Hagerstown Jr./Sr. High School’s band program celebrated a first, earning the Indiana State School Music Association All-Music Award. Under program director Kendra Sanders’ leadership, they also earned a top-10 ranking in the State Fair’s night show, elevated Tigerettes winter guard to a new class and delivered percussion a gold victory.
When Sanders came to Hagerstown three and a half years ago, the band program was on the decline. Her focus was to read the culture and meet students where they were.
“I needed the students to know they had ownership again,” Sanders said about the program. She built them up knowing their worth and that they were good enough. After the second year, she asked if the award was a goal to set. The students said “yes,” and worked hard to meet it.
Schools seeking the all-music honor register for the yearlong circuit during the fall’s solo & ensemble competition. Contention requires winning gold ratings in marching band, jazz concert, organized contest band, and scoring placement in Group 3 or higher for solo & ensemble.
The middle school secured the all-music title, while the high school missed by one silver rating in jazz band. Sanders said she was proud of her students’ integrity to choose a challenging piece and finish the contest strong despite the loss.
Sanders told students numbers really don’t matter.
“Music is more than just judging people. They proved their worth; our work matters,” said Sanders.
This year marked 13 years teaching in Indiana for Sanders, with previous stints at Connersville and Richmond Community Schools. The Kentucky native was active in high school band, choir and yearbook, with the latter steering her to major in broadcast until she realized music was her thing.
Through teaching, Sanders has learned that leading with positivity goes a long way, and that no goal is achieved overnight. RCS music teacher Terry Bettner taught her small progress signals that students are learning and that “sometimes our big goal has to be adjusted.”
As she leads summer band, Sanders will wait to see what goals her students set for next year.
A version of this article appeared in the July 15 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.
