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CRIMSON SHIELD THE ONLINE MAGAZINE OF BROTHER MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL |
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| September 2010 | ||
Hall of Famer
"I am very pleased to tell you that at least week's meeting of the LMEA Hall of Fame Committee, you were selected for induction into the LMEA Hall of Fame. Having been recognized by fellow music educators for outstanding work in our profession, you have every right to be very proud of this achievement."
Those words were addressed to Marty Hurley, Brother Martin's band director since 1989, in a June 7, 2010, letter from the Louisiana Music Educators Association. Marty will be the lone inductee on Saturday, November 20 in Baton Rouge. How did a Jersey boy end up in the Bayou State? It all began during Marty's service in the band at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi. The leader of the Stardusters Drum and Bugle Corps of Arabi LA contacted him to help train the corps drum line after Marty's high school teacher recommended him. |
 Marty Hurley 2010 |
 Marty Hurley 1975 |
With a music education degree from Wilkes College (PA), Marty began to improve the drummers immediately. Several were Brother Martin students whose newfound skill impressed the Crusader band directors, Keith Keller and Arthur Hardy. They came to the Stardusters practices and became friendly with Marty.
When Marty completed his Air Force enlistment, he stayed in New Orleans playing music and writing for corps all over the country. This put him in position to replace Keith, who left teaching because of health problems. Marty met with the principal, Brother Brice, S.C., for all of five minutes before signing a contract for the 1974-5 school year. Marty served as marching band, stage band, and second concert band director. When Arthur left in 1989 to concentrate on his Mardi Gras business, Hurley assumed the top position. |
Consistent superior ratings in both the marching and concert contests place the Crusader band among the elite in the state and region. For many years, themarching band numbered 135 to as many as 170. 120 students marched the year before Katrina. But Catholic schools cut or pared down their music programs after the storm. So the BM Marching Band shrank to 90 last year but will be 120 for 2010-11 thanks to determined recruiting efforts by Marty and his assistant, Dominic Caronna. "We'll be better this year. We're hangin' in there. We'll have a good sounding band," says Marty. Who can disagree with a Hall of Famer? |