Two Saturdays a month, Ashley Olsen is at the Lone Star College-North Harris campus. However, it is not the usual biology or computer classes that she attends. Instead of hitting the books and listening to lectures, she hits the field and gets instruction on developing and maintaining her skills on flag-spinning and dance in a drum and bugle corps class.
Since graduating from Magnolia High School in 2002, where she participated in the color guard and marching band programs, she had longed for a chance to continue in those activities, both as a hobby, and to stay in shape. After some experience in college, she ran out of performance options at the age of 21.
“Every year, there are hundreds of high school and college graduates with band and guard experience, like me, who want to continue performing on a recreational level,” says Ashley. “I finally found a way at Lone Star College-North Harris.”
In a program that started this fall and is unique to Texas, Lone Star College-North Harris, in partnership with the Gulf Coast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, is offering a drum corps class in conjunction with the college’s continuing education program. Gulf Coast Sound is the only drum corps in Southeast Texas that accepts members of all ages, thus, the partnership was a perfect fit.
The class is taught by Dr. Brack May, director of bands at LSC-North Harris, and the brass caption head for Gulf Coast Sound.
“The addition of the drum corps class enhances the breadth of musical performance opportunities that are offered to the community by LSC-North Harris,” Dr. May said. “This is yet another opportunity which complements our jazz band, choir, and symphonic wind orchestra which also accept students of all ages.”
Instruction and local performance opportunities in brass, percussion, and color guard ensembles are provided. Optional membership in Gulf Coast Sound provides the opportunity to experience participation in an affordable, nationally competing drum and bugle corps on a weekend-only basis for those with jobs, family and other school commitments.
Information on joining the class can be obtained by contacting Dr. May at 281.618.5644 or at Brack.M.May@lonestar.edu.
Lone Star College-North Harris is located at 2700 W.W. Thorne Drive, one-half mile south of FM 1960 East, between Aldine-Westfield and Hardy Roads. For more information about the college, call 281.618.5400 or visit LoneStar.edu/NorthHarris.
With more than 69,000 students in credit classes for fall 2010, and a total enrollment of more than 85,000, Lone Star College System is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area, and the fastest-growing community college system in Texas. Dr. Richard Carpenter is the chancellor of LSCS, which consists of five colleges including LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, and LSC-Tomball, six centers, LSC-University Park, LSC-University Center at Montgomery, LSC-University Center at University Park, Lone Star Corporate College, and LSC-Online. To learn more visit LoneStar.edu.
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