Director of Bands-Anthony Darnall
Anthony Darnall is in his ninth year as Director of Bands at Christian County High School. During his tenure, the CCHS Band has tripled in enrollment, received only Distinguished Ratings at Concert Band Festival Assessment, appeared as three times a KMEA Class 4A State Finalist, and the Jazz Band was selected to perform at the 2022 KMEA Music Educators In-Service Conference. Currently, he serves as the Band Chair for the Third District Band Directors Association. Previously, he has served as the Jazz Chair. In 2020, he was awarded the KMEA Third District’s High School Teacher of the Year. In 2022, he was named Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Young Band Director for Kentucky. Mr. Darnall has regularly had students accepted for All-District, All-State, and Governor’s School for the Arts.
Mr. Darnall is a native of Mayfield, KY and graduated from Murray State University with a music education degree and continued his studies at the University of Alabama receiving a Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance. While at Alabama, Mr. Darnall was an adjunct graduate staff member for the Million Dollar Band. During the 2017-2018 school year, Mr. Darnall served as an Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Murray State University. He is an alumni member of Phi Mu Alpha.
As a trombonist, Mr. Darnall has played in various ensembles. He has played in the Paducah Symphony (KY), Meridian Symphony (MS), Tuscaloosa Symphony (AL), the River Brass Band (IN), the Todd Hill Jazz Orchestra, and many other groups of various styles and genres. In 2015, he was Runner-Up for the Bach Big 12 Bass Trombone Competition in Lubbock, TX. In 2008, he placed fifth in the International Trombone Association George Roberts Competition. His primary trombone teachers were Raymond Conklin and Dr. Jon Whitaker.
Mr. Darnall loves influencing the lives of young musicians. His greatest joys come from watching all of his students grow as people and musicians. He lives in Hopkinsville with his lovely wife, Kirstie, daughter, Kennedy Ray, and son, Jace Ryan.
Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Percussion- Calvin Warren
Calvin Warren III, a native of Hopkinsville Ky, is the Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion Director at Christian County High School. Warren assists with the concert band and jazz band and directs the percussion program (grades 7-12). Under Warren’s direction, the Christian County Middle School Percussion Ensemble (2020) and the Christian County High School Percussion Ensemble (2021) were selected to perform at the Kentucky Music Educators In-Service Conference in Louisville, Ky. The Christian County High School Marching Band was selected as a KMEA Class 4A State-Finalist three times. Locally, the Christian County Percussion receive many accolades for their excellence. Warren serves as a staff member for the Hopkinsville-Christian County Indoor Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at Christian County, Warren served as the Director of Bands at Todd County Central. They were regular KMEA State Semifinalists and received consistent distinguished ratings at concert band assessments.
In 2007, Mr. Warren earned a Bachelor’s of Music Education Degree from Murray State University. While at Murray State, Mr. Warren competed in the Snare and Tenor Competition at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, placing top five in both categories in consecutive years. Mr. Warren is an active percussion arranger, sound designer, composer, adjudicator, and clinician. He has arranged music for bands in over twenty states. Mr. Warren’s professional affiliations include the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the NAFME, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Percussive Arts Society. He is endorsed by Innovative Percussion and a published composer on TapSpace.
Assistant Director of Bands and Christian County Middle School Director- Andrea Armour
Andrea Armour is the Director of Bands at Christian County Middle School, serving in the role of Assistant Director at Christian County High School. Mrs. Armour is entering her fourth year with the middle school band program and her seventh year teaching music in the Christian County Public School System. During her tenure at the middle school, the band has received consistent Distinguished Ratings at KMEA Concert Assessment, grown in enrollment numbers, and retention rate percentages have increased as students transition from year to year. This past year, Mrs. Armour was selected as Christian County Middle School Teacher of the Year and was a Quarterfinalist for the 2024 Grammy Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Armour is currently serving as the KMEA District 3 Middle School Band Chair.
As a native of Hopkinsville, KY, Mrs. Armour graduated from Christian County High School in 2013. Following high school graduation, Mrs. Armour attended Western Kentucky University, graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education in 2017. During her time at WKU, Mrs. Armour served as Drum Major for the Big Red Marching Band, President of the Delta Omicron Professional Music Fraternity, President of the WKU Chapter of the National Association for Music Education, was named Music Education Undergraduate of the Year in 2017, and graduated as the Scholar of the College from the Potter College of Arts and Letters.
Mrs. Armour loves being able to watch the Christian County High School Band Program thrive and is grateful for the opportunity to give back to a program so near to her heart. Her passion is to inspire the band students at Christian County Middle and High School to be the best version of themselves both as musicians and people.
Mrs. Armour is married to her husband, Will and they are expecting their first child to be born this coming November!
Director of Color Guard- Alyssa Ross
Alyssa Ross is the Colorguard Director at Christian County High School. Ross instructs the fall and winter guard programs. Under Ross’s direction, the 2022 CCHS Fall Colorguard received the “Best Color Guard” award at the Festival of Champions hosted at Murray State University. Also under Ross’s instruction, the 2023 HCC Hopkinsville Christian County Combined Winterguard concluded their winter season with a gold medal at SCGC Championships in the SAA class. The Colonel Color Guard receives many accolades for their excellence. Ms. Ross has served as a colorguard instructor for Christian County High School (KY), HCC Hopkinsville Christian County Winterguard (KY), Clarksville Youth Performing Arts Association’s Visual Theatre (TN), Western Kentucky University (KY), Stewart County High School (TN), and Goodpasture High School (TN).