After the retirement of Bonnie Anderson and Gina Muela, the Littlefield Marchin’ Cats needed a new band director; however, Anderson’s successor would step into a position she previously led for more than 32 years.
With immense stress to make the leadership transition as smooth as possible and to yield the same successes during competition season, pressure to take over the band program remained.
Nevertheless, the new Marchin’ Cats band director entered the position with one sentiment in mind: unity.
“ What I think band teaches more than any other activity is how to work together within a group and have everybody do their part at the right time,” John Barry, the director of bands, said. “Getting kids together to do those things and take care of their part is the best way we can teach kids to take care of their communities as adults.”
From Jacksboro, Texas, John Barry is the new band director at Littlefield High School.
“Music’s been a part of my life since I can remember, and… it’s just me. It’s part of who I am,” Barry said. “I can’t imagine a day or moment without something being musical.”
Initiated by humble beginnings as a singer in his church’s choir, Barry’s musical journey started at five years old and continued throughout his time in school.
His instrument of choice, the trombone, garnered several memorable musical moments and ultimately solidified his career aspirations.
“As a freshman, I qualified for the state’s solo and ensemble, and I remember playing for a judge at UT Austin. Hearing the feedback from that professor felt really good,” Barry said. “When I came back as a sophomore, I remember telling my band director, Mr. Wright, ‘Hey, I’m going to be a band director. I don’t know where I’m going or how I’m going to do it, but I’m going to be a band director.’” Barry’s band leadership started during his time as a drum major for the Purple Pride Jacksboro High School band. From there, he attended Texas Woman’s University in Denton, where his student teaching cooperator, Carter Biggers, connected him with Littlefield native Will Burks, who needed an assistant for the band program in Levelland.
“Will Burks is the one who got me out here to West Texas, and I fell in love with it 9 years ago,” Barry said.
Barry spent six years learning the ropes from Burks before moving on to serve as the head junior high band director in Seminole.
After his time spent in Seminole, Barry initially moved to Littlefield to work only as the junior high band director. Unbeknownst to him, his position quickly changed to director of both the high school and junior high bands.
“ We had a bit of a change-up during the first full week of school, and so at about 7:30 a.m., I became the director of bands,” Barry said.
Taking the reins from those whom Barry described as legends seemed daunting, but Bonnie Anderson and Gina Muela’s accolades piqued Barry’s interest in Littlefield in the first place. Nonetheless, Barry recognized his differences as the incoming band director.
“The biggest challenge when you’re taking over a program from a long-time beloved band director is walking in and trying to preserve everything,” Barry said, “but also having to understand that it’s never going to be the same because we’re not the same people.”
Despite this, the Littlefield band students’ talents eased Barry’s worries. With the help of student leaders, they too alleviated some of the stress that came with the transition.
“The easiest thing about this has been just how awesome the Littelfield students are. I am beyond impressed with the way the kids showed resilience through that time period,” Barry said. “The legacy of Miss A and Miss M is right there, and the students I got to inherit are great humans.”
Now approaching the end of his first year as the new band director, Barry leads a band program whose students earned 1’s during marching season competitions, perform for a packed gym, and feature 20 statebound UIL solo and ensemble competition qualifiers.
Over 300 students performed at the annual Christmas concert, including fifthgrade musicians who joined the performance on recorders.
Additionally, 20 students earned a ‘Superior’ First Division Rating at the 2026 UIL Region Solo and Ensemble: junior Brianna Aleman, sophomore Bailee Griffin, and freshman Alyson Hernandez, a clarinet trio who performed “Divertissiment No. 2”; junior Aryanna Ramirez, senior Matt Rios, freshman Adyleigh Rodriguez, and freshman Chanel Salinas, a brass quartet who performed “Brass Quartet No. 1”; senior Caleb Caudillo, sophomore Kevin Cruz, sophomore Jayton Parchman, junior Aryanna Ramirez, and sophomore Luke Trevino, a brass quintet who performed “Whaling Song”; junior Rhealee Golden, sophomore Melany Marquez, senior Jordan Randle, and sophomore Isaac Salazar, a percussion quartet who performed “Black Racer”; freshman Noah Clark, senior Meah Gonzales, sophomore Craig Jennings, junior Jesse Ortiz, and senior Jordan Randle, a percussion quintet who performed “Three Scenes from the Desert.”
“Seeing the gym full of people was really special, and now having those 20 kids qualify… it’s been really nice to see the way that the Wildcat band students show up at every level,” Barry said.
Ahead of the state competition season in May, Barry is working alongside his students to perfect their craft and is also preparing for the upcoming marching season next school year.
Preserving the surprise, Barry hinted that their show will involve music from an iconic country. Throughout preparation for the competition and future performances, Barry remains committed to instilling a strong sense of community within his students. Just as music brings people together, Barry aspires to teach students to recognize each other’s differences and look out for their community members, just as TV personality Mr. Rogers once did.
“The thing I want the kids to take away from it is that when you get to those points of adversity outside of school, think about the way you can be a neighbor, in the same way Mr. Rogers used to talk about,” Barry said. “Community building is the biggest lesson that I hope they take away from it.”