Bobcat Band Excels Under Director to Area Championships

There are a couple of really good reasons the Central High School Bobcats band will advance to area competition in Lubbock on Saturday, San Angelo ISD Superintendent Carol Ann Bonds said.

Reason One: Band Director Joey Ashbrook.

Reason Two: The talented students Ashbrook has personally recruited from feeder San Angelo ISD middle schools over the past couple of years. 

The fact that the CHS Bobcats band advanced in the University Interscholastic League competition this past weekend is a validation of Ashbrook’s enthusiastic approach to teaching band, the superintendent said.

“We are thrilled about this,” Bonds said Monday. “It is a really big deal to get past that first round last weekend. I’m especially proud because they can only compete every other year.”

This weekend, the CHS Bobcats face tough competition: Odessa Permian, Midland High School, Midland Lee, Amarillo High School, Lubbock Coronado, Frenship, Lubbock Monterey, Abilene High School and Odessa High School.

Only two of the bands that perform on the weekend will be selected to participate in the state competition at the Alamodome in San Antonio Nov. 2-3.

Ashbrook said the trick to successful band competitions is keeping students motivated without getting scared.

“They were a little intimidated last Saturday, “ he acknowledged. “With area competition this next weekend we need to keep them excited and pushing for more perfection in drill and music.”

Bonds said Ashbrook is definitely on top of his game. 

The former marine is well known for his teaching skills and ability to help a band advance to state competition — a large reason he was recruited to this job, she said.

“We hired Mr. Ashbrook over two years ago” the superintendent said. “What he brought to the table was the knowledge of what it takes to win. He knows exactly what kind of show has to be put on for the judges. He knows the best way the flag should be positioned. He knew how to improve a drum line.”

Ashbrook distinguishes himself with the specific recruitment plan he has for his students, Bonds said.

Bonds said Ashbrook has worked each year to increase the quality and size of the band by recruiting the best and most talented middle school students to participate on the high school level.

“He and his assistant band directors go to the two feeder middle schools and teach the beginning band classes,” she said. “They requested they be allowed to do that. They are building relationships with the young students. It has allowed him to put on a really superior show.”

For Ashbrook, music has always been a labor of love. During a Monday interview, he said he wanted to become a band director very early in life. His career started in Colorado City on a path that eventually led him to Coppell, where he spent 23 years as band director. 

It is from Coppell that Bonds recruited him. 

“I wasn’t looking to leave Coppell,” Ashbrook said. “ … But Dr. Bonds called me one day when I was on vacation in the mountains and said, ‘Young man, you’re about to come work for me, even though you don’t know it yet. You and I need to meet.'”

Bonds convinced Ashbrook to take the job fairly quickly. Ashbrook said he threw his clothes into big black trash bags, drove down to San Angelo, lived in a hotel for a few weeks and started his job almost immediately.

“Since then, things have been going very well,” he said.

Meanwhile, the band’s improved standing is greatly appreciated by area parents, many of whom have announced their intentions to line up the streets of San Angelo around 10:45 a.m. Saturday in support of the Central High School Bobcats band’s weekend competition in Lubbock.

A publicly circulated email from Robert Garcia urges as many people as possible to be part of the lineup and cheer the students on. 

Those recruited to participate include the school’s football team, the Tex-Anns, cheerleaders, various alumni, and CHS staff. Participants are asked to bring signs, banners, and various other noisemaking devices.

“The Mighty Bobcat Band 18-wheeler will lead the pack,” the email reads. “Everyone is invited to attend the competition in Lubbock at Lowrey Field.”

 A video of the Bobcat band by Charles Ditmore may be viewed here.

John Basquez contributed to this report.