September 2025 | Volume 16 | Issue 6
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Life in the band From summer band camp to Friday night lights, students put in the work for another show-stopping season
New Mountain Brook Mayor Graham Smith takes over in November after running unopposed to follow former Mayor Stewart Welch III. Photo by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.
Graham Smith is ready to get started as mayor amid major change
By EMILY REED
U
nder the late-summer sun, the Mountain Brook High School marching band is already hard at work — piecing together drills, harmonies and one of its most ambitious halftime shows yet. With football season underway and competitions on the horizon, the Spartan band is deep into fall prep. Students are balancing long rehearsals, rising expectations and a show that blends modern Broadway hits with something rare for a high school program — live vocal performance. At the heart of it all are student leaders such as senior drum major Ada Dapkus, who said the show only works when every piece comes together. “We want to not only create a really great performance, but we want it to sound really cool,” Dapkus said. “I think having all of the pieces come together from the many different aspects of the marching band is what makes the overall show really great. We couldn’t be more excited.” James Rogers, MBHS director of bands, has spent the past nine years growing the program — nearly doubling its size in that time. “I think one thing that has helped our program is we have developed how we build and prepare our musicians,” Rogers said. “Our retention in the band is much higher now. We retain roughly 90% of students. We are getting kids into the program, and they are finding they genuinely love it.
Above: From left, Mountain Brook band members Baryn Farr, Katie Burns, Ada Dapkus and Sam Eagan take a break from practice for the 2025 marching season. Left: Farr, right, takes his steps to the music during rehearsal for the Spartans’ halftime show. Below: Burns and other members of the famed Dorians dance team at MBHS get in their line kicks. Photos by Tosha Gaines.
By SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. The mayor’s office at Mountain Brook City Hall is decorated with artwork from the city’s grade school students. Some of the pictures have been on the wall a while — a long while. “We have an elementary school art exhibit going back to 2019,” said Graham Leigh Smith, recalling a recent review of the display. “They knew some of these children had already graduated. “Maybe it’s time for an art freshen.” The mayor’s office will have a new look soon, starting with the person behind the desk. Smith is set to become the first woman elected mayor of the city. The 45-year-old native of Long Island, New York, will be the second woman named Smith to hold the office. Retiring Council President Virginia Smith was interim mayor for two or three weeks when Mayor Terry Oden died.
See MAYOR | page A19
See election coverage online at villagelivingonline.com
See BAND | page A18
INSIDE
Sponsors..........................A4 City....................................A6
Schoolhouse....................A8 Business......................... A12
Real Estate.....................A17 Events...............................B8
Sports............................. B10 Community.....................B13 facebook.com/villageliving
Education Guide
Medical Guide
Learn more about Mountain Brook-area schools in our annual Education Guide.
Discover Mountain Brook-area health and wellness services in our biannual Medical Guide.
See page A10
See page B1
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