Landing her dream job is a golden opportunity for one Bradford native.
“This is my dream job, this is exactly where I wanted to be — it was really fate,” said Marissa Pattison Golden during a break from directing the Marching Owls during band camp Tuesday at Parkway Field.
Golden, who is the new music and band director at Bradford Area High School, took over the position from longtime band director Kathy Thumpston, who retired at the end of last school year.
“I was so lucky that this worked out,” Golden said of her new position.
A former student and graduate of Bradford High, Golden had studied under Thumpston and performed with the Marching Owls in high school. She noted her father, Jerry Pattison, is also an assistant varsity football coach for the high school.
“(Thumpston) has been a dream, she has been so helpful,” Golden continued. “She doesn’t want to be present, but is helping from the sidelines. She’s making sure I have everything I need.”
In addition, Thumpston is serving as president of the Lakeshore Marching Band Association, she added.
“She’s not far from her roots,” Golden said of Thumpston.
Golden said this year’s band comprises approximately 60 students, who began practicing with band camp Monday, alongside the color guard team.
“We’re here to prepare our field show, and are getting ready for fall football games and competitions,” Golden said. “We’re also getting ready for the Autumn Classic (competition at Parkway Field), which is Sept. 22” and open to the public.
She said adding to the pleasure of her new job is the new artificial turf that had been installed on the field earlier this summer. The turf, which didn’t impact the school district budget or taxes, had an estimated cost between $400,000 and $450,000. Is expected to last as long as 12 years.
“It’s wonderful — there’s a little bit different material (in the new turf) and there’s some bounce to it,” Golden added. “The kids really like it, too. It’s going to be beautiful to march on.”
School Street Elementary School band director Mike Grady, who serves as an assistant Marching Owls band director, said he also had taught Golden when she was in elementary school.
“I had her in band in the fourth- and fifth-grade at (George G. Blaisdell Elementary)” before the grades were reconfigured at the elementary schools, Grady said of Golden.
“We’re so happy to have a seamless transition with the new director.”
Also free and open to the public will be the Bradford Marching Owls Preview Show at 7 p.m. Aug. 10 at Parkway Field. Golden said the show is the Marching Owls’ first public performance of their show for the season.
