Home

Raider Marching Pride welcomes Ms. Betsy Fox

June 19, 2009 - 1:22pm — tmoore

Ms. Betsy Fox will get her public debut as director of the Reynoldsburg Marching Raider Pride at this year's Fourth of July Parade.

The parade is one of five performances scheduled this summer for the marching band, with the first a private performance at Wesley Ridge next week.  Although the band program will have to be financially self-supporting this year after district budget cuts, Ms. Fox promised her students that they would compete in contests and perform at community events.

Students and band boosters will raise funds to cover expenses not covered by the new participation fees and the band will save money with fewer staff members and less travel.  This year's band camp, for example, will be held in town at Hannah J. Ashton Middle School.

Ms. Fox began her career as a band director at Crooksville High School, where she also taught instrumental and vocal music.  There she tripled the size of the marching band and choir, entered her band in contests for the first time in the school's history and led the school's first musical theater performance.

She also taught at St. Matthews and Groveport before coming to Reynoldsburg High School, where she first taught the History of Rock and Roll.  Earlier budget cuts to the music program landed her at French Run Elementary, where she was named Teacher of the Year.

Taking over the Raider Marching Pride in the footsteps of former director Brian Stevens is a "daunting task," Ms. Fox says, but she is excited for the challenge.

"I am dedicated 100 percent to the kids," she says.

The Raider Marching Pride will perform at the following public events:

  • July 4 - Fouth of July Parade at 2 p.m. (Main and Rosehill)
  • July 31 - Annual "return" from Band Camp performance (time and place TBA)
  • Aug. 14 - Opening Ceremonies for the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival at Huber Park
  • Aug. 23 - Band Concert & Ice Cream Social at 6 p.m. at the Livingston House

For more information about the Reynoldsburg Raider Marching Pride and the bands program, visit http://www.rhs-band.org/