Many teaching professionals desire to kindle an appetite for lifelong learning in students about a specific subject they’re assigned to teach. They want to make a lasting impact in the lives of students. It’s something Madill band director Kendal Hasty is quick to mention any time he visits with people.
“It’s all about the students,” Hasty said. “They are the reason why we are here.”
That deep commitment to students is evidenced by his recent recognition in School Band & Orchestra’s national publication in a feature called ‘50 Directors Who Make A Difference’. Hasty is the lone representative from the entire state of Oklahoma. The East Central graduate was chosen from a plethora of nominations sent to the publication from for former students, administrators and collegues.
Hasty took the helm as the Madill band director in the summer of 2014. The band has grown exponentially in that time frame. He began with about 50 band kids. He now is in charge of a group of about 350 middle school to high school pupils.
That rise in enrollment and marked steady improvement by the Madill Band also has netted Hasty the “South Central Oklahoma Band Directors Association Band of the Year” award in 2019.
“That award is a total team effort,” Hasty said.
He praises his students in the band program. He also credits his band assistant Cayden Howard, parents, boosters and the community for supporting the band throughout the year.
A panel selected the Madill band for that award from various nominations. They award the group of students that has made great strides during the year.
The band earned a I from one judge at contest in the fall. They received a II overall. They just missed the sweepstakes award by the slimmest of margins. The sweepstakes are like a state championship for the band.
The voters approved the bond for construction of a fine arts facility that will house the art, music, speech and band departments’ classrooms. It is currently being built
Hasty is known to spend countless hours beyond the bell helping in various school activities, not just the band events. That commitment is being noticed on a local, state and national level. And the students of Madill are hastily benefiting from it.
Click to View Hasty’s Profile as One of the 50 Directors Who Make A Difference
Additional settings for Safari Browser.
