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Newsome's Band Leader Pushes The Envelope

Photo by DEREK MAUL

Gregory Basham, fine arts department chairman at Newsome High School in Lithia, has been on staff since the school opened in 2006. He says he values his relationships with students. “I trust them,” he said. “And they trust me to challenge them, but stay within what they can handle.”

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By DEREK MAUL

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 4, 2009

When Newsome High School's band director stepped onto the field last fall, he knew he was sticking his neck out.

His marching band program featured the electric violin played by virtuoso senior Brittany Hensley.

"We were outside the box a little," Gregory Basham said. "But the band realized Brittany is exceptionally dedicated and talented. They enjoyed the experience and realized they were part of something special. They brought something a little different to the table, something most people don't get to do."

On staff at Newsome since 2006, Basham values his relationships with his students.

"I trust them," he said. "And they trust me to challenge them but stay within what they can handle."

Challenge, he said, is part of the school's DNA. "It's the personality of Newsome. Trying to get the students to do beyond what they're comfortable with. It's part of the culture of the school."

Basham is chairman of the fine arts department and directs the marching, concert, jazz and symphonic bands and the orchestra.

His wife, Scottie, is in charge of the Blue Angels color guard dance team.

"I'm lucky that my wife and I are able to work together," Gregory Basham said. "We've really enjoyed it. She also teaches the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program."

Basham flat-out loves his job.

"My mom wanted me to be an accountant," he said. "But I said here's the deal - I want to get up in the morning and not dread going to work. I'm on year No. 13, and I'm still loving it."

Born in Cincinnati, the energetic band leader moved to St. Petersburg when he was 8.

"My mom just got tired of the cold weather," he said.

He attended Northeast High School in St. Petersburg, then enrolled in East Tennessee State University in Johnson City to study music education.

"My former band director moved to Bristol (Tenn.), and I worked with his students during the week and summers," Basham said. "I wanted to be ready to teach."

He worked briefly in Pinellas County, took an assistant's job with an experienced band director in Dublin, Virginia, and then moved to Lynchburg, Va.

"Lynchburg was a great community," Basham said, "but unfortunately, it gets really cold. We finally settled in Knoxville, Tennessee. I followed someone who'd been band director 38 years. They hadn't got new uniforms since 1970."

In 2006, he interviewed with schools in Florida and Georgia.

"My first choice was Georgia," he said, "until I found out about this community. You can really tell the administration here is focused on success for students and genuinely interested in seeing that happen. Regardless of what you teach here, they think it's important."

Parent support was another key factor. Basham's Knoxville school had 1,100 students, with 140 in band and assistants for music and marching band. By contrast, Newsome's current enrollment is 2,150, with 231 students in band but no assistants.

"I can honestly say it would be impossible to do the things we do without parent support," he said.

Basham's rewards come when he sees how students respond to their success.

"This past fall, the band was able to see how their performance connected with people emotionally," he said. "They knew they had the ability to grab an audience and get them excited."

And he's hopeful for the future.

"You hear a lot of negatives about kids today, but I don't see that," he said. "I see kids trying to do the best they can and working for success. There are a lot of bright, intelligent young people that one day are going to take care of us."

MEET GREGORY BASHAM

Fine arts department chairman, Newsome High School, Lithia

BORN: Cincinnati, Ohio, 1970

RAISED: Pinellas County

EDUCATION: Northeast High School, St. Petersburg, 1989; East Tennessee State University, music education, 1995; University of South Florida, master's in educational leadership, 2008

MARRIED: Scottie White, 1996

CHILDREN: Ainsley, 8

CONTACT: (813) 740-4600

Derek Maul can be reached at derekmaul@gmail.com.

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