NC Music Educator Winter 2024

then went to the middle of the Bronnenkant, which he described
as the most resonant portion of the program. After cutting off
after the first climax, Haithcock pointed out, “We now have an ear
goal of arriving at that richness and resonance.”
The careful language Haithcock uses to create a positive
atmosphere extends to the specificity of sound. Efficient and
imaginative language sparks the creativity of the musicians. “Make
it sound distant.” “Can that be sassier?” “If you have that part
that sounds like indigestion…” Subjective language such as this
resulted in immediate change.
Implications for Music Educators
If you’re going to go out and teach, don’t just stop
and say, ‘lets do it again,’ offer a solution! – MH
Throughout the rehearsals, Haithcock addressed the future
music educators, pointing out techniques and suggesting
application in future classrooms. Chairs in the back were filled
with teachers observing his instruction. Gardner noted, “I think
there’s a real intentionality with how he approached his rehearsals
that every high school band director needs to take heed of.”
Nelson agreed. “As a future music educator, (it) helped me
think about the way I would explain music to my own students. I
will bring this to my future classroom.”
Creating a positive atmosphere, respecting student’s time and
talent, and creating a unified musical sound are aspects that will
contribute not just to the success of our ensembles, but to the joy
Auditions for Fall 2024 Entry
Saturday, November 18, 2023
Saturday, January 27, 2024
Friday, February 16, 2024
Saturday, March 2, 2024
Other dates by arrangement
of daily music making we hope to instill.
Yes, we’re going to play a concert, but I want
people to feel like the minute by minute, the hour by
hour, the day by day towards the concert, is where the
joy is. –MH
Doris Doyon has been an active music educator for twenty
years, teaching public school bands in Washington, Nevada, and
California. She most recently served as director of bands at Mt. San
Antonio College in Walnut, Calif., and previously served as director
of instrumental music at Norwalk High School, a Title I School in
southeast Los Angeles County. The Norwalk Band earned a six-year
designation as a Grammy Signature School Program, and hosted many
clinicians from around the nation. She completed a DMA in wind
conducting at UCLA in December of 2022, and is pursuing a PhD
in music education, wind conducting cognate, at the University of
Michigan. She earned a Master of Arts in conducting and percussion
performance from Truman State University and bachelor’s degrees
in music education and music performance from Pacific Lutheran
University.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A
MUSIC DEGREE?
At Meredith, students have the opportunity to
experience a tailor-made degree program that allows
them to pursue careers in performance, education,
music therapy, music technology, composition, arts
administration, music business, and research.
Across the Districts
District 7
The past few months have been a whirlwind of musical events,
activities, and awards for music educators and students across
District 7. With calendars filled with concerts, marching band
competitions, honors ensemble events, and beyond, the musical
landscape has been vibrant and active since the beginning of the
school year.
Elementary music educators and their students have been
busy performing for their schools, community festivals, and
holiday celebrations. Amid these events, Dr. Erin Roper received
the November Employee of the Month award at Clyde Campbell
Elementary. Glenda Stephens received a $250 J. Don Coleman
Education Fund grant from the Hickory Choral Society for the
purchase of music at Viewmont Elementary School. Andrea Evans
had three Granite Falls Elementary School students selected for our
state’s Elementary Honors Chorus.
Preparations have begun for many events planned for the
winter months including All-County Chorus clinics, field trips to
hear the Western Piedmont Symphony, and Music In Our Schools
Month activities.
Heritage Middle School Chorus, directed by Mindy Cook,
performed at the NCMEA Professional Development Conference,
and will perform at the Biltmore House on April 22. Happy Valley
School has a middle school pep band for the first time ever! The
band and their director, Christopher Mayhew, bring excitement
and school spirit to their athletic events.
The Freedom High School chamber singers, directed by Robert
Summerel, performed at the Duke University Chapel on October
14, in conjunction with the NCACDA conference. Bernadette
Watts, chorus director at South Caldwell High School, had four
students selected for N.C. Honors Chorus, eight students selected
for Mars Hill Choral Festival, and three students selected for
ACDA Southern Division Honor Choir.
Burke County High School Band directors hosted the annual
All-County High School Honors Band on November 21 at
Patton High School. Caldwell County band directors hosted
their All-County Band Clinic for middle and high schools on
November 17 – 18 at the J.E. Broyhill Civic Center.
The Patton High School marching band was awarded Grand
Champion at the A C Reynolds Marching Band Competition on
October 14. Chad Higdon, band director at R. L. Patton High
school, received the North Carolina Bandmasters Association’s
Award of Excellence.
We congratulate these music educators and their students on
their successes. We are proud of the wonderful things happening
in music education in District 7. Here’s to the power of music in
shaping lives, fostering unity, and creating lasting memories for
our students and communities as we continue doing what we do
throughout the school year!
District 1
Andrea Evans
District 7 President
District7@ncmea.net
Currently in her 16 th year teaching,
Pam Day has spent the last three years at
Wintergreen Intermediate School in Pitt
County. Recently honored as Teacher of
the Year for her school, she earned her
undergraduate degree at East Carolina
University. While there, she spent many
semesters performing clarinet in the top
ensembles. She later went on to LSU where
she received her graduate degree. Before her appointment at
Wintergreen, Day spent 13 years teaching at Richlands Elementary
School in Onslow County. She made the move to Pitt County in
2021, and calls her move to Greenville as coming home.
If you know her, you know she brings an energy and passion
to the music classroom that is unmatched. She creates a fun,
engaging, and safe learning environment while teaching her
students the foundations of music making. She says while music
education creates future musicians, it also creates lifelong learners
who will “forever appreciate and use those skills learned in music.”
In addition to being awarded Teacher of the Year, she also
presented three different elementary sessions at the NCMEA
Professional Development Conference this past November.
Molly Griffin-Brown
District 1 President
District1@ncmea.net
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