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Ron Pence
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Chris Cooper
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Ron earned his Bachelors and Masters degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Mr. Pence joined Homewood in his current role in 1996. Since 1996, the Homewood Band has grown in number from 150 to over 500. Director Pence has directed bands who have received many awards, some of which include the designation of “One of the Best High School Bands in the Nation” according to Southern Living Magazine. Also, the NAMM Foundation & VH1 Save the Music Foundation have several times bestowed the designation of “one of the best 100 communities for music education in the country” upon Homewood Bands. |
Chris is a proud graduate of Auburn University where he earned his bachelors degree in Music Education. He then went on to Southern Mississippi where he earned his Masters in Music Education. Mr. Cooper served as the Director of Bands at Homewood Middle School and the Assistant Director of Bands at Homewood High School for over 25 years. Additionally, Assistant Director Cooper has conducted dozens of Honor Bands throughout the southeastern United States. |
The Homewood High School Patriot Band is one of the most well-respected marching bands in the country. Homewood Band has earned several local, regional and national designations under the direction of its Fine Arts Chair and Director of Bands, Ron Pence and Assistant Band Director Chris Cooper.
Homewood Band’s history of travel is well-documented. Under Mr. Pence’s leadership the band traveled to multiple Tournament of Roses Parades in Pasadena, California; the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland; multiple Fiesta Bowl Parades in Phoenix, Arizona, the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida, multiple Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades in New York, NY; the Walt Disney World Magic Music Days Parade in Orlando, Florida and the Walt Disneyland Magic Music Days Parade in California. In 2001 the Homewood Patriot Band was selected by President George W. Bush as the Alabama Representative in the Bush/Cheney Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C.
Homewood Band’s upcoming plans include the 2021 Tournament of Roses Parade, marking the fifth time that the band has performed in the parade. In anticipation of the costs associated with traveling and performing in the parade, Homewood Band ran a fundraiser with Snap! Raise where their 28-day fundraising campaign generated $112,890.