Harpeth Band marches forward under new leadership

The rhythmic sound of drums, the gleam of polished brass, and the sharp snap of crisp new uniforms – there’s a new energy pulsing through the Harpeth Band Program. Under the dedicated leadership of Chris Vaughn at Harpeth Middle School (HMS) and Hayden Upperman at Harpeth High School (HHS), the southern cluster’s music education is not just surviving – it's flourishing.

Vaughn, who first came to Harpeth six years ago, was drawn to Kingston Springs by the potential he saw in the students and the community. “I knew I would love being in this area. I love being in small towns, because they support more for all our programs: athletics, band and everything,” he said. 

He also knew of the Harpeth band program because he was on the losing side of the field when Harpeth won the State marching competition in 2003. 

In his time at HMS, Vaughn has steadily increased band enrollment, fostered a culture of commitment and become a respected figure in students’ educational journeys. 

Meanwhile, at the high school, Upperman has spent the past two years pushing the program into a new era. Since stepping into the role in 2023, he’s streamlined practices, introduced new performance opportunities, and – most visibly – brought in sleek, modern uniforms that will debut this fall.

“We're expecting to have more kids next year than we have total uniforms in our uniform closet right now,” Upperman said. According to him, the uniforms they’ve been marching in are about a decade old. “The band's getting much larger. When I first got here, there were 30 kids in the marching band. And next year, we're expecting almost 60 in the marching band.” 

But the transformation of the Harpeth Band Program goes much deeper than a fresh look. What’s happening in Harpeth’s band rooms is part of a larger investment in the fine arts across the southern cluster of Cheatham County schools. Both Vaughn and Upperman are working with their colleagues, including those at the elementary schools, to champion growth in the fine arts that makes a lasting impact.

“We all work together as fine arts [teachers] here in the southern Cheatham area. Miss Gabby, she's at the [Kingston] elementary school, and one of the things she's always asked us is, what do you want our kids to know when they come to us,” Vaughn said. “In August, we all talked about what is our guideline? What's our curriculum where we can all have a streamline going up to the high school? Because in elementary school, they start learning about music. And what's great for the Kingston program is they come to me knowing how to read notes.” 

The middle school band now routinely feeds talented, motivated students into the high school program, with strong retention between eighth and ninth grades – something not all districts can claim. Eight eighth graders were given the opportunity to march with the high schoolers last fall, and seven upcoming eighth graders will march this fall. 

Upperman and Vaughn both emphasize collaboration. The pair meet regularly, align their teaching strategies, and even co-lead events when possible. “It’s not about whose program is whose,” Vaughn says. “It’s about these kids having the best experience from sixth through twelfth grade.”

That continuity has paid off. This year, the Harpeth High band performed at the state assessment and earned “superior” ratings – the highest mark. Last year, Upperman said the band received “fair” ratings – one score away from “poor.” 

With sights set on growth, both directors are looking toward the future. Both are focused on retaining and recruiting students in a time when extracurricular participation can be difficult to maintain.

“We’re growing and we just keep growing every year,” Vaughn said. HMS had 85 upcoming sixth grade students sign up to participate in band next year. The room doesn’t fit that many kids, Vaughn said, so he’s having to make cuts. 

“We were less than 10% my first year here, and we're approaching 15% of the total high school population, which was my goal, within a four year span, to get 15% of the high school’s population in band, and we're approaching that number,” Upperman beamed. 

As the final school bell nears and summer approaches, the sounds of next year are already beginning to stir – show themes are being written, music is being selected, and planning is underway for another year of harmony and progress.

In a small town tucked between wooded hills and winding rivers, the Harpeth Band Program is hitting all the right notes – and the music is only getting louder.