Cuthbertson High School opened its doors to students on August 25, 2009. Since that time, the Cuthbertson instrumental music program has challenged students to follow a musical “Journey of Excellence.” During this time, the high school program has grown from an inaugural class of 29 students to over 150, and currently fields a marching band of over 130 members. The High School instrumental music program supports two Concert bands, a Jazz band, an Indoor Percussion ensemble, a Winterguard unit, the “Mighty Marching Cavalier” Marching band, and 2 innovative rock bands.
The Cuthbertson band program, under the direction of directors Todd and Katie Ebert consists of over 450 students in grades 6-12. The high school “Blue Note Winds” have received superior ratings at North Carolina state MPA events each year since the school opened. In 2011, the Western Carolina University Wind Ensemble, Cullowhee, NC, chose Cuthbertson High School as a selected stop on its high school band recruitment tour. In 2012 the concert band commissioned a new work of music titled “Remembrance”, which they will premiere at the 2012 state convention. The Mighty Marching Cavaliers have competed in three states and participated in Bands of America regional events. In 2011 the marching Cavaliers were invited to perform in the Thanksgiving Day Parade of Bands at the Walt Disney World® Resort.
The middle school program has grown to a current enrollment of approximately 300 music students and features three concert bands, a jazz band, optional participation in the high school ‘Mighty Marching Cavalier’ marching band (open to 8th grade students) and the Winterguard (open to 7th and 8th grade students). Over the past three years a number of additional opportunities for the middle school instrumental music program have been created. A large number of middle school students participate in the University of Georgia Midfest Honor Band clinic as well as the district Solo and Ensemble Festival. Currently the middle school offers a 7th and 8th grade jazz club and a combined flag club of over 45 members, which teaches the basics of flag and dance technique.
The Cuthbertson Band program is a nationally recognized Program of Excellence. The band has been recognized as a feature band at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival, the Percy Grainger Festival, and has performed by invitation at both the University of Georgia Janfest clinic and the University of South Carolina Honor Band Clinic. The band has also performing by invitation at the North Carolina Music Educators state convention twice. In 2015 the band was recognized by the National band Association as the Southern Division Blue Ribbon of Excellence award for 2015/16 and has been twice named as a Support Music Merit award winner as a Best Community for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants.
The Cuthbertson band program has performed concerts with the Western Carolina Wind Ensemble, the Carolina’s Wind Symphony, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra as well as hosting University directors from 4 states into their band room for clinics with students. The students of the program are actively engaged in honor bands across three states as well as the local, district, and state level honor bands on North Carolina. The Mighty marching cavaliers have performed by invitation at the Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade of Bands, have been a bands of America Regional Finalist band, a USBands Grand Champion Band, and in 2016 will travel by invitation to perform in Hawaii. The Hawaii performance will be in honor of the 75th Anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and will be a cultural exchange with the Cuthbertson band joining with a band from Japan in joint performance with composer Robert W. Smith.
Students of the Cuthbertson instrumental program are active participants in many additional performing opportunities. Band students are encouraged to participate in honor bands and university sponsored clinic bands. Cuthbertson Band students have been accepted to honor bands on University campuses in Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. Students are also active participants in North Carolina honor bands at the county, district, and state level.
Premier Performances:
2011 Walt Disney World Thanksgiving Day Parade of Bands, CHS
2012 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference Performance, CMS & CHS
2014 Percy Grainger Festival, CHS
2015 University of Georgia JanFest Clinic Performing Ensemble, CHS
2015 Music for All National Concert Band Festival Featured Performing Ensemble, CHS
2015 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference Performance, CHS
2016 University of South Carolina Clinic Performing Ensemble, CHS
2017 Festival Disney Champion, CMS
2017 Music for All Southeastern Regional performing ensemble, CHS
2017 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference Performance, CMS
2017 University of Georgia MidFest Clinic Performing Ensemble, CMS
2018 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference Clinic, CHS
2018 National Adjudicators Invitational, CHS
2018 Music for All National Concert Band Festival Featured Performing Ensemble, CHS
2019 North Carolina Music Educators Association Conference Percussion clinic, CHS
2019 Music for All Southeastern Regional performing ensemble, CMS
2020 University of South Carolina Clinic Performing Ensemble, CHS
2020 Music For All National Chamber and Percussion Festival, CHS
2022 Music for All Southeastern Regional performing ensemble, CMS & CHS
Recognitions:
2015 National Band Association, Blue Ribbon of Excellence, CHS
2016 NAMM John Lennon Tour Bus Residency, CHS
2019 National Wind Band Honors, Mark of Excellence Commended Winner, CHS
2020 The American Prize, 1st Place Concert Band High School Division, CHS
2022 The American Prize, 3rd Place Chamber Ensemble Division, CHS
2015,16,17,18,19,20,21,22NAMM “Best Communities for Music Education” Merit Award
2021/22 School year – Visiting University Clinicians, UNC Charlotte, UNCG, ASU, Belmont, Pfeiffer, Wingate, GSU, as well as 3 nationally recognized composers in house.