Haywood Community Band

Haywood County, N.C., is a rural community west of Asheville. In 2002, an ad placed in a local newspaper invited residents to take out their band instruments and help create a new music ensemble. The few that responded made a commitment to continue the experiment. The group grew and was incorporated in 2004 as the Haywood County Community Band, Inc. (HCB)

In its first decade, the HCB performed for the local jurisdictions - Waynesville, Canton, Clyde, Bethel, and Maggie Valley. They could be seen at local parks, at town parades and patriotic events. The band’s founder, Bob Hill, had retired to the area and was one of those who brought out his piccolo from the closet. He also assumed the conductor’s position with help from other retired music educators who took the podium as guest conductors.
The band was able to purchase the music library and a few percussion instruments from a community band in Florida. There was a limited budget and resources, making it necessary for the band to pursue grants and solicit donations. The North Carolina Arts Council had grants to support grassroots arts organizations with operational expenses, and the band received its first grant in 2005. Beginning in 2007, the HCB became a regular recipient of these grassroots grants. In later years, the band developed a campaign encouraging contributions from local supporters that brought additional revenue. This community support also resulted in donations of wind instruments that had been stored in closets throughout the area. Many of these instruments only required minimal repairs to return to playing condition, and the HCB organized a loan program for beginning band students in the Haywood County School District for the re-using of those instruments. Over the years, the loan instrument opportunity has expanded to include other school districts in western North Carolina.

With the band’s continual growth of personnel and resources, other outreach opportunities were started. HCB began giving band camp scholarships to local band students in 2009. Initially starting with only two scholarships, that outreach has expanded to multiple scholarships in all the Haywood County Schools. College scholarships for high school seniors planning to major in music were introduced in 2019.

Since its founding the HCB has had numerous directors. When founding director Bob Hill stepped down, band members with conducting experience were called on. Among these was Richard Trevarthan, a highly regarded music educator in the region. Others were retirees from other school districts, often from other states. Pat Stone played oboe with the band and became one of its regular conductors during the 2005 season. Her sister, Mary Thomas, who played bassoon, begin to conduct in 2005 as well. Tom and Sarah Cifani retired to Haywood County in 2007 from busy careers in the Chicago area, and both joined the pool of conductors who made a full season of concerts possible. Other band members were called on occasionally. The last volunteers to be added were Mace Loock, trumpet, Jenna Misch, flute, and Sandy Boone, tuba.

After a string of successful seasons and supported by a generous community, the HCB could claim an extensive music library and an adequate battery of percussion, plus wide-ranging outreach programs in the schools. The band’s primary performance venue was the Maggie Valley Pavilion. Maggie Valley is a ski resort nestled in the heart of the Smoky Mountains. The Sunday afternoon outdoor concerts were reminiscent of those from an earlier time when Sousa, King and Fillmore reigned. Performances at the Pavilion were sponsored by the Maggie Valley Civic Organization. In 2022, the Association decided to dissolve, and as a non-profit, voted to turn over its remaining funds to the Haywood Community Band. That windfall prompted the HCB to pursue one of its long-range goals, hiring a full-time director.

In the Fall of 2023, the band auditioned applicants for the position. They selected Stephen Razo, an accomplished high school instrumental music director in California and Arizona. His credentials also included leadership of an Air Force military band and conductor of the Moreno Valley (Calif) Wind Symphony. Mr. Razo is also a published composer of band music. His selection as the band’s director marks the beginning of the Haywood Community Band’s third decade.

Stephen Razo, conductor