The Meridian Public School District introduced its new band director for the Wildcats of War marching band, as well as revealed new band uniforms and choir robes Monday during a press conference announcing enhancements to the district’s arts initiatives.

The arts upgrades also include adding theater and media arts classes to the high school curriculum and a full-time dance teacher at Carver Elementary School, said MPSD District Arts Director Antonio Altman.

MPSD Superintendent Amy J. Carter and the Board of Trustees have been incredibly supportive of the arts, Altman said.

“The new uniforms for band and choir, new instruments and facility upgrades are tangible examples of their commitment to providing our students with the best resources to excel in their artistic pursuits,” he said. “These improvements will not only enhance student performances but also boost the morale and pride of our students.”

During the press conference, MHS graduate Joshua Reed was introduced as the high school’s new band director, replacing Altman who previously served as band director. Reed, who had been serving as assistant band director of the marching and concert bands since 2020, officially took the helm of the Wildcat Band on July 1.

“I am excited to introduce him,” Altman said, noting Reed was a perfect fit for the position with his experience as both a student performer and as assistant director. “He’s a former student, so it just makes my heart overjoyed just to see him be able to take this position.”

Reed earned his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education from Alcorn State University, where he was an integral member of ASU’s Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Marching Band. He received his Master of Music in Music Education from William Carey University and currently is pursuing a doctorate in music from William Carey.

“I am thrilled about this opportunity,” Reed said. “With my passion for music and dedication to student success, I look forward to continuing to foster a culture of excellence and artistic growth for the greatest band in all the land.”

Vickie Reed said seeing her son now leading the band he once marched in as a high school student is an amazing feeling. She and her husband, Everett Reed, were dedicated band boosters during those years and continue to come out and watch the band perform at football games.

“He’s always been musical,” she said of Reed. “Every pot and pan in my house became a musical instrument when he was little.”

Reed said it is going to be a great year for the MHS band, which has 149 members, especially with the debut of their new uniforms.

“The uniform looks nice,” said Justin Wilder, a trumpet section leader with the band. He said band students’ reactions to the new black, blue and white uniforms have been overwhelmingly positive.

“It matches the new football field as well,” he noted.

MHS choir members Margarita Gonzales, Ja’Quarius Griffin and Kameisha Houston were in attendance Monday to show off the choir’s new black robes used during performances and competitions. Choir members first debuted the new robes at a Christmas concert last December.

Choir director Alanna Burns said the new robes look good and allow for the students to dress comfortably underneath. She thanked district administrators for supporting the choir and seeing the need to purchase the garments.

“Before, the students had to actually pay for their own uniforms out of a pocket, and we were wearing black dresses for the girls and tuxedos for the guys, and that was really costly for the students, so I advocated for them to get choir robe uniforms provided,” Burns said.

“The choir students have sounded amazing for years, and now they have the opportunity to look as good as they sound,” she said. “So we are very proud of these (robes), this is a great investment.”

Altman credited district administrators, including Superintendent Amy J. Carter and the Meridian school board, for their continued support of arts education, part of a broader initiative by the district to grow its arts education programs.

Besides the new band uniforms and choir robes, the district has invested heavily in new marching and concert band instruments over the past year and is working to add to its percussion instruments this year, he said.

The district has taken theater from an academic club to a full-time class at the high school this school year, hired a dance teacher at Carver Elementary School, which had an opening to expand its curriculum, and has added a media arts class at MHS.

MHS teacher Randy Ferino Wayne, sponsor of the theater club, will be the new full-time theater teacher. Delvrisha Keyes and Charletha Fuqua will be the media arts instructors, and Grace Bass will be the new dance teacher at Carver.

“The media arts program entails everything from journalism to other forms of media. One of the big portions that we’re going to implement from the beginning of the program is the operation of the new video scoreboard that we just received here at Meridian High School,” Altman said.

MHS media students will be trained to operate the entire game day production.

“They’ll learn how to develop a script. They will learn how to design and run graphics, how to translate those graphics that have been designed to the Jumbotron and scoreboard,” he said. “They also will learn how to operate a camera switchboard, so everything that deals with game day production from filming to stat operation to media days, they are going to learn all of it.”

Rosalind Operton, assistant superintendent of student support, said educators always want to talk about academics but she thinks the arts are really the core to everything done in the school system.

“That’s what makes the kids really want to be at school at lot of times,” Operton said. “We talk about academics, but if they’re connected to something else, that will make them do more in academics.”