Beech Tree News Network

The Butler County High School Marching Band hosted their second annual Drumline Camp this Thursday and Friday at BCHS. The camp was open not only to members of the BCHS Drumline but members of the surrounding counties drumlines as well. The two-day camp ran from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm at the high school.

BCHS Band Director Jason Ausbrooks said that the camp provided members of the drumline an opportunity to receive individualized instruction that they may not be able to get during the school year. Ausbrooks hired students from Murray State University to serve as teachers during the camp. He added that the student-to-teacher ratio is very low at this camp.

"At this camp, the students get a qualified person on their instrument to work with them plus they are able to work on our music (for the upcoming season). It gets each student some individual focus that they may or may not necessarily get during the year," said Ausbrooks.

Members of the BCHS Drumline in attendance at the camp were Jordan Bryant, Tristan Elmore, Trenton Chism, Jaret Oaks, Nathan Young, Nancy Ansbach, Dalys Bishop, Ellie Moore, Issac Cardwell,  Emily Wallace, Emma Robbins, Emily Johnson, Shalyn Coleman, and Chase Dockery. Attending from Edmonson County High School was Sarah Webb. Teachers from Murray State University were Ben Stone, Joel Hettenhausen, Chris Patel, and Dan Heil.

Members of the BCHS Pit receive instruction from Ausbrooks

Stone works with the tenors

Hettenhausen works with the bass drummers

Heil provides instruction for the snares

Sarah Webb from ECHS receives one-on-one instruction from Patel

Senior members of the Drumline Trenton Chism and Jordan Bryant said they believe that this year will be a great year for the drumline and the band.

Chism said, "We have original music that no one has ever seen or heard before so I think it will be very surprising when people see our show for the first time."

Bryant added, "There is a lot of talent here in the band and I think it is going to be a record-breaking year for the band."

Ausbrooks wanted to thank the BCHS administration and staff for working with the band so that they can offer camps to their students.