History

 PARK HILL HIGH SCHOOL BANDS

We are what we repeatedly do.  

Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

-Aristotle

A Brief History of Park Hill High School Bands

For over 40 years, Park Hill Bands have represented excellence in music-making and a first-class approach to all activities. In its proud history, the band has been involved in performances at the local, state, regional, and national level. In 1959, William G. Mack became Director of Bands and led the program to prominence throughout the region. During his tenure, the band earned accolades in marching and concert performance. In the early 70’s, the Marching Band retired the Sweepstakes Trophy at the CMC Band Day by winning 1st place three straight years. The Symphonic Band performed in 1976 at the Nebraska Bandmasters Association Convention in Lincoln. Mr. Mack passed away on August 13, 2021.

Herman Rekittke, Assistant Director of Bands, took over the program in 1977, when Mr. Mack took a position as Director of Bands at MWSC in St. Joseph. The band upheld its musical traditions under Rekittke’s leadership and tutelage. In 1976, Mike Everman joined the PH Band staff as an additional Assistant Director of Bands and led the Concert Band to consistent honor ‘I’ ratings at the state music festival. Upon the retirement of Mr. Rekittke, Steve Lenhert joined the staff and built the jazz program, leading the Jazz Band to top ratings and rankings in festivals throughout the region. In 1996, following the retirement of Mr. Lenhert, Charles Boyd took over the jazz program and continued to build upon the tradition of jazz excellence. Mr. Boyd currently serves as Assistant Director of Bands at Park Hill South. Eric Blankenship was Assistant Director of Bands from 1998-2002. His tenure brought a high level of energy and excitement in the Jazz Band and an appearance at PHHS by jazz trumpet legend, Maynard Ferguson.

In 1984, John Bell was named Director of Bands. From 1984-1998, the Symphonic Band earned accolades for its meticulous clarity and mastery of literature at the highest levels of difficulty. In 1992, the Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. Through Mr. Bell’s tenure, the band performed at the Missouri Music Educators Association Convention in 1986, 1992, and 1996 and appeared at the Music Educators National Conference held in Kansas City in 1994. The band also appeared in the HBO movie, “Truman”. In 1997, the PH Band attended the International Music Festival in Vienna, Austria. Upon his retirement from secondary education, Mr. Bell served as Director of Bands at Northwest Missouri State University until 2024.  

When the Park Hill School District opened a second high school in 1998, Ann Goodwin became the sixth Director of Bands in the 50-year history of Park Hill High School. The Trojan ‘Pride’ Marching Band was honored to perform as a part of the National WWII Memorial Dedication Parade in Washington, D.C. in May, 2004.

Ky Hascall became Associate Director of Bands in 2002, bringing experience not only as a teacher, conductor, and clinician but as a composer whose works have been performed throughout the Midwest. Mr. Hascall became the seventh Director of Bands in 2006, with Mrs. Goodwin Clark moving on to a new role as full-time mother. To complete the new staff for the 2006-2007 school year, Justin Doss was hired. He brought with him a wealth of knowledge, including a high level of marching experience from six years with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps.

In 2013, David Potter was hired to be the Associate Director of Bands. Mr. Potter brought a strong background in teaching woodwind technique and was previously the director of bands in Lawson, MO, for nine years. He also teaches private saxophone lessons to many area students. In 2018, Rebecca Stapfer was added to the band staff to teach middle school and assist with the marching band. In 2019, Dr. Jeff Hewitt was hired as the Associate Director of Bands when Mr. Potter moved to full time middle school band. Dr. Hewitt brought a DMA in percussion performance to the band staff and also became the first music teacher at the LEAD center. In 2023, Mr. Potter returned to the high school in addition to his middle school duties and Ms. Stapfer's role expanded to include co-teaching the marching band and concert band classes at the high school and leading the campus band. Mr. Potter and Ms. Stapfer also added a woodwind choir to the roster of ensembles at Park Hill High School.

Following Ky Hascall's retirement in 2024, Max Meigel joined the staff as the eighth Director of Bands. Having previously completed student teaching under Mr. Hascall in the fall of 2015, Mr. Meigel brought experience as a middle and high school band director and as a performer and staff member with various drum corps in the 2010s.