The postponed football game, due to the power failure in Kingfisher, created challenges for the Kingfisher High School Band. KHS Band Director Dakota Horn said, “After we heard the game was rescheduled for Saturday, we began to evaluate the situation. Based on our conversations with students throughout the evening, and what we already knew about our students in general, we recognized that we were faced with a difficult scenario. We could count on two hands the number of students we knew would be available to participate at the game.”
Many of the students work jobs and participate in other school activities making a change of plans at the last minute difficult. Horn Said, “We believe in putting forth our best possible musical product, so after an hour-long discussion, I made the gut-wrenching decision to cancel all band participation for the game.” Horn messaged all of the band members about the situation and went to bed.
Saturday morning he reached out to Mandy Owens, the head Junior High Band director, and asked her opinion on trying to get a group together. She was on board. Horn began messaging students and parents and posted it on the Band Booster Facebook page.
Horn said, “Mrs. Owens had the idea of inviting Junior High kids. A band parent had the idea of inviting alumni. I invited Russell Harris, the Okarche band director, to bring his students over. By 10:00 I was able to announce that we would have a small band at the game. We met at 1:00, had a short rehearsal, and were ready to play the National Anthem, School Fight Song, and some other pep tunes for the game.”
Horn said, “I am proud to be a small school band director, and I must give major credit to my co-worker, Mandy Owens.”
