This year, we welcome many new teachers at CCCHS, including our new band directors Gavyn Frankenfield and Andy Brown.
Gavyn Frankenfield is from West Philadelphia, born and raised, where he attended Northampton high school and later West Chester University where he was a part of the marching band. He later moved to Murfreesboro where he was a graduate student at MTSU. There, he helped teach and lead various parts of their marching band program.
In an interview, Frankenfeld answered a variety of questions about himself as well as the band program at Coffee County Central High School.
What made you decide to apply at Coffee County?
The band director replied, “I applied to Coffee County because I saw the job posting on Facebook and immediately looked into the position.”
What is your favorite show you’ve done?
“My favorite marching band show I have been a part of would have to be my freshman year of college,” Frankenfield then continued, “I remember being in awe at the work we were able to do along with the pure joy and grandeur of the show. I also had a tuba solo (https://youtu.be/Pe3VIAlCgiM?si=rcEZruFwXGttcb_s&t=683) which is rare enough, let alone having a freshman win the solo was even more rare.”
What was the best part about doing grad work at MTSU?
“The best part of my graduate work at MTSU had to have been all of the athletic band work I did,” Frankenfield went on to say, “I was fortunate enough to have an amazing professor in Dr. Denny Hawkins Jr., who entrusted me with a great deal during my time at MTSU. Dr. Hawkins would grant me the opportunity to call the stand tunes performed by the band during football season as well as during the basketball season. During the basketball season, I was fortunate to co-direct the basketball pep band for roughly half of the home games as well as lead the group during tournament play in the Conference USA tournament. I truly cherish the memories of my time working with the athletic bands.”
What are your long term goals for the band?
Frankenfield responded saying, “My long term goals for the Red Raider band are to establish a tradition of excellence. The groups I have been a part of throughout my life have all taught me that to be great at what you do is not based on a single year. For a group to be excellent at what they do there must be a tradition established grounded in the idea that hard work and personal accountability will lead to success.”
The new band director continued, highlighting other things he hopes to accomplish in the coming years, “Other goals I have for the band are to increase the number of students who participate in band, have students attend the mid-state and all-state festivals, and improve the overall musical ability of all those involved in music throughout the coffee county school system.”
What is your least favorite instrument?
“My least favorite instrument would have to be the E-flat clarinet,” Frankenfield then elaborated further upon his dislike toward the instrument, “I have only met a handful of musicians who have a favorable opinion on the instrument. It is very difficult for that instrument to play in tune with other instruments and in my opinion adds little to the ensemble sound.”
We are all anxious to see what new and exciting changes our new band director brings to the music program. Welcome to Coffee County Mr. Frankenfield.
