Paul Rousse
Director of Bands
Biography coming soon...
Zachary Hassell
Assistant Director
Woodwind/Color Guard
Zachary Hassell is a native of Pensacola, FL and is in his ninth year of teaching with the Oak Grove Band Program. Mr. Hassell conducts the Eighth Grade Band Concert Band and teaches all of the woodwind classes at Oak Grove Middle School. Mr. Hassell directs and coordinates the Oak Grove High School Color Guard and Winter Guard program and the Color Guard for the Pride of Mississippi at the University of Southern Mississippi. He holds professional memberships in the Southeast Mississippi Band Directors Association and the Mississippi Bandmasters Association. Mr. Hassell is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where he received his Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees.
James Crocker
Assistant Director
Brass
James Crocker has been teaching band in Mississippi for eight years. Originally a native of Theodore, Alabama, he is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi where he received his Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees. Mr. Crocker is the primary director for the Oak Grove Middle School Band where he conducts the Seventh Grade Band and teaches high brass in sixth and seventh grade. Prior to teaching at Oak Grove, Mr. Crocker taught at Germantown High School and at Southaven High School. Mr. Crocker is a member of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association and the Southeast Mississippi Band Directors Association and he has previously served on the Executive Board of the DeSoto County Band Directors Association. Mr. Crocker is married to Lori Crocker and they live in Hattiesburg with their son Andrew.
Daniel Johnson
Assistant Director
Brass
Daniel Johnson is from Pearl, MS where he graduated from high school. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011 and then began his career. Mr. Johnson is currently finishing his Masters in Music Education at William Carey University where he will graduate in the Fall of 2021.
Mr. Johnson has taught band for 10 and is currently an Assistant Band Director at Oak Grove High School. He serves as one of the brass instructors for grades 6-12, director of the 8th grade band, and director of the High School Symphonic Band. He is also the marching fundamentals instructor for the Oak Grove High School marching band.
Mr. Johnson has led All-Superior rated ensembles at local festival, out-of-state concert band competitions, and MHSAA state concert band evaluations at the middle school and high school level ensembles. In the marching realm he has helped programs earn best in class for visual and marching at Bands of America regional competitions across the country, in which that program earned a spot in a finals performance ranked with bands nationwide.
He currently resides in Hattiesburg, MS with his wife Kayla, daughter Samantha, and soon to be born daughter Everly. Mr. Johnson is thrilled to be a part of the Oak Grove Bands family!
