Allen ISD Where Eagles Soar Magazine Fall 2017 | Página 5

Dr. Obado leads the band in rehearsals as they prepare for the 2017
marching season.
D
r. Philip Obado surveys the practice field on a
sweltering July morning, observing as a mass of
students quickly line themselves into neat, orderly
rows. While most students are enjoying the fleeting days of
summer break, the Allen Eagle Band is back to work and
preparing for the upcoming season. Obado, who
became the new Director of Bands for Allen ISD
in May 2017, keeps his gaze on the hundreds of
students. “This is the Allen Eagle Band,” he says.
“The biggest band in the land.”
Obado is comfortable working with large
bands; his previous stops include Baylor
University and Illinois State University, both
as Associate Directors. Regardless, student
participation in the Allen Eagle Escadrille easily
outnumbers college and high school bands across the nation.
“We had a pretty large band at Baylor with about 340
students,” Obado said. “Here in Allen, were pushing close to
800 students. We’re not just striving to be the biggest band,
however. We want to be known as the best in the nation.”
When considering the
differences between working
in the college and high school
ranks, Obado is quick to point
out the level of support he has
received from Allen parents.
Even the seemingly simple
task of arriving for practice is
made complicated by having
nearly 800 students (some of
whom are just learning to drive)
descend upon the same location
at precisely the same time. The
band parents were quick to
Marching
to a New
Beat
help by creating a traffic flow map, with some even arriving
early before practice to help guide the vehicles to the correct
location.
Despite any differences between the high school and
university level, Obado says his role as an
educator is unchanged; he is inspired by the
opportunity to help students grow and discover
a passion for playing music.
As the Director of Bands for the entire
district, Obado will collaborate with the band
directors at the sixth-grade and middle-school
levels to create standard procedures to prepare
the students for success when they reach high
school. Obado and his assistant directors also
plan to make trips to the campuses to build rapport with the
younger students.
Obado’s first course of action, however, is continuing
practice through July and August and unveiling his band at
the first football game of the season. Obado plans to honor
the rich tradition of Allen High School with classic, military-
style halftime performances,
while also exploring new ideas
and pushing the boundaries of
what the band has done in the
past.
Dr. Philip Obado will lead the 800+ member Allen Eagle
Escadrille onto the field starting September 1.
“It’s 2017, and times have
changed, as have our students
and certain musical techniques,”
Obado said. “But we’re the Allen
Eagles, and we’re going to be the
biggest and we’re going to be the
best. That hasn’t changed.”
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