ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — Friday nights at J.D. Sellars Stadium will be rocking when 155 members of the Robertsdale High School Marching Band take the field playing tunes from Outkast, Foo Fighters and Fall Out Boy. This Alternative Rock theme is sure to get the crowd fired up for the 2010 football season and is a big hit with the students as well, said new RHS Band director Doug Brasell.

Arriving a few weeks ago from Douglas, Ala., Brasell jumped right in by writing the entire show in one week. “It was quite a challenge but I got it done. I couldn’t have done it though without the help of Robin (Isherwood, RHS Assistant Director). She really stepped up this summer and got everything ready and organized.”

Although freshmen make up the majority of the band this year, Brasell, who replaced Neil Sasser, is pleased with their progress and their sound so far. “They have been great and really worked hard practicing and learning their music. I am very impressed with them and am looking forward to an exciting year.”

Not only is Brasell impressed with them, several band members are impressed with him too. “I really like Mr. Brasell. He seems to have lots of energy and enthusiasm and I like the ideas he has come up with for the show this year. Very open-minded and that’s good,” said James McKinney, RHS Drum Major.

McKinney, a senior who plays French Horn during concert season, comes from a musical family as his mom, Sandy was a drum major at Murphy and his dad, Steve, was Fairhope High School’s band director for 12 years. “I am really excited about being selected as drum major. There were four of us who tried out and I’m thankful to have been chosen.”

Gabby Kendrick, senior French Horn section leader, and Augustine Briones, senior Trumpet section leader, both feel their players are doing well and are really excited about Braselll and the upcoming season. “We have a really good sound and are glad Mr. Brasell is here.”

“We are hoping for a productive year. The line looks good and we are looking forward to the drum solo,” said junior snare drum section leader Josh Holley. Weesie Jefferds, sophomore trombone player, praises Brasell for being very energetic and is glad he’s at RHS.

Isherwood, who begins her fifth year at RHS and wrote all the percussion arrangements, said this year’s kids are the best listening and responding group she has seen in a while.

“They have been putting in their time practicing and working hard. Middle School has prepared them well. My goal is for them to be musicians, not just band members,” Isherwood said, who was at Baldwin County High School for eight years before coming to RHS.

And although Isherwood is happy to have Brasell here and enjoys working with him, she also said Sasser will be missed as well.

As for Brasell, he comes well prepared for his role at RHS when he graduated from Southside High School in Gadsden, and received a Bachelor’s degree in 1999 and Master’s degree in 2001 in music education from Troy State University.

While at Troy, he played trumpet and was drum major for the “Sound of the South Marching Band” and credits his experience as a drum major in high school for his inspiration to become a band director.

“I saw what it took to make a band work and I decided that’s what I wanted to do. It got me motivated and I felt like it was something I was called to do,” Brasell said.

Directing bands from sixth to 12th grade in Alabama and Georgia, Brasell brings a passion for music and learning to each group he teaches. “I want to teach because educating allows me to touch lives so the world may be a better place. I don’t just want to impact the lives of my students, I want to change the world by leading tomorrow’s leaders and teachers and the passion through which I intend to achieve this is music.”

And what brought Brasell to Baldwin County is nothing short of divine intervention and love for his three kids.

“I was driving six hours each weekend to spend time with them and I did that for three years. I finally decided I needed to be closer so I told them I was coming to where they were.” Brasell said.

Believing God would provide something closer, Brasell resigned in full faith from Douglas High School at the end of the school year and began looking and praying. He and six other candidates were interviewed for the RHS position this summer but it was Brasell who got the offer.

“I know God provided this job for me. When I met the band and the parents for the first time, I felt an immediate connection and felt very comfortable. I am so thankful to (RHS Principal) Theresa Bryant for giving me a chance and hiring me,” Brasell explained.

In addition to his directing jobs, Brasell also published a book and two instructional dvds on drum majors published by J.W. Pepper Inc. and Pender’s Music.

“I am honored and blessed to be a part of the Baldwin County School system. I am so impressed with the team of directors in the county and they have been so helpful. I am looking forward to a great year at RHS,” Brasell said.