The Mountain Heritage Band and Chorus programs have earned numerous honors and awards throughout the years and remain a cherished memory for many alumni. However, over the past 14 years, student participation in the music program has steadily declined.
There are several reasons for this decrease in enrollment. During this time, the program experienced five teacher changes, creating challenges with continuity and long-term growth. The pandemic also significantly impacted music education across the state, as students were unable to fully participate in instrumental and vocal instruction for an extended period of time. In addition, students now have access to a wider variety of academic and career-focused opportunities, including courses through the NC School of Science and Mathematics, Career and Technical Education pathways, and dual-enrollment classes through Mayland Community College. While students still have room in their schedules to participate in band and chorus electives alongside these opportunities, many are choosing other classes that interest them.
This reality has been especially difficult for Superintendent Kathy Amos, who has a personal connection to school music programs. “I was both a student-athlete and a band student in high school,” Amos shared. “I played trumpet in the jazz band and marching band. We marched at Disney, competed in jazz competitions across the Southeast, and loved performing on Friday nights. Music programs create lifelong memories and friendships for our students.”
For the upcoming school year, only eight students registered for chorus and eleven students registered for band across six sections offered during the fall and spring semesters. In working with our counselors on course selection, most current students do not choose to take band or chorus for both semesters, as they also want to pursue other classes that align with their future goals. Due to these low enrollment numbers and the potential for class sizes as small as one or two students, Yancey County Schools will pause the high school band and chorus programs for one year while continuing to focus on rebuilding student interest and participation at the elementary and middle school levels. Scheduling of elective courses at the high school level is based on student interest during the registration process therefore courses for the upcoming school year are scheduled based on student registration. Both band and chorus will continue to be included in the registration process to determine student interest for all upcoming school years.
“Our hope is to recruit a band and chorus director who will fall in love with Mountain Heritage High School, our community, and choose to make a long-term commitment to the program,” Amos said. “As we evaluate the course registration numbers each year during the rebuilding process, we will continue to invest in our music programs at each level.”
Yancey County Schools is grateful for the continued support of state legislators Ralph Hise and Dudley Greene, who have helped provide annual teacher supplements. As a small rural school district, YCS often faces challenges competing with larger districts for educators, making recruitment and retention efforts especially important.
In recent years, middle school band rooms have been renovated with new carpet, fresh paint, and updated HVAC systems to provide safe, welcoming, and creative learning environments for students and staff. The high school Band/Choir rooms have also recently seen installation of new carpet, and instruments have been repaired and updated, ensuring we have facilities and materials of which our teachers and students can be proud.
MHHS Principal Daron Williams and his staff have worked diligently over the years to recruit, encourage, and support quality teachers and student participation in our music programs. “As a high school basketball player there was nothing like running out on the court as our band played “Smoke on the Water”. As a student athlete, as a coach, as a teacher, and now as an administrator, I know the importance of a positive culture and excitement that a music program can bring to a school and a community.”
For three consecutive years the district has secured grant funding to update band instruments in both the middle and high schools. The high school has also been working with our grant writer to purchase guitars for the music program. Plans are to utilize these in both the middle schools and high school to meet the interests of more students, and continue exploring other musical options. Our high school teachers have worked hard to build relationships with our middle school teachers and students in offering collaborative performances and summer camps. We plan to continue to listen to current students and provide extracurricular opportunities, as we work to build music program enrollment numbers.
Our middle schools will continue to offer band/chorus and art as an elective for students who choose to participate, ensuring that students have opportunities to explore creativity, develop musical skills, and engage in collaborative learning experiences. In addition, all elementary students receive music and art instruction during the school year as part of a well-rounded educational experience. These programs introduce students to creative expression at an early age and support the development of fine motor skills, communication skills, and cultural awareness. Through exposure to the arts, students are encouraged to think creatively, appreciate diverse perspectives, and discover individual talents and interests.
Yancey County Schools remains hopeful that, in the future, a dynamic music educator will help rebuild the program so that students can continue the proud tradition of music and performance at Mountain Heritage High School.