Harris said last year he hoped to introduce a marching program in Okarche; he beat that timeline this year when for the first time, perhaps in school history but at least in anyone’s memory, the school presented a marching band in competition.
“We were so excited about how we did – the kids put in tons of hard work as they prepared for the competition and to do as well as they did was really, really exciting,” Harris said. “I was so proud of them.”
That competition was the Oklahoma State Fair Parade competition. Okarche placed 2nd in Class 2A and its three-person drumline placed second in a specific drumline category. While it was a short marching season – Harris said the band did not plan to participate in any other competitions this year – it gave students a chance to actually march and to feel the pride of accomplishing something new.
The band this year also is playing pep tunes in the stands at Kingfisher High School football games.
“We do not currently have any field show competitions planned for this year, as we do not have a full marching band just yet,” Harris said.
Okarche’s program also extends beyond the 15 high school band members, the director said. About 54 are enrolled in band throughout OPS, a growing number he is anticipating will only go up.
“That number will increase for the next two years as we add another grade level each year,” Harris said.
For larger bands immersed in marching band, October is the height of that season – but with an abbreviated program, it gives Harris and his students a chance to delve deeper into a variety of musical selections and concert band. The work they are doing now will be on full display at 7 p.m. Oct. 20 in a concert to be held in Okarche High School gym.
“Our beginning band will perform and our advanced band will join our high school band to play new pep tunes,” he said.
Students also have excelled beyond Okarche, with two sophomores eligible to audition for All-State Honor Band and Small School All-State Honor Band, Harris said.
“We also have 17 students total auditioning for red carpet honor band, and 16 students auditioning for All Area Honor Band,” he said. “Those auditions are taking place at the end of this month and the first of November.”
