Highlanders of Tomorrow Band

Webster Springs-Hacker Valley Highlanders of Tomorrow Band (HTB) is a combined elementary band program of band students from Webster Springs and Hacker Valley Elementary Schools in Webster County, West Virginia. The HTB is currently one of the largest and fastest growing elementary band programs in West Virginia. The band currently has over 70 students. The HTB is under the direction of Josh Tharp and assisted by Brandon Moll and Jared Hall. The HTB currently serves as the main feeder program to the Highlander Showband and Showgirls Program at Webster County High School. In April 2018, the HTB became the first elementary band program in West Virginia to participate and perform at a WVSSAC Sanctioned Concert Band Ratings Festival.

Enrollment[edit]

When Tharp took the position in August 2017, only 17 students were signed up for Band between the 2 schools. After the 7th day of school during the 2017-18 year, the number of students enrolled in Band between the two schools jumped from 17 to 74. At Webster Springs Elementary, 55% of the students in grades 5-6 enrolled in Band (49 students total). At Hacker Valley, 100% of the students in grades 4-8 enrolled in Band (25 students total), despite the small enrollment and unusual class schedule set-up at Hacker Valley Elementary. By combining the number of band eligible students from the two schools, 65% of those students make up the band enrollment. The HTB is considered one of the largest and fastest growing elementary band programs in West Virginia. Currently, the HTB has one of the largest percentages of the student body (with two schools combined) enrolled in Band among public schools in West Virginia. ^[3]

History[edit]

The HTB was founded in August 2017 by Josh Tharp, the current director. Tharp wanted a fresh start by building a band program from the very beginning. He started collaborating ideas with Brandon Moll and Jared Hall, whom are lifelong residents of Webster County, about how he can get kids interested in Band. Moll and Hall eventually became assistants band directors right after the HTB was formed. When Tharp took the position, only 17 students were signed up for Band between the 2 schools. They had very high interest the first week of school, and he thought to himself: "Well, I teach at the 2 schools, and I have them everyday all year. So, they would be getting the same instruction from the same teacher, that's me. The numbers are pretty high at both schools. What if I combined the 2 bands into 1? Let me do the math.....WOW! That's more than most bands in the region. I'm going to combine the bands. Let me see what Jared and Brandon think about it and get their opinion as members of the community."

Tharp went ahead and asked Moll and Hall about it, and they were very supportive of the idea. So Tharp's idea was becoming a vision. Now, he had to come up with a name and a co-worker at Webster Springs Elementary suggested, "Highlanders of Tomorrow Band." Tharp played around with the idea overnight, and he totally decided to use that name. He heard a 3rd grade teacher at WSES was a graphic designer. Tharp asked her to come up with a design that would represent the Highlanders of Tomorrow Band and the schools and their communities of WSES and HV. She finally made a design that would fit Tharp's idea. The design is currently in use and used on the students' band shirts. The process was just beginning.

Tharp told people about his plan to combine the bands for a Christmas Concert series at both schools and there were mixed feelings about the idea from both schools and communities. So, he went ahead and talked to both principals from both schools, and they were all in support of the idea. Moll, Hall, and Tharp (along with classroom teachers and principals) started planning out logistics to plan the Christmas Concert series at both schools, one school per day. Of course, he had to go through obstacles and follow board procedures to make sure he wasn't breaking any rules and/or procedures. His main concern was to keep the principals from both schools pleased and in the loop of what they were planning for the concerts.

First rehearsal and Christmas performance debut[edit]

On December 17, 2017, the Highlanders of Tomorrow Band had their very first rehearsal as a combined band at Webster Springs Elementary School. This was the morning of their first of 2 Christmas Concerts. At the beginning of the rehearsal, the HTB played their first pitch (Concert Bb) as a whole ensemble. Tharp's vision now became a reality. After they played the Concert Bb pitch, Tharp gave the HTB his speech about how the HTB came to life. The HTB performed 2 Christmas Concerts at both schools on back-to-back days. People in Webster County and surrounding counties were shocked and amazed on well the HTB sounded.

After the Christmas Concert series ended, Moll, Hall, and Tharp started discussing plans for the spring. They all 3 came up with the idea of performing at band ratings, mostly encouraged by Brandon Moll. When Moll was the band director at WSES in 2015-16, he said he tried to get WSES Band to perform at band ratings with approval from the WVSSAC. However, the WVSSAC did not approve Moll's request because they were not a sanctioned school. So Tharp told Moll he would call the WVSSAC, and he said that it wouldn't hurt to try. Tharp called the WVSSAC and left them voicemail message expressing interest in the HTB performing at band ratings. Two weeks later, the WVSSAC allowed the HTB to participate as long as they paid the normal band participation fee. So, Tharp went ahead and picked out 2 pieces that suited the band's strengths and musicality, based on the performance of the Christmas Concert series.

First Concert Band Ratings Festival performance[edit]

On April 13, 2018, the HTB became the first elementary band program in state history to performat a WVSSAC Sanctioned Concert Band Ratings Festival event at Philip Barbour High School in Philippi, West Virginia. They performed "Heroes and Glory" by James Swearingen and "Dragon Slayer" by Rob Grice. The HTB earned a Superior Rating (I) at the festival as all 3 judges gave Superior Ratings to the band. It was the highest rating earned at the festival. The WCHS Highlander Showband received straight 2s (Excellent Ratings) from the same 3 judges at the concert band ratings festival.

Daily band class schedule[edit]

Band is offered everyday at both schools. Glade Elementary, the 3rd elementary school in Webster County, offers Band twice a week, thus having inconsistiences with instruction. Glade Elementary School also feeds into Webster County High School. Most of the HTB's success strives on consistent, daily instruction, and students are able to play their instruments everyday. The HTB is one of the few elementary band programs in the state that offers Band daily.