By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
The East and West Carter High School Bands will unite for a performance at the West Carter High School gym this Saturday, with the concert kicking off at 3 p.m.
This event is being held as part of the National Association for Music Education’s Music In Our Schools Month.
“March is set aside as a time to recognize and celebrate the music education that is taking place in our schools,” East Carter band director Logan Skidmore explained. “So, if you have ever been pepped by the fight song at an athletic event, stirred by the service songs at the Veteran’s Day services, or been moved by music performed at Christmas or Spring Concerts this is an event for you to show appreciation for what the high school bands have accomplished.”
This year’s guest conductor for the All-County Band event is Pauletta Smith. She is a native of Tram, Kentucky where she currently resides after a 37-year career in music education. Smith received her bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Pikeville, and her master’s degree in music education from the University of Kentucky. During her professional career, she served as the director of bands for seven years at Johns Creek High School, 29 years at Hazard High School, and one year at Betsy Lane High School. She has also served as an instructor for the Kentucky Music Ambassadors European Tour since 2004. The Kentucky Music Ambassadors chamber ensembles have performed in England, France, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, and Germany. During her tenure with the band they’ve received many accolades, performed for prestigious guests, and participated in nationally renowned events.
Among those accolades were performances at the Citrus Bowl, and at the Inauguration of President George H.W. Bush, as well as a performance for President Bill Clinton, Bands of American regional and grand national competitions, and Kentucky Governor Inauguration parade appearances. She’s also been involved in over 20 appearances in the Kentucky Music Educators State Marching Band finals, three Kentucky State Championship titles, over 30 distinguished ratings for jazz and chamber concert band festival contests, and performance and parade appearance at the Disney’s Magic Music Days in Orlando Florida.
Beyond the director’s baton, Smith has been elected and served on the Kentucky Music Educators Association Board as District President, marching band committee chair, district treasurer, secretary, and instrumental band chair. Additionally, her professional affiliations include being a member of the Phi Beta Mu, Who’s Who of High School Teachers, Department of Kentucky VFW Smart Maher teacher of the year, and the 2021 Phi Beta Mu Hall of Fame inductee. Smith is currently spending her retirement enjoying adjudicating contests and serving as a guest conductor in concert band festivals in Kentucky. She most recently was honored to be on the adjudication panel for Miss North Carolina Outstanding Teen.
West Carter band director, and concert host, Michael Arthur said they were “excited to host the Carter County All-County Band at West this year.”
“We have a wonderful guest conductor and a great program picked out for all to enjoy,” Arthur said. “Pauletta Smith, our guest conductor, is a very accomplished music educator, and this is such a treat for our students. The energy she brings to music education is something special.”
The two schools will rehearse their music separately before rehearsing together before the show.
Arthur said the experience is “invaluable to our students.”
“It’s a very unique opportunity to rehearse together for a few hours, then perform a concert,” he said.
The concert is free and open to the public with donations accepted at the door.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com
