THE ARTS are an important part of any school program, and the fine arts department in the Coffee County School District has a wealth of opportunities for students to engage in. One of these opportunities is through music, whether that be in marching band, concert band, jazz band, or one of several choirs.
Fine arts department head and choir director Erica Petersen, said that some students get involved with music to fulfill a credit, and some follow their siblings into the program. She said the students that grow up in the arts are well rounded, and appreciate the culture around them more.
“People are surrounded by art wheth- er they realize it or not,” Petersen said. “You can’t even walk into a painted room without an artist having, you know, de- signed that color – can’t walk into a room without an architect having designed that room.”
Petersen directs several choirs, includ- ing a concert choir, a women’s chorale, and a show choir, all of which perform at concerts during the school year. Some of the more advanced groups also occasion- ally perform in the community.
Music opportunities at Coffee Coun- ty Central High School are performance centered, said band director Luke Simpson, and opportunities for instrumental music are year round. The Red Raider Band is heavily involved in community parades, and the concert band performs several times throughout the spring se- mester. Simpson has been director since 2018, and said he believes music has a profound impact on people.
“Music, like any art form, can move people emotionally in a unique way,” Simpson said. “We all can tie memories to specific songs, maybe unconsciously, and hearing the music can awaken those for us. While not every song can move ev- ery person, every person can be moved by at least one song.” -GN
