2022MayWarriorWEB

Carson Band Hall N ew F acility O pens W ith R ibbon C utting H eld M arch 8

East Central Community College officially opened its new Thomas W. Carson Band Hall with a ribbon cutting ceremony March 8 inside the facility’s state-of- the-art band practice hall. The new facility is named in memory of Tom Carson, who was associated with East Central for more than half his life, including two years as a student and 30 years as an employee. He served as director of bands, music instructor, and for three years as chair of the Fine Arts Division. In addition to the practice hall for the college’s Wall O’ Sound Marching Band, the nearly 11,000-square- foot, $3.5 million Carson Band Hall houses music practice studios, music teaching studios, instrument storage, a music library, and office space. It is adjacent to the existing Vickers Fine Arts Center on North 6th Avenue on the Decatur campus. The event included the ribbon cutting, tours of the building, and performances by current and 1983-84 members of the college’s Collegians rock and roll band and by the current Jazz Band. In top photo, at left, members of the late Tom Carson’s family at the opening of Thomas W. Carson Band Hall; at left, cutting the ribbon to open the new Thomas W. Carson Band Hall were ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory (second from left) and Brenda Carson, widow of Tom Carson (third from left). Also participating are (from left) Dr. Jimmy Hollingsworth, chair of the college’s Board of Trustees; Dr. Teresa Mackey, vice president for instruction; and Chas Evans, Fine Arts Division chair.

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