BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – The 2022 North Central West Virginia Honor Band happened on the campus of West Virginia Wesleyan this weekend. More than 40 students from nine different high schools around the state arrived Thursday and spent three days on campus, engaging in rehearsals, team-building activities, and several other events geared towards making the weekend truly unique.
This year’s guest conductor was Briana Blankenship, currently the Director of Athletic Bands at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. Before moving to IWU, Blankenship was the Director of Bands at Capital High School in Charleston, West Virginia and Gilmer County High School in Glenville, West Virginia. She graduated from Marshall University with a Master in Trumpet Performance and Bachelor in Music Education. “I am so excited to be ‘back home’ in West Virginia to serve as this year’s guest conductor for the North Central West Virginia Honor Band. It is truly an honor to have the opportunity to return and work with some of the finest young musicians in the state,” Blankenship said.
This is the first time in four years the honor band has performed on campus.
“I feel immensely proud of our fantastic student assistants, the administration, and our visiting directors in their assistance with making this special event happen,” Robert Palmer, Director of Athletic Bands, said. “Anytime you have the opportunity to engage students and directors at this level is something to be celebrated, and I am beyond thrilled that we have revitalized this important event.”
The finale concert took place Saturday, December 10 in the Virginia Thomas Law Performing Arts Center.
ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for more than 130 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan one of its 2023 Best Colleges in the Southeastern Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2022-2023 Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan seventh in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students more than 40 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, and nursing; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 70 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.
