Band Archives • St. Luke's School

St. Luke’s Band in Senior Bowl Parade

Shelby Stevens — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 18:31:51 +0000

Wildcat Band Parades.

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St. Luke’s Episcopal School’s Band had the incredible opportunity to showcase their talent and school spirit at the Senior Bowl Street Party Mardi Gras Player Parade on Friday, January 31, 2025. This exciting event, held in downtown Mobile, brought together marching bands, Azalea Trail Maids, college mascots, NFL cheerleaders, and esteemed guests to celebrate in true Mardi Gras fashion. The parade began at 6:00 pm from the Renaissance Hotel on Royal and Conti streets, then proceeded west on Dauphin Street, culminating in a lively end at Cathedral Square.

As thousands of fans lined the streets, eager to catch beads, MoonPies, and a glimpse of their favorite football players, the parade kicked off in grand style. The Order of the Myths, one of Mobile’s historic Mardi Gras organizations, led the parade, setting the stage for an unforgettable evening. Vibrant floats rolled through the streets, and the lively sounds of marching bands, including the Wildcat Band, filled the air. The Mardi Gras atmosphere, combined with the energy of the Senior Bowl festivities, made for a memorable night that captured the heart and spirit of the city. The colorful floats, dancers, and performers created an infectious energy throughout the crowd, uniting people of all ages in celebration.

As one of the many local high school marching bands selected to participate, the seventeen-member Wildcat Band, led by Daniel Driskell, proudly filled the streets with vibrant music and high energy. Some of the songs they played included “Bad Romance” and “Crazy in Love,” causing the crowd to clap, dance, and sing along. The band made a statement in their red tropical shirts, adding to the parade’s colorful and spirited ambiance, their music amplifying the festive atmosphere. Their upbeat and powerful performances helped set the tone for the entire evening, leaving spectators cheering for more.

For these students, this was more than just another parade performance. This was an opportunity to participate in one of Mobile’s most exciting football celebrations. The Senior Bowl, a premier showcase of college football talent, draws scouts, fans, and sports enthusiasts from across the country, making this parade a high-profile experience for all involved. The fact that the Wildcat Band was chosen to be part of this event speaks volumes about their dedication and skill. The students performed not only for their school but for the entire city of Mobile, adding their energy and talent to a celebration that draws thousands every year.

This moment was not just about music; it was about being a part of Mobile’s Mardi Gras tradition and an event that brings the community together in a celebration of both football and culture. These students experienced the thrill of performing for a diverse and enthusiastic audience, gaining valuable experience and creating lasting memories that they will carry with them for years to come. Their participation was a testament to the unity and spirit of the local community, where sports, culture, and tradition blend seamlessly.

St. Luke’s is incredibly proud of the dedication and exceptional performance displayed by the Wildcat Band. Their performance not only highlighted their musical excellence but also demonstrated their commitment to representing the school with pride. Their hard work, enthusiasm, and school spirit were evident in every note they played, and their presence added to the excitement of this beloved Mobile tradition. It was a moment to be celebrated, not just for the band, but for the entire St. Luke’s community.

A heartfelt congratulations to all the students, band directors, and supporters who contributed to making this event a resounding success. The Wildcat Band continues to make their school and community proud with their dedication, talent, and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to see what they accomplish next, knowing that this is only one of many milestones on their journey. With their exceptional work ethic and team spirit, there’s no doubt that the Wildcat Band will continue to shine brightly and inspire future generations of musicians at St. Luke’s.

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Senior Spotlight: Band

Riley Griffith — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 06:39:00 +0000

Senior Marching Band.

Anna Claire Carlock

Senior, Anna Claire Carlock has been at St. Luke’s since pre-school! She has also been in the band for six years and she can not wait to start her last season with her wildcat band mates!

Anna Claire has been seen playing many different instruments in our wildcat band! She plays the flute and the piccolo for the band, but she can also play the alto flute and bass flute. Our band members are very versatile with their instruments, which helps the band be more successful and sound wonderful to the audience.

One of Anna’s favorite band traditions is the paper plate awards. This “award show” was created by the band themselves. Each member receives a paper plate as an award for the many funny and unique inside jokes the band has. We love it when our Wildcats create special traditions! That truly makes St. Luke’s one of a kind! Anna Claire is also a member of the PACT theatre company. She has performed many shows with the PACT such as “Newsies,” “Shrek the Musical,” “Seussical,” and our very own St. Luke’s “High School Musical Jr.” She was also the choreographer for “High School Musical” and she did a wonderful job! The PACT is working on a new production of “Beauty and the Beast” and we can’t wait to see you shine on that stage once again! Keep up the good work!

After Anna Claire graduates, she plans on working in education and special needs education or music therapy. St. Luke’s is so proud of you, Anna Claire! Music is the soundtrack to our lives and Anna Claire surely knows how to put on a show! Never let the music stop!

Jack Wheeler

Jack Wheeler is a long timer at St. Luke’s! He has attended St. Luke’s for 14 years and has been in the Wildcat band for 7 years. He loves the band and he loves performing during our football half-time shows!

Although Jack is only seen playing percussion instruments, he can also play the guitar and the piano! He has also accomplished many other amazing things during his time at St. Luke’s. He is also in our chapel band and participated in the Auburn University Honor Symphonic Band. Jack was taught by Auburn University's Department of Music’s world-class faculty and even sat in on many classes to help enhance his music career! Only a select number of students get invited to this event and we are so glad one of our wildcats got this opportunity! Great work, Jack!

One of Jack’s favorite traditions of the band is the paper plate awards. The seniors write awards, or inside jokes, on the plate and they distribute them out to the recipients. Creating new traditions makes an everlasting bond and memories with our band members! We love their hard work and dedication in the music room as well as their performances.

St. Luke’s and your band family is so proud of you, Jack! We hope that your love for music takes you very far in life and don’t forget…. You never can stop the beat! Go Wildcats!

Kasey Hernandez-Sexton

Kasey Hernandez-Sexton is a senior at St. Luke’s and has been attending here for the past 10 years. Kasey is involved in many clubs, electives, and extracurriculars one of these being the St. Luke’s band which she plays bass for. Kasey decided to play the bass for the band because it is very similar to the guitar, which she already plays, so she found it to be a good fit for her. Kasey enjoys band class because she gets to see her friends, play music every day, and finds it to be a good break from all of her academics which allows her to renew her energy for the rest of the day. She loves getting to learn music with others and play it at events like chapel, football games, and pep rallies. When asked how she makes practice fun Kasey says, “I make practice fun for myself by practicing scales in a speed-test sorta way. I like to challenge myself to see just how fast I can play scales. I do this for other fun/upbeat marching band songs as well.”

Kasey’s interest in music began at 9 years old, so it was a no-brainer for her to join the band the moment she got on the upper campus and she has been playing bass ever since. Her all time favorite songs are “Imagine” by John Lennon and “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. Although, when playing with the band her favorite song is “Seven Nation Army” because she likes how the bass sounds in it. Bass isn’t the only instrument Kasey can play, she also plays the guitar, piano, banjo, dulcimer, ukulele, flute, and she can sing!

Kasey’s future plans in music consist of learning to play instruments such as the tuba, trumpet, saxophone, cello, and drums. While she doesn’t plan on participating in band past high school, Kasey does want to join a choir of some sort during college. As for College, Kasey says she has her “fingers crossed for Barnard College in NYC” for next fall!

Sheldon Inge

Sheldon Inge is a senior at St. Luke’s and has been attending the school since K3. Sheldon has been playing the percussion for the school band since 6th grade. He believes his interest in music started around the age of 6 when he first tried out drums and began experimenting with music.

Sheldon’s favorite part about being in band is the family-like feel it has as well as the end of the year tradition where the seniors get to assign awards to the underclassman. He also enjoys cracking jokes during practice with the rest of the band and he mentions how it helps them to really bond and get to know each other. Sheldon believes that band has improved his work in school and is a good way for him to let out his energy during the day.

When it comes to his personal goals for band, Sheldon states he plans to always be improving and that his main goal is to be able to create his own rhythms effortlessly. Sheldon’s favorite musician at the moment is Dave Grohl because of his authenticity and refusal to use auto-tune. Sheldon looks up to him for how noble he is and aspires to be like him one day. Next fall, Sheldon plans to further his education at South Alabama. Go get ‘em, Wildcat!

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Arts in Education Week: Mr. Driskell

Connie Jackson — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 12:42:00 +0000

More Than a Music Teacher.

M
r. Daniel Driskell is St. Luke's newest music teacher and band director.

All of our Wildcats will get to know Mr. Driskell, because he is teaching music on both campuses this year. Learn more about Mr. Driskell as we celebrate National Arts in Education Week.

St. Luke's: Describe yourself.
Daniel Driskell: I am from Mobile, Alabama where I went to Baker High School and the University of South Alabama. I also attended Florida State University. I am proud to be a performer, teacher, arranger, and a father. I was blessed to have excellent teachers who inspired me to learn a variety of styles in music and different instruments.

I began playing the piano at age 7 and my dad was persistent that I continue throughout my school years. Before I knew it, I had fallen in love with playing, listening, and writing music! I spent a lot of time playing music in churches, practicing classical music, playing in jazz bands, and learning from my peers, mentors, and friends.

SL: What led you to want to become a teacher in the fine or performing arts?
DD: I love to see the change that music can make in a person. It was inspiring to watch Mrs. Ellen, Dr. Holm, and Mr. Middleton (three of my piano/guitar teachers) and to see the love they had for each student as they worked to encourage and challenge each one at different levels of ability and experience.

SL: Why should the fine and performing arts play a key role in a student’s education?
DD: Appreciating the arts is a key to one’s overall education, sophistication, emotional well being, and interaction with others. It reaches us in a personal way touching our very spirits.

SL: Do you collaborate with other departments within the school? If so, how?
DD: Of course! I love to work with the chorus, drama, and art teacher on projects that show our students’ talents. We are planning several events this year that are collaborative and engaging in a multi-sensory approach including our plays, chapel events, and the Wildcat Winter Extravaganza.

SL: How do you connect fine and performing arts to other subjects?
DD: Music is definitely connected to many other subjects. I love to show students how the phrases in music are like a sentence, with punctuation and crescendo. Every note of music can be explained mathematically using music theory, from chord progressions to melodies.

SL: How do you promote interest in fine and performing art classes with the student body?
DD: I am privileged to work with students of all ages at St. Luke’s. It is a joy to see them singing, dancing, and making music as they learn to participate in an ensemble.

SL: What is your teaching method/philosophy?
DD: I always use a “hands on” approach to learning. Often students can find new abilities and learn to appreciate others by playing the drums, piano, ukulele, bells, guitar, etc… As I always tell people “If you have never seen or touched a harp, how would you know that you want to play one.”

SL: How do students know they belong in your program/class?
DD: I believe that any student can learn to use their talent for singing and/or playing instruments. God has given us all certain abilities but most great artists got where they are through hard work and perseverance.

SL: Describe the trajectory, vision, future, etc of St. Luke’s fine and performing arts program.
DD: I am looking forward to the future at St. Luke’s. We have many talented students with positive attitudes. Participation is one of the main goals I have, letting all students, faculty, and families know that they have a place in the arts. We hope that people in the community will start to hear good things from our performances, parades, shows, sporting events, academics, and more.

Thanks Mr. Driskell for helping us celebrate National Arts in Education Week!

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