chris winters provides steady hand behind marching unit's wheel

By: Ariel O'Leary

During his freshman year in 1991, Chris Winters attempted to try out for the Glenelg baseball team. 

Upon learning that Winters was part of the Marching Unit, the coach at the time told him bluntly, “as soon as you step on that bus for Spring Trip, you’re not mine anymore – you’re the marching band’s.”

Winters boarded that bus. 

Today, it’s safe to say that Winters has been a steady driver behind the wheel, leading Glenelg’s band program down a long road of continued success for the last decade.

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​Winters’ musical journey and subsequent identity formation really began with his decision that freshman year – one that ultimately led him to pursue a degree in music from The Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University. After graduation, Winters taught and directed Hammond High School’s marching band for six years, taught music classes at Lisbon Elementary for 11 years, and, since 2015, has been at the helm of Glenelg’s award-winning Marching Unit. 

According to Winters, the recipe for success is easy: it’s all about the group’s pride.

“I’ve been blessed with having fantastic student performers who work hard and take pride in the program and their development,” Winters said. “The smiles on their faces while they perform, the success and fun they have, their strong work ethic, that feeling when they nail a performance and they know they did the best they could — it makes it all worth it, over and over again.”

Winters added what makes leading the band “exciting and humbling” is the Marching Unit’s 50-plus year legacy, which, for at least the past 10 years, has been on the receiving end of countless awards and recognition, including multiple first-place finishes and routinely earning superior ratings in competitions.

“Together, we continue to maintain a culture of excellence, commitment, dedication, and fun,” he said. “I truly believe we have the best students.”

One of those students includes senior drum major Leri Odumosu, who has been a member of the Marching Unit since his sophomore year. Though Odumosu will study electrical engineering in college, he said he also plans to earn a dual degree or minor in music performance.

Winters is a big reason why.

“I really admire Mr. Winters’ commitment to excellence,” Odumosu said, “and I especially appreciate that he expects 100 percent from everyone. He is never content with complacency, and is always willing to help students reach their goals. In my own experience as a musician, he’s pushed me to become a well-developed classical saxophonist despite jazz being my main interest.”

Odumosu is one of thousands of students Winters has helped shape musically during the course of his career. Even so, Winters argues, it is his desire for his musicians to continue exploring passions outside of playing music, and to enjoy having a fun, well-rounded high school experience. 

“I come back to what happened to me during my freshman year and not getting to play baseball while being part of the Marching Unit,” Winters said. “I don’t want that to ever be someone else’s experience. Being part of the band is a demanding year-round activity and it comes with high expectations, but that doesn’t mean it should be the only opportunity for students to showcase their talents.”

Though Winters recognizes the demands placed on musicians – especially when it comes to time management – as the director, he too faces a strenuous schedule of preparation ahead of planning each season’s football halftime show. The most important part of any halftime performance, he added, is trying to find the right music.

Winters said he knows how deep the roots of tradition are embedded at Glenelg, and when he chooses the music for the opening and closing numbers, he makes sure they will “wow the crowd.” The best part of selecting songs, he said, is that they do not need to be related to each other, which creates more of an enjoyable experience for the audience. 

“When you look at groups from other schools, most of them have a theme,” Winters said. “When you watch our Marching Unit perform, it’s important to note that we’ve picked music that is purposefully different than others, and we do not just perform for the musical parents, we perform for everyone … that has always been our strength.”

Putting together a show is no easy task, Winters said, especially because an effective show design relies on the simultaneous movement and playing of each member, and for each to memorize music and steps to get into multiple positions throughout the show. 

Two weeks prior to the start of the school year, members participate in a week-long band camp which helps ensure a smooth transition into the school year and a polished performance by the first home game. From early morning to the late afternoon, the Unit works out formation spacing, music, and completes multiple runs of the show. 

“He runs a tight but fun ship,” said colleague and choir director Chris Fox. “He really respects the members of the Marching Unit and it shows in how much they will do for him as their leader.” 

Whether at the helm of a ship or a bus, the metaphor is apt: Winters’ directorial leadership continues to drive the Marching Unit forward, and there is no sign of the momentum waning.  

“My excitement and energy is fueled by the students,” Winters said. “Each year is new and exciting. I love the sense of community at GHS. Every group is different and has its own feel, motivations, and personality. The journey to this point has been a beautiful ride and the road ahead looks bright.”