Opp High School’s “Marching Black and Gold” will be getting an entirely new band director in the coming season because Brandon Benson was approved by the Opp City Schools Board of Education in July to be the next director of the band.
An Alabama native, he is a resident of Florence, Alabama, and an 2013. Sheffield High School alumnus, his music background started through his childhood within Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
“I came from a family of musicians,” Benson said. “I began playing percussion in Sheffield High School. I resided within Nashville, Tennessee, while my mother was pursuing her music career. My mother was a singer as was my dad, and he performed as an instrument.”
He holds an associate’s diploma in music at Northwest-Shoals Community College.
Benson completed his bachelor’s program in the field of Music Education in addition to the field of Music Business in the University of South Alabama in 2019. He continued his education by earning Master’s degrees in music education at the University of Florida in 2022.
“Percussion was my main instrument in my undergraduate studies. I played tenors as I marched in the University of South Alabama Jaguar Marching Band. I was also the section director for Jaguar Drumline. Jaguar Drumline in 2017.”
Benson was previously director of the band for J. U. Blacksher School in Uriah, Alabama, beginning in the year 2019.
“I was the director of the prestigious ‘Pride of South Monroe County’ Marching Band. One of the group’s biggest accomplishments was achieving ‘Most Entertainment as well as ‘Best Overall Percussion’ during the 44th annual Gordo Marching Band Festival in 2022. J. U. Blacksher won the award for Best in Class Percussion, Majorettes, and Band as well as “Fan Favorite at the 41st annual ‘Little Big Horn Marching Band Competition this year.” Blacksher said.
He said He was grateful for the chance to travel to Covington County.
“I am glad I chose to join Opp High School because of the rich history and tradition that the program has. I was looking to place my name among the most notable teachers of the marching black and gold. I am confident that I have the ability to lead the band into a successful band and achieve a higher level. It is a huge honor to have the ability to make a difference to the students and the community of Opp.”
Benson was inspired to be a band director after the two band directors he met when he was at Sheffield High School.
“My High School band director Eric Kirkman and Marcus Stewart encouraged me to become an administrator of bands. I love the satisfaction of watching students work together and achieving their goals of becoming the best they can be.”
Benson revealed his plans of the program for band at Opp High School, with one of his primary goals is the growth of numbers.
“My goal as a director of this band is increase the level of musicianship in our program and increase the number of students of our band program. Our aim is to become a top-performing band program in competitions, and to set the bar higher for the next generation of students. I motivate students by pushing them to be the top band in competitions. I’d like to keep the tradition and excellence of the marching band ‘Marching Black and Gold as we take the band to a higher standard of performance.” the leader said.
He said the halftime show for this year was written long before the time he was hired. “I will try to inject an ‘Benson’ flair to what we already have.”
His parents are Charlotte Carmack and the late Roger Benson with a sister, Kristina Abesamis, brother-in-law, Mark Abesamis, and nephew, Zion Abesamis.
“I am extremely grateful to have this chance and am looking forward to taking on the role of director of in the Marching Black and Gold. The future looks positive with Opp as I’m happy that I have the privilege of being the band director and create and shape the program into a force within the field of marching art, Alabama, of Alabama and across the country,” Benson said.
The article Benson is expected to continue his the growth of Opp’s director of the band was originally published at The Andalusia Star-News.
