Jared Potter, former member of the Big Red Band, graduated last week with his Master’s degree in percussion performance.
Potter grew up on a dirt road seven miles north of Kosciusko close to Hesterville. Potter is the son of David and Lisa Potter. Growing up, Potter always knew that the Big Red Band was a big deal.
Potter, who was always in sports, was encouraged by his mom in sixth grade to try out for the band.
He already had some knowledge of instruments thanks to one of his teachers, Mrs. Mangum.
“The last portion of 5th grade we took some time, and she kind of introduced us to different instruments,” Potter recalled.
During sixth grade tryouts, Potter was interested in playing the saxophone. At this time, he had just gotten braces, and his mouth was too sensitive to be a saxophone player.
However, every morning he got on the bus, Potter was greeted by a senior student who was in the Big Red band and drum line.
“He started bringing drumsticks and a practice pad whenever we got on the bus in the morning. He would give me lessons essentially on the way to school,” he said. “He gave me my first pair of drumsticks.”
After learning and practicing each morning with a member of the drumline, Potter felt confident enough to try out for the drums. He stuck with this instrument through high school and college.
His freshman year of high school was a bit of transition when he started learning more about marching band and competitions.
Potter mentioned he wasn’t mentally and physically prepared for his first experience with band camp in his freshman year. Day-long practices were something young Potter had to get used to.
“I was pretty small and lanky guy in ninth grade and holding those drums on my back all day out on Kosciusko’s black-top practice field in the middle of July was a daunting task.” Potter said. “I didn’t know if I was going to survive at first, but I eventually made it.”
Potter reminisced on many memories of being in Big Red. He enjoyed traveling for competitions and going to different places to perform. Competition for him was a chance to see everything they worked so hard on finally come together. Even outside of the six-minute performance, he got to know people and felt like it was great way to form a community and sense of belonging.
His senior year of high school, the Big Red Band traveled to Hoover, Alabama and won best in class for percussion.
“We won best in class procession, and then the bus broke down. That was a lot of fun.” Potter said with a laugh.
The bus broke down in Hoover, Alabama, briefly stranding students and teachers on the side of the road, but Potter was too excited about the winnings not to make the best of his time.
After graduating from high school in 2015, he attended Holmes Community College where he received an associate degree in electrical engineering.
Potter was asked to come back and assist teaching at KHS during the summer by Mark Edwards. In 2017, he was with the band students when they won state.
He realized that being on the other side of the podium was very rewarding, and this opened the door to many opportunities for him.
“I got to see it from the other side and got to see what it was like to help people achieve things and that felt good,” he said.
Potter proceeded with getting a bachelor’s degree in music education at Mississippi State and graduated in 2020. He played in the Famous Maroon Band during his time there. While at Mississippi State, he met his girlfriend, Michaela Marler, who is a band director in Gainesville, Florida, where the couple currently lives.
But he pondered if he should continue teaching.
Potter received an audition with the University of Florida and got offered an assistantship which paid for his tuition.
For the next three years, Potter will continue his studies at the University of Florida with plans to receive a doctoral degree in music.
“I reauditioned and got accepted into the doctoral music program,” said Potter. “So, I will be finishing that and become Dr. Potter."
