Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Banding Together

Watauga Community Band Plays
Memorial Day Weekend Concert May 25

Former educator and local resident Bill Lightfoot pointed out that most people don’t have the opportunity to perform with a band after high school or college, but fortunately, Watauga County community members do.

The Watauga County Community Band formed in 1986 as an all-volunteer concert band composed of community members and Appalachian State University staff and students. Under the direction of Dr. Charles Isley, the band first organized at Hardin Park School in Boone and held its first concert on February 8, 1987.

Lightfoot, 67, plays drums and is a charter member of the Community Band. He’s a professional folklorist who taught in the English department at ASU.
“The opportunity to play … is absolutely thrilling, and you never get over that,” he said.

On Sunday, May 25, the Community Band performs its annual Memorial Day Weekend concert. The concert is also a special tribute to Isley, who, at the age of 87, is officially retiring as conductor of the band. Isley has taken springs off from the band for the past few years as Bill Winkler—band director at Watauga High School—has been taking over the role of conductor. Isley continues to play trombone with the band.

The 3:00 p.m. concert in Farthing Auditorium on the ASU campus will feature the Community Band, as well as past members, performing mostly patriotic tunes.
“We are expecting a very large crowd,” said Bonnie Gordon, a longtime member. “Many alumni members, going back many years, plan to play the Memorial Day concert with us.”

The community band represents a cross-section of Wataugans, including ASU music majors, current and retired music teachers, amateur musicians, retirees, public school children, professionals and many others. Band members range in age from 14 to over 80. To join, no auditions are required—all you need is an instrument.

“Some members travel weekly from Wilkesboro and Marion to rehearse with the group,” Winkler said.

Pat Maddux, the band’s librarian, went 28 years without performing in a band before she joined the community band as a charter member. The clarinet player was also the librarian of her high school band. She now keeps a detailed history and photo collection for the Community Band.

Show tunes, marches and traditional pieces are among the Community Band’s staples. Memorial Day marks the start of the band’s summer season.

“During the summer, we welcome any visitors to sit in with us as we play old time music,” Gordon said. The band typically performs 10 to 12 times at various community venues throughout the summer.

This year’s schedule includes concerts at Fred’s General Mercantile in Beech Mountain, local campgrounds, the Boone Fourth of July parade and the Jones House. Past concerts include the Mitford Days festival in Blowing Rock, political fundraisers and local tourist attractions.

New to the band is Lindsay Horne, age 20, a junior elementary education major at ASU. Horne has played the trumpet for nine years. She met a fellow Community Band member while working at Parkway School, and he encouraged her to join. She did—about three weeks ago.

“I haven’t played in an organized band in two years,” Horne said. “I’m enjoying it.”

Beth Winkler joined the Community Band when it started but decided to take a break from it. She returned to the band eight or 10 years ago and plays bells and mallets.

“I enjoy playing with the group,” said Winkler, who played the oboe in her high school band in Virginia and majored in piano at ASU. “I have a lot of friends in here.”

Winkler is a band and strings teacher who splits her time between Valle Crucis and Bethel schools.

One of the youngest members of the band is 14-year-old Justin Beebe, a freshman at Watauga High School. Beebe began playing the French horn as a sixth-grader and joined the Community Band when he was in the seventh grade. As a member of the Watauga High School Band, he said the Community Band offers a more relaxed atmosphere.

“I just wanted experience to play music that we don’t get to play in school—there’s more variety,” Beebe said.

Admission to the Community Band’s May 25 concert is free. For more info about the band, click to www.wataugaband.org or call 828-297-1123.

Want To Go?

Date: Sunday, May 25
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Location: Farthing Auditorium
Cost: Free

Honoring Isley

Dr. Charles Isley, Jr., will officially retire as the conductor of the Watauga Community Band on Sunday, May 25, at a Memorial Day weekend concert held in his honor. The leadership role is one of many Isley has held in musical organizations throughout the years.

Isley was born in Cooleemee on December 21, 1920. He received a bachelor of music degree from Davidson College in 1942. After graduation, he taught band, orchestra and choral music at Waynesville High School for 16 years, leading his students to the highest levels of state competition and earning consistent superior ratings. While teaching, Isley completed his master of music education degree from Appalachian State University in 1954.

Isley married Lois Elizabeth Caldwell, and they had three children. The family moved to the Boone area in 1958, when Isley accepted a position as associate professor at ASU. He received his doctoral degree from North Texas State University in 1972 and became a full professor at ASU that same year.

At ASU, Isley served as director of bands for 17 years of his 20-year tenure. He served as host of the Northwest North Carolina High School Band Clinic and was active in the founding of Cannon Music Camp. In 1975, Isley received the Outstanding Educator of America Award.

He retired from ASU in 1978, but has remained active ever since. He helped the Watauga County Schools system develop an orchestral strings program and served for two years as the band director at Watauga High School.

When the Watauga Community Band formed in 1986, Isley volunteered to serve as its conductor and has done so ever since.

“He’s been the heart and soul of the band clearly since its inception,” said Bill Lightfoot, a charter member of the Community Band.

Bill Winkler succeeded Isley as band director at Watauga High and will now fill his shoes as conductor of the Community Band. Winkler also has been with the band since the beginning.

“I have always considered him to be a mentor,” Winkler said. “I have the utmost respect for Dr. Isley.”

Longtime Community Band member Beth Winkler first met Isley when she was a freshman at ASU in 1969. As a former student of his and a member of the band under Isley’s leadership, Winkler “found him to be extremely patient, and very knowledgeable,” she said.

Isley’s wife Lois died in May 2001 of Alzheimer’s disease. The next year, he moved into Appalachian Brian Estates, where he organized weekly musicals for the residents. Several years ago he moved into a private apartment and has spent some time traveling. He has five grandchildren and one great-grandson.