Kendra Sanders brings marching, concert, jazz experience
A new band director is starting at Hagerstown Jr.-Sr. High School with hopes of continuing its traditions.
Kendra Ann Sanders will become the high school director of bands and fifth grade general music teacher at Hagerstown Elementary School. A meet-and-greet for her, combined with call out for marching band, is planned at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, in the high school auditorium.
She is also organizing an alumni pep band performance for the Feb. 24 boys basketball game. Interested former band students will find a form on Facebook where they can specify what instrument they played and whether they need one that night. Band room doors will open at 5 p.m. that date, with rehearsal at 5:30 p.m.
Sanders is a Hagerstown-area resident. She and her husband, Brandon, have two sons who are students in the Nettle Creek schools.
She has been the high school assistant band director at Connersville High School, and directed the middle school band and taught general music for Fayette County schools. She has taught general music, band, orchestra and choir for Richmond Community Schools.
She started her band journey playing clarinet as a fifth grader at Waynesburg Elementary School in Kentucky. She continued making music in middle and high schools, playing in honor bands and in concert, marching and jazz bands before graduating from Lincoln County High School.
She earned a degree in K-12 instrumental music from Western Kentucky University, where she started playing more instruments, including saxophone, steel drums and violin. There, she participated in marching, pep, symphonic, and jazz bands, private ensembles and private lessons. She is a member of the professional music fraternity, Delta Omicron.
She enjoys the outdoors, camping, boating, concerts, traveling and watching sports.
Sanders said, “The Hagerstown Band program has a rich history. I am very excited to teach students the love of music! I look forward to working with the staff, community, the band boosters, and band parents as we continue the Hagerstown Golden Tiger Band Spirit.”