Brad Sparks was brought to Perry in 2017 to serve as the director of instrumental music and to lead the Perry Marching Band, the Blue Brigade.
Now, as the middle of his third year nears, Sparks has resigned, a move approved at Monday’s meeting of the Perry School Board.
The reason? Sunny California and a position as Marching Band Coordinator for the University of California-Davis, located just west of Sacramento. The third largest (after UCLA and Cal-Berkeley) university in the state system, Davis is home to nearly 30,000 undergraduate students, approximately 300 of whom play in the Aggies marching band.
The numbers are so high, Sparks noted, that the band members mark their availability for football games and appearances and are divided into three groups roughly equal in size. Sparks will work with all.
“I enjoyed my time in Perry but obviously this is quite an opportunity,” he said.
Sparks will serve through the holiday break at PHS. He begins his new position Jan. 6.
A former instructor at Drake, where Sparks studied music, is now involved in the University of California system and send him an application. One thing led to another, and now the Southeast Polk graduate will move from leading a band of about 30 to one 10 times the size.
“It will be quite a change,” Sparks admitted. “Teaching at the college level has always intrigued me, and I just couldn’t pass up this chance.”
“They (Davis) would have liked me to start with their school year (early in September) but understood I could not do that,” he said. “Leaving at the break isn’t ideal, but I talked with (PHS Principal) Dan Marburger, and we were able to work this out, and I appreciate it.”
Sparks confessed to shrinking numbers at Perry, some of which can be attributed to the current freshman and sophomore classes, both of which are small in size and who have shown — and this view is supported by comments made by athletic coaches and other extra-curricular leaders — little interest, as a whole, in activities beyond classes as each year has passed.
“I have tried to focus on music literacy as well and while some kids have enjoyed that, not all have,” Sparks said. “There are a number of factors at work, and I don’t think you can point to a single one.”
Sparks insisted he had no dissatisfaction with Perry and that his decision was solely based on personal professional advancement.
Perry will immediately begin the process of finding a full-time replacement for Sparks. Retired long-time director Steve Cook has volunteered to step forward and organize the Perry Band Olympics this year, the chief instrumental event of the spring semester.
