Durant High School Band Director Chris Gregg has been inducted into the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame during a ceremony Wednesday at the Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in Tulsa.
In addition to being the DHS band director, Gregg is the coordinator of instrumental music and fine arts chair for the Durant Independent School District.
“I am deeply humbled and honored to be considered for and inducted into the Oklahoma Bandmasters Association Band Directors Hall of Fame,” Gregg said. “I will be the fourth director in the history of the Durant Band program to receive this prestigious award.
“This should speak volumes about the tradition of excellence and the legacy of the hard work of thousands of students over the decades, the support of the community of boosters and school administrators, and band leadership that has impacted the city of Durant.”
Gregg earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and music theory plus a master’s in education with music emphasis from Southeastern Oklahoma State University.
While in college, Gregg participated in the Oklahoma Inter-Collegiate Band four times, performed for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, and earned many other honors as an instrumentalist.
In 1992, he began his teaching career at Fox. During Gregg’s first and only year at Fox, the band earned a Superior rating at the OSSAA Regional Marching Contest after numerous years of low ratings. He continued his teaching career in Antlers.
From 1993-1998, Gregg took the Antlers band to new heights. Antlers High School Band earned numerous first division ratings, the OSSAA Sweepstakes Award, and in 1997, the group represented the State of Oklahoma at the 75th Anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.
After five successful years at Antlers, Gregg returned to Durant in 1998 to take the Durant Middle School director job, a position he held for two years. In the fall of 2000, Gregg became the director of the Durant High School Band.
The DHS Band has earned numerous OSSAA Sweepstakes Awards and earned first division ratings for 22 of 26 years at Regional Marching Contest.
Under the direction of Gregg, the Pride of Durant has represented the State of Oklahoma in Washington D.C. at the commemoration of the World War II Monument, the Auto Zone Liberty Bowl Grand Champion in 2009, 2012 and 2015, the Valero Alamo Bowl Grand Champion in 2011, and has earned honors at various invitational contests all over the country. The DHS Band performed as an Honor Group at the 2013 OkMEA All-State Convention.
In 2010, Gregg was awarded the Kappa Kappa Psi Silver Baton award. In 2015, he was awarded Band Director of the Year by the Oklahoma Bandmaster’s Association and in 2017, he was awarded The Texoma Excellence in Education Teacher of the Year. He attributes his success to a great family, fantastic students, a wonderful staff, and finally, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
Gregg is married to Leslie, a great mom, and successful Durant Middle/Intermediate School band director. The Greggs have three children, Macy Dickson, Andrew, and Matthew Gregg, two daughters-in-law, Emily Gregg and Kassie Gregg, one son-in-law, Chris Dickson, and eight grandchildren, Kaylee, Lydia, Sophie, CJ, Eli, Benji, Hayden and Carma Williams (and one little Dickson on the way).
Gregg’s professional affiliations include NAFME, OkMEA, OBA, OMAA, SEOBDA, NFIMA, and the Oklahoma Ambassadors of Music. He attends First Baptist Church in Durant. Gregg also does work as a band clinician and adjudicator for many groups and organizations each year.
The Band Boosters will have a reception for Gregg from 5:30-7 p.m. Aug. 9 after band camp at the DHS band practice pad. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
