farragutpress

Admirals rockin’ program for 2025

September 24, 2025 by Michelle Hollenhead, Correspondent

If it takes a village to raise a child, then perhaps it takes a Town to properly raise a band.

From the administration and staff, to its members and their parents, a collective cohort works behind the scenes year-round to ensure the Farragut High School Marching Admirals has everything it needs to create award-winning programs.

That effort was never more clear than this past Saturday, when in its first competition of the season, FHS won second place in percussion and third place band in the Clinch River Classic in Clinton.

“The students in our program are extraordinary and some of the best students Farragut High School has to offer,” said Andrew Smith, who is an eight-year educator and in his first year as director of bands at FHS.

“We are a pretty well-rounded group with students across all grade levels,” he said.

The Marching Admirals perform during halftime at every home football game, and also will have three additional upcoming competitions. 

This year’s program is “Heart of Glass,” which was chosen at the end of the 2024-25 school year and announced during the year-end band banquet in May, according to band member Chloe Pippin, who is in her second year on drum set in the front ensemble and is just one of 159 Marching Band members.

The show “is very immersive, and a general story that everyone can relate to,” Smith said. “While it features some music by the Blondie song of the same name, it also has music by Nirvana, Coldplay and other artists. 

“The general story [is of] this person with a full heart, suffering heartbreak, then finding the pieces of their heart and putting them back together,” he continued. “We do this in a literal sense as well.”

During Saturday’s competition, the full scope of program props were present for the first time, and they will be in use during the Oct. 3 half-time show.

“The timeline of putting together a halftime show of this nature takes months to plan and make happen,” Smith said. “There are a plethora of details to consider, from

the composition/arranging to the drill writing to the choreography, not to mention the uniforms, flags and all the other details. It is extremely complex. 

“Luckily, we have a great team to help put it all together: Rodney Brown (assistant director) and I work collaboratively planning the details

and making them happen with our staff.” 

Additionally, he noted the band had “a one-week camp in June, followed by a two-week camp in July with practice in class every day. 

“We also have rehearsals after school every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.”

Parent involvement is an ongoing factor, too. Smith estimated between 20 and 30 parents are regular and constant volunteers.

‘It really sounds like a lot, but we truly need more parents on a regular basis,” Smith said. “These parents help with concessions at games, chaperoning the band, the logistics of getting the instruments and band from point A to point B, making props, planning fundraisers, etc. 

“There are so many moving parts necessary for just 7:40 of a halftime show and the kids to play in the stands.” 

Barbara Pyle is in her fourth year as a parent volunteer, and is currently head chaperone, overseeing the uniforms and first aid, is the treasurer’s assistant II on the Booster Board and also helps coordinate busses for trips, along with other “odds and ends,” she said. 

Pyle said she helped revamp the costume inventory portion of the organization last year, “with the help of many volunteers” and specifically calls out fellow parent “Jeannette Wilson, who has helped me a ton this year.”

Pyle’s son Aidan plays clarinet – an instrument she also played in high school – while her younger son, Christopher, plays the trombone.

“My parents didn’t really attend my band activities and I wanted Aidan to know I was there,” she said of her initial involvement.  “I just didn’t realize how ‘there’ I was going to be! But I love it and I love the kids and seeing them grow in their talent together.”

Tom Nielander is another parent volunteer who started five years ago when his now graduated daughter, Maegan, played clarinet, and has continued with his son, Chris, who is currently a junior and plays a baritone when marching and a euphonium when not marching. 

“My wife Kristy noted the boosters were looking for help to prepare for the parent cook out, which brings the families in for the first time after the two week band camp at the beginning of every year,” Nielander said. “So after that, I joined the pit crew that helps move the band for the home game halftime shows and for the competitions, along with typically building / assembling the field props.”

Nielander also “enjoys driving  one of the two 26’ trucks that are needed to move the marching band, helping with concessions, approaching businesses to be band sponsors, repairing miscellaneous items as the directors need and other support items, but the most important is be a parent by being present in something [our kids] love.” 

His other roles have included serving as Booster Board vice present of operations and president, along with various chair positions. 

“The booster boards activities seem to roll year round to ensure the planning is complete before each part of the year, as we support the band from Marching season, through Fall, Winter concert season, other various activities and ending with a banquet to bring all back together one last time at the end for a meal, superlatives, awards, laughs and get to know next year’s theme, and sadly, say goodbye to our outgoing seniors,” he added.

“There is so much to do and we have many great volunteers that I work alongside and have a great time hanging out and watching these amazing kids perform,” Nielander continued. “[The students] are the reason I put all my time into this, it makes it so worth it to see them smile after a performance.”  

Band members themselves bring their own brand of hard work, aptitude and attitudes to the program. 

“Marching band is fairly hard due to the long practices multiple days a week,” Pippin said. “Over summer it is really hot and for the people who are marching, it can be very tiring.”

However she adds, she “likes marching band because of the community it provides and I love seeing how the show comes together at the end of the season.”

Kai Phan, who plays synthesizer, agrees that “band is definitely full of struggle and sacrifice, and that’s something that helps connect everyone. Although it can get hard, it means one big family to me, [along with], legacy, remembrance, memory, and a love for music. 

“I have a place here, and I have value here. Some people never get the chance to feel that, especially not in high school.”