Replacing a legend is never easy, but Gadsden City High School’s new group principal Chris Benedetti didn’t hesitate when given the opportunity to do so.

Former GCHS Group Director Steve Reagan, who had held the position since the school was founded in 2006, retired earlier this year, leaving an impressive legacy.

Reagan was the group principal at Ashville, Emma Sansom and Gadsden High Schools, then held the same position in Gadsden City after consolidation and held the position for 16 years. In total, he spent 47 years teaching and leading high school music groups, winning the 1978 and 1979 VFW National Championships to Emma Sansom.

His father, Billy “Rip” Reagan, was also a renowned group manager, winning the VFW National Championship three consecutive years starting in 1957.

With such a predecessor, whoever took over Reagan’s old role would clearly have big shoes to fill, a level of pressure that might be too much for some to handle.

But Benedetti was ready to move all in and take up the challenge, with the seal of approval from the man he replaced.

“It was a very easy choice (to replace Reagan),” Benedetti said. “After they made me an offer and I said to my wife, she said, ‘Well, duh. “

“It was really appealing to everyone,” he said. “Steve has a legacy and he is a legacy. His family has a tradition of musical excellence. He and I spoke on the phone about the transition.

“It’s great when you have the support of the person before,” Benedetti said. “He’s been really, really wonderful. We’ve spent hours on the phone a couple of times talking about the program, the direction of the program. He’s really excited about what we’re doing there.”

This program that Reagan built was a big draw for Benedetti, who completed his first group camp in his new gig on Friday, especially the support system provided by colleges Gadsden, Emma Sansom and Litchfield that power Gadsden City.

“Gadsden City has a long tradition of excellence,” he said. “They made a name for themselves in the squad world. The opportunity to take the reins and run with it was great.

“Miss (Stacy) Harris, Mr. (Brian) Bankston and Mr. (Ali) Sullivan are not rewarded enough for what they do for the program, and the two assistants, Mr. (Stephen) Arline and Miss (Melissa ) Padgett, were also exceptional. We are all working for the same goal in the same direction. “

Benedetti’s resume certainly speaks to his ability not only to lead groups, but to guide them to success.

After graduating from Starr’s Mill High School in Peachtree City, Georgia, Benedetti attended Jacksonville State University. While there, he performed in the school band, majoring in music education and studying bass trombone, while also serving as an administrative assistant for the JSU Jazz Festival from 2011 to 2013, among other accomplishments. He graduated from JSU in 2013.

From there, Benedetti was hired by Ohatchee High School in 2014 to lead the school band and teach instrumental music.

While there, Benedetti helped add a winter guard, support group, and jazz group to the school’s music program. In addition, he led the Ohatchee group at the 2019 Class 2A Alabama State Marching Band Championship. He also works with Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps as a bass brass technician.

With the pandemic underway, Benedetti explained that the current number of the Titan group is around 200 members, and he hopes to increase the number of members to 230 or more. He also wants to help each of those 200+ students continue their education after high school.

“I have a personal scholarship goal,” he said. “I want to give every child the opportunity to be in college and get money for college, whatever I can to help prepare that student for college.”

Going from a small school to a big school didn’t change the way Benedetti approaches his job – he already had the mindset for it.

“When I was in Ohatchee, I treated them like it was a 7A program,” he said. “You have these expectations, that” we’re going to sound and sound and act like a 7A program. “”

Yet there is no doubt that there are differences. What Benedetti hopes to do is bridge those differences, mainly when it comes to how group members interact.

“There is a connection that these children (Ohatchee) have because there are less of them,” he said. “They come from a small town, everyone knows everyone. One of my goals is to make that small group bond. I want them to feel like they’ve grown up together.

“I come from a big school (high school) and I don’t know everyone I graduated from,” he said. “I don’t want them (the kids) to leave this program and not be able to get to know everyone in this program. At night – things where the kids are doing something that is not a group and can create those relationships. “

Benedetti also pointed out that due to the size of the school, there isn’t as much pressure to have to recruit to try and strengthen the group’s membership, at least in part thanks to the help of teachers who also assist the group.

For 16 years the people of Gadsden City knew what kind of group they got in football games and competitions. Benedetti has no desire to change that, only to improve it and take it one step further.

“The Ohatchee group has an identity and the Gadsden City group has an identity and I’m not trying to change that,” he said. “This identity of entertaining, fun, fast paced and strong bands is going nowhere. The point is just to push them to another level.”