The West Marion band will be looking for a new director with Ryan Pippin accepting a position in the Petal School District.
Pippin is moving on to be an assistant band director at Petal High School, a Class 6A program, after four years at West Marion. He said it was one of those job opportunities you don’t want to let pass by, and applying for the job had nothing to do with wanting to leave West Marion.
“It was more of just like, ‘I wonder what my chances are to land a position like this,’” he said. “I’m really excited. I think my experience at West Marion has really benefitted me greatly.”
He added he’s excited about being a part of a collaborative effort at Petal with four directors, including himself.
Pippin led West Marion’s band to unseen heights, guiding the Trojans in 2019 to a fifth-place finish in the 3A state band competition, the band’s best-ever placement. The Trojans placed eighth in 2018 and sixth in 2017, which was their previous best until this past year, under Pippin’s direction. Pippin said it was amazing to have success with the Trojans and that they accomplished what they set out to do.
“We wanted to change the culture around West Marion’s band. We wanted to come in and change people’s viewpoint of how they looked at us and bring a sense of pride. These kids just took on that challenge,” he said. “They bought in what I proposed to them at the very beginning as far as being successful and being excellent in everything they did.”
Pippin added he loved how much support the band received over the past four years, with the stands remaining packed on Friday nights when the band performed its halftime show.
“They wanted to see these kids put on their performance, and that to me meant the world. The community just rallied around these kids,” he said. “What they were able to accomplish was a huge blessing to be a part of.”
He added he’s going to miss his students the most and that they are the greatest kids in the world.
Superintendent Wendy Bracey said Pippin will be missed greatly, and she knows he’ll have success at Petal.
“He did great things while he was here. He had a great rapport with our kids, our parents and our community. I can’t say enough great things about him,” she said. “We’re going to miss him and hate to see him go, but I never hold anybody back from pursuing their dreams in other places.”
Bracey added the county is starting its search for a new director now and hopes it will land one as talented as Pippin.
“We look forward to God supplying us with another great person like Ryan Pippin to keep our band program over there going as strongly as it is,” she said.
