Editor Note: When this story was originally printed the fall paper, portions of the story fell off the page due to a spacing issue. Below is the full story.

The summer of 2019 was a big change for many extracurricular organizations. Azle said goodbye to longtime staff members and welcomed new ones. Assistant band director Brandon Day had announced to band students and parents his departure from Azle in a personal email. 

Gregory Davis was quick to be apart of the Azle band. Having experience as a band director at other schools, he decided Azle was his next destination. 

“I was an assistant director at Ridgepoint High School and Fort Bend ISD in Southwest, Houston for three years before I came here,” Davis said.

Growing up, Davis was interested in many instruments but the tuba had caught his eye in high school.

“In high school, I really wanted to march drum corps,” Davis said. “I picked the tuba and I ended up majoring in tuba performance actually in college.” 

Having taught many instruments as a band director he specializes in brass instruments. 

“As a band director I teach everything but I am a brass specialist,” Davis said. “I do focus on tuba, trombone, euphonium, French horn, etc.”

Head band director Aaron Martin saw something unique in Davis that made him the perfect fit for the new position.

“Mr. Davis has got a master’s in performance which obviously means he’s a great musician,” Martin said. “He’s got experience in Drum Corps, a lot of Drum Corps and DCI experience. Those are the things that made me want to look further into him. When we met it was an instant friendship, we really clicked. It was a really good fit from day one.” 

Students of Davis are starting to warm up to the new director and way of teaching.

“Mr. Davis is positive and he has fundamental views about how to become a great musician,” sophomore Kylin Crofford said. “He’s also funny and has humor. He knows his stuff, he’s played his instrument for a very long time.” 

Though this year has required adjustments, Davis is very excited about what this year’s band and future bands have in store for him.

“I am looking forward to continuing to just push through and being excellent,” Davis said. “Continuing to develop our indoor winds program. I’m looking forward to strengthening our concert band and planning for the marching show next year, we’re already thinking about that and it’s really exciting. Continuing to put Azle on the national stage making this band program and this community be recognized worldwide for what we do.”