He Has Been the Band Director at Green Run for Many Years, but He Didn't Always Want to Teach

Mr. Hopson, director of the GRHS marching band, seems to be everywhere at once, but you would be surprised to find about where he has been before Green Run.

Born in June 1963, Mr. Hopson has been around music for most of his life, if not all. From growing up in a Hampton neighborhood filled with talented musicians, to working at Busch Gardens as an entertainer, Mr. Hopson hasn’t just played music in GRHS.

“Music was the popular thing to do back in high school”, says Mr. Hopson.

During his time in Hampton High School, Mr. Hopson and his friends were either in band or playing music outside of school, it was everywhere they looked.

Now, even though Mr. Hopson loves music, especially teaching it to us students, it was not ideal career choice, at least not at first.

“I actually wanted to go into the Air Force, I wanted to fly jets”, said Mr. Hopson.

He would end up taking a different route in life, but he does not regret where he is now.

Not joining the Air Force meant another career had to be found. Seeing he needed to think of something else, Mr. Hopson went back to his original love, music.

“I knew that I wanted to play or teach music professionally”, says Mr. Hopson.

Before teaching schools however, he found himself playing as a member of the Busch Gardens Boogie Band and on cruise ships in the Caribbean for some money.

A friend of his who played in the band as well soon approached with a job that would put him on the path to where he is right now.

“My friend approached me with a directing job at PA middle”, says Mr. Hopson

This was the start of his teaching career. He would spend 12 years teaching middle school, between PA middle and Corporate Landing middle.

After 12 years of teaching middle school, he would move on to teaching high school by arriving at Green Run in the year 2000.

Since arriving here, he has helped in the growth of our schools marching band, along with beginning and intermediate band.

“Marching band is what I direct the most”, Mr. Hopson adds.

Directing the band a number of 40 times per year, and taking them to multiple competitions throughout, it’s easy to see why he is always moving around.

Some competitions include going to North Carolina, but almost all of them are in VA.

“Some of the songs that the band uses are from the movie drumline”, Mr. Hopson commented.

The marching band has also had its fair share of victories from these competitions. Some from last year include schools such as Indian River, Powhatan, Cary High School, in North Carolina, and many other trips.

From trips, 1st place competitions, and directing the band, even outside of school, you could Mr. Hopson is the reason they are so successful, but he wouldn’t want you to think that.

“I don’t want to take credit for the bands success, I just do my job, but they are the real talent”.