Directors

The Virginia High School Bearcat Band is under the direction of Mr. Tom Hopson.  This is Mr. Hopson's ninth year at Virginia High School.  Under Mr. Hopson's direction, the Virginia High Schools Band has consistently received Superior Ratings at local, regional and national events and contests, in both concert and marching band.  The Band has also increased its size from 35 members to over 100 members.  Under Mr. Hopson's direction, the band program now offers a full-time percussion class as a part of the curriculum at Virginia High School.  In the summer of 2004 the Virginia High Band participated in the National Independence Day Parade on July 4th in Washington, D.C. on the recommendation of Governor Mark Warner.  Over the New Year of 2006, the band traveled to represent the United States in London, England in the Lord Mayor's Day Parade.  In the fall of 2008, the band traveled to Baltimore, MD where they competed in the USSBA Nationals.  In 2007 and 2008, the Bristol Virginia City School System was selected as one of America's "Best 100 Communities for Music Education".  This achievement was recognized by the NAMM Foundation and the American Music Conference.

A native of Elizabethton, TN. Mr. Hopson graduated from the East Tennessee State University, with a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education.  Mr. Hopson's major instrument is the trumpet.  While attending East Tennessee State University, Mr. Hopson served as Principle Trumpet in the East Tennessee State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Paul Hinman.  Mr. Hopson has also participated in the first ever Conduction Symposium hosted by East Tennessee State University featuring Dr. Jack Stamp and Dr. Christian Zembower as clinicians.  He also served as Scholastic Chair of the Iota Omicron Chapter of Lambda Chi Alpha.  Mr. Hopson also marched with the DCI Finalists, Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps.  Mr. Hopson currently serves as the Virginia State Representative for the Carolina Indoor Performance Association (CIPA).  Mr. Hopson is also a member of MENC, VBODA, VMEA, and is an active judge for the Kentucky Music Educators Association State Marching Festival, the North Carolina Band Association, and is active as a clinician and consultant.

Previous to his tenure at Virginia High School, Mr. Hopson was Director of Bands at Linkhorne Middle School, Lynchburg, VA.  Mr. Hopson also served in capacity with the E.C. Glass High School Band in Lynchburg, VA.  Mr. Hopson has also served on staff for various marching bands around the area including:  Elizabethton High School, Tennessee High School, Bassett High School and Dobyns-Bennett High School.

Mr. Hopson currently resides in Upper East Tennessee with his wife Taleah and their dogs, Max and Miles.

Ben Parks, VMS Band Director

Ben Parks has taught for twelve years in Virginia and nine of those years have been at Virginia Middle School.  Mr. Parks taught one year in Lee County Schools and two years in Roanoke County Schools.  Mr. Parks graduated with honors from Virginia Tech in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education.  At Virginia Middle School, Mr. Parks has grown the band program from 90 students to over 180 students.  One third of the school is involved in the band program and half of the school is in the music department at Virginia Middle School.  Under Mr. Parks' direction, his concert bands have consistently received superior and excellent ratings at state concert band festivals.  Mr. Parks' usually has 15-20 of his students to make the All-District VII Concert Bands every year and he usually sends 5-6 students to the Virginia Tech Honor Band every year.  Mr. Parks has been nominated for the past three years for Teacher-of-the-Year at Virginia Middle School and has been recognized three times in the Who's Who Among America's Teacher.  Mr. Parks also taught French horn for three summers at the Mid-Atlantic Middle School camps at Ferrum College.  Mr. Parks has been selected to be a guest clinician for the Sullivan All-County Band, Buchanan All-County Band, and East Tennessee 7th Grade Clinic Band.  Mr. Parks is a member of Delta Omiron, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Music Educator National Conference, Virginia Band and Orchestra Director's Association, Virginia Education Association, and Bristol Virginia Education Association. 

Mr. Parks lives in Bristol, VA with his wife, Susan, and son, Nathan.

staff

Kit Chatham, Percussion Arranger, Consultant
www.kitchatham.com