Education

Mike Pickrell knows filling the shoes of Williamstown Band of Spirit director Bob Gregg will not be easy, but he’s up for the challenge.

The 27-year-old Monticello native has been hired to replace Gregg, who will be retiring after winning five state titles at WHS.

He has spent the past four years as band director at Keller High School in Texas.

“I’m very excited to follow Mr. Gregg,” Pickrell said. “He has created a culture of excellence and high standards.

front row, Dylan Dionne, Johannan Mendoza Aguazul, Steven Gray, Aiden Peace, Leslie Rosendo, Macklyn Mcintosh, Wyatt Littrell, Jared Ada and Nancy Chappell; second row, Thomas Swaggin, Jackie Sims, Aviana Baker, Carson Bick, Tyler Merrill, Malachi Newman, Brayden Hundly, Hayden Lawson and Garrett Terry; back row, JoAnn Chappell, Ryan Davis, Shyann McNay, Koby Leazer, Michael Partin, Darren Kearns, Andrew Marcum and Breanna Wissing.

Brent Bowlin, a 2006 graduate of Grant County High School, is a music education major at Morehead State University.

While at MSU, he has studied percussion with Dr. Brian S. Mason, Frank Oddis, Ming Hui-Kuo and Mark McCafferty.

It’s was a day of music and emotions at Williamstown High School on May 1 as long-time director Bob Gregg directed his student’s in his final spring concert.

Gregg, who has spent nearly 40 years directing band, decided to retire after nine successful years at Williamstown.

“It’s a bittersweet day, but it’s time,” he said to the bleachers full of parents, friends and community members.
Gregg won three Class AAA state titles as band director for Harrison County High School before coming to Williamstown in 2002.