NC Chapter, American School Band Directors Association - ASBDA

06/07/2026

05/24/2026

Mr. Hosea Brower (1950-2020), North Carolina.

Hosea was raised in Moore County, North Carolina. He attended elementary and middle school in Carthage and Southern Pines. Hosea's love for music began at a very early age. His passion created opportunities to graduate from North Carolina School of the Arts High School in Winston-Salem, Virginia State University in Petersburg, VA (Bachelors and Masters) and studies at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond.

He touched the hearts of many students. Hosea, HB, or Brower, taught at Peabody Junior High in Petersburg, VA, Matoaca High School in Chesterfield County, VA, Hopewell High School in Hopewell, VA, Bertie County Schools in Bertie County, NC, Edwards Junior High in Rocky Mount, NC, Rocky Mount Senior High School in Rocky Mount, NC, and Henrico High School in Richmond, VA. He gave countless private lessons as well as serving the community through the joy of music.

He was a member of the American School Band Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Tar River Orchestra, Richmond Pops, North Carolina Music Educators, North Carolina Bandmasters, National Education Association, North Carolina Association of Educators, Virginia Music Educators, Virginia State University's Sports Hall of Fame, Modis Phi Modis, and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.



His honors and awards include the following:
Graduated from the NC School of the Arts
Virginia State University Athletics Hall of Fame
More than 40 years in music education (NC and Virginia)
including 20 years at Rocky Mount High School
Eastern District Bandmasters Association's Award of Excellence
Do Something Award Winner - Richmond, Virginia
Member of the Tar River Orchestra and Richmond Pops

The NC ASBDA Legacy Project was started by Ruth Petersen(NC) in 2020.
NC Chapter, American School Band Directors Association - ASBDA

05/24/2026

Jay Bolder (1958–2024), North Carolina.

A native of Monroe, North Carolina, Jay Bolder graduated from Wingate University in 1980 and began his career in Cumberland County, teaching in both middle school and high school programs. He remained there for 30 years until his retirement in 2010. From 2011 through 2013, he held interim positions in both Cumberland County and Scotland County. Beginning in 2013, he served as a part-time assistant director and academic teacher at Central Academy for Technology and Arts in Monroe. He also served as a clinician in both North and South Carolina.

He was a prolific composer, arranger, and adjudicator. His bands were exemplary in many areas, including marching band, concert band, jazz band, pop band, and full orchestra. His programs also participated annually in Solo and Ensemble MPA. His personal philosophy for music education was to offer music to anyone who wished to learn. His bands garnered 41 Superior ratings at Concert Band MPA, usually taking three bands per year and, on one occasion, taking four. His bands performed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, California, Virginia, and on a cruise to the Bahamas. Forty of his students enrolled in college as music majors, many later becoming band directors. He performed in musicals, community bands, symphony orchestras, Top 40 groups, and jazz ensembles. His varied experience also included casting and choreographing scenes for the film *Bolden*.

He received “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine,” the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state of North Carolina. Hope Mills, the town where he taught, honored him with “Jay Bolder Day.” He was a member of state music and instrumental organizations. In addition, he held memberships in the Cumberland County Band Directors Association, Southeastern District Band Association, South Central District Band Directors Association, and the American School Band Directors Association.

Former Director of Bands at South View High School, where the program grew to 255 members in the 1990's
41 ratings of "Superior"
40 students went on to major in music
Awarded North Carolina's highest civilian honor, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine
Was recognized with "Jay Bolder Day" in his adopted hometown of Hope Mills
Involved in casting and choreography for scenes in the movie "Bolden"
NC Bandmasters Association's Hall of Fame



The NC ASBDA Legacy Project was started by Ruth Petersen(NC) in 2020. NC Chapter, American School Band Directors Association - ASBDA

05/15/2026

On May 3rd the North Carolina All State 9-10 Band premiered “Echoes Across the Pines” by Brian Balmages.

The piece was commissioned by friends and family, with assistance from the North Carolina Chapter of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), to honor the life and legacy of Ron Payne. The commission chair was Michael Hough who spearheaded the idea and made it become a reality.

Ron was a well known, well loved, and respected band director and ASBDA Member in NC. As the composer said: “He was particularly known for the musicality he brought to the podium, and some of his favorite pieces were lyrical, yet uplifting works. It is with this in mind that the piece came to life.”

https://www.alfred.com/products/echoes-across-the-pines-00-52097s

Dominic Talanca, conductorNorth Carolina 9-10 All- State Honors BandMay 3rd, 2026UNC-Greensboro AuditoriumEchoes Across the Pines was commissioned by friends...

05/04/2026

Great weekend at the North Carolina All State Band Clinic. Our chapter meeting on Friday had 50 attendees followed by the NC-ASBDA Dinner. The concerts today were terrific but especially meaningful this year due to the beautiful premier of “Echoes Across the Pines” by Brian Balmages. This piece was “commissioned by friends and family to honor the life and legacy of Ron Payne with assistance from the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA)” Thank you to NCBA and the 9-10 All State Band conducted by Dr. Dominic Talanca!

You can listen to this beautiful new work here: https://www.alfred.com/products/echoes-across-the-pines-00-52097s

04/30/2026

Congratulations to the Cuthbertson High School Chamber Winds who performed at Biltmore Estate last Friday. They sounded fantastic and were led by Director of Bands Todd Ebert and Samantha Liddle. Todd and Katie Ebert are the leaders of the 6-12 Cuthbertson Band Program and are both NC-ASBDA Members. We are proud of the amazing work they do and the great example they provide of ASBDA’s belief that “Concert Band is the focus of the instrumental music curriculum which teaches MUSIC AS ART through band.” Read more about ASBDA at:

https://www.asbdaband.org/about-asbda

04/30/2026

Congratulations and welcome to the newest NC members of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA)!

04/27/2026

This is an amazing conference and we are so excited to be a part of it along with other professional organizations in North Carolina. It’s going to be a great time!

Register Here: https://forms.gle/vEaywJjKjVUkx3P16

04/01/2026

We are proud to announce that Mike Robinson will be the recipient of the 2026 Ron Payne Legacy Award given by the NC Chapter, American School Band Directors Association - ASBDA.

Mike has been a member of ASBDA since 1984, and has a long record of success in the profession. He has done a huge amount for band in the state and in Western North Carolina. Mike is a past President of NCBA and Hall of Fame Member. He spent almost his entire career at Asheville High School, conducted the Asheville Community Band for two decades, and retired to become a college band director at Mars Hill University for another 10 years. Congratulations to Mike, a director who has definitely left a lasting legacy in our profession! 

You can read his bio here: https://www.ncbandmasters.org/ncba-hall-of-fame-2003-2009/mike-robinson