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ABOUT US

The John Overton Band is committed to the development of lifelong excellence in students through the performing arts. We have a rich history of  successful ensembles including our marching band, concert bands, jazz band, string orchestra, and percussion ensembles. We consistently receive superior ratings at Concert Performance Assessment for our concert bands, while our students excel as individuals, claiming many seats in Middle Tennessee's Mid-State  Honor Ensembles and Tennessee's All-State Bands. We believe in growing our students as musicians and leaders through the ensembles in which they participate with the goal of creating well-rounded, quality citizens of the world .

Meet The Team

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Charlie Kim

Director of Bands,

Director of Orchestra

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Nathan Barna

Assistant Director of Bands,

Director of Commercial Music

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Michael Simek

Director of Percussion

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Band Booster Board

PRESIDENT: 

Melanie Hawkins

FUNDRAISING:

Joy Draughon and Sammie Griffin

HOSPITALITY:

Missy Clements

TRANSPORTATION:

John McNab

TREASURER:

Elaina Marshall

SECRETARY:

Mary Beth Heaney-Gárate

Uniforms:

Lisa Finley​

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Our Program

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1

Concert Bands

We have three concert bands: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. All three bands meet during the school day. Wind Ensemble is an auditioned class. The band classes have one concert per semester, but the Wind Ensemble usually has an additional three performances per year.

2

Marching Band

Our marching band rehearses completely after school with rehearsals on Tuesdays/Thursdays from 3-6 pm. We attend all Home and Away games. We strongly incorporate electronics into our show as part of our Overton identity!

3

Percussion

Our percussionists have a separate "band class" where they meet to work on Percussion Ensemble and Concert Band music. The Percussion Ensemble has its own concerts once per semester. During basketball season, the HYPELINE (an auditioned drumline) performs at most home games.

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4

Jazz Band

The jazz band (renamed the Commercial Music Ensemble) performs a variety of genres: pop, funk, latin, swing, RnB, rap, etc. at two concerts per year. All rehearsals occur after school on Wednesdays from 2:30 - 4:30. This ensemble is under the direction of Mr. Barna.

5

Rock Band

The rock band is an auditioned ensemble that rehearses after school on Mondays from 2:30 - 4:00. The 2023-2024 was its inaugural year, so it has not had any public performances YET! This ensemble is under the direction of Mr. Simek.

6

Music Production

In 2020, during the Covid-19 epidemic, Mr. Barna won a grant from the Save the Music Foundation to fund a music studio in our school and to fund a music production class. Our music students have access to a fully functioning recording studio just feet from our band room. 

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7

Orchestra

We have one orchestra class that rehearses during school. Their concerts occur with the band concerts: once per semester. Beginning students are allowed to join in high school!

8

Chamber Ensembles

We often form chamber ensembles to perform at our band concerts, faculty events or local community events (e.g. retirement homes). The usual ensembles include: brass quintet, saxophone quartet/quintet, woodwind quintet, chamber strings/ string quartet. 

Yes, you CAN do it all! One of our 2023-2024 graduates was involved in all of the following activities:

​

Mariah Johnson

  • Symphonic Band

  • Marching Band

  • Jazz Band

  • Battle of the Books

  • Educated Black
    Girls Rock

  • All-State Track
    and Field

  • Homecoming
    Queen

  • Science Olympiad

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