Past Winners
2023 - Ms. Jennifer Barnhart
Ms. Jennifer Barnhart is a senior at Hancock Middle/High School. Her band director is Mrs. Susan Mott.
Jennifer is active in her school music department and is the percussion section leader in the marching band, concert band, and percussion ensemble. She also has participated in the newly formed jazz ensemble as a guitarist.
She also plays all of the mallet instruments, the bass and rhythm guitars, the drum set, and the ukulele, and also sings.
She has received superior ratings for her performances at the 2022 and 2023 Washington County Solo & Ensemble Festival.
She has participated in local honor bands both at Shepherd University and Frostburg State University.
She auditioned for Washington County’s All-County band and was awarded 2nd chair percussion in 2022 and 3rd chair in 2023. This gave her the opportunity to play with the All-County Orchestra, an ensemble she had never had the opportunity to play with previously.
Ms. Barnhart will attend Frostburg State University in the fall and will participate in the marching and concert bands at FSU while earning her degree in the music industry field. She hopes to one day gain employment in a recording studio.
To quote this year’s scholarship recipient…
“Music speaks to me in a way no other language possibly could. I love to experiment and expand my knowledge about music. I have so many great song ideas, and with this scholarship, it means access to resources that can make my ideas come to life.”
This year’s Harry E. Kight Scholarship awardee is Ms. Jennifer Barnhart.
Congratulations!
2022 - Mr. Evan Turner
Evan is a very accomplished musician and is active in marching band, jazz band, concert band, chamber choir, vocal jazz ensemble and a participant in musicals. He plays many instruments to include Bari Saxophone, trumpet, trombone, electric bass, percussion and tuba.
Evan is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society and Music Honor Society Tri-M. He has been the high school drum major his sophomore, junior and senior year, president of Student Government Association, Vice-President of Empowering Our Future and Co-Captain of the WHS Academic Team. Musical accomplishments include being a three-time Maryland Music Education Association All-State band member including principal tubist his senior year.
The Williamsport Community Band has been happy to have Evan be a part of the Williamsport Community Band for the last four years.
Evan will be attending West Virginia University majoring in Music Education and Performance.
We wish Evan much success in the future! Congratulations!
2021 - Mr. Jack Wood
The 2021 Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship is awarded to Mr. Jack Wood. Jack is a 2021 graduate of Chambersburg Area Senior High School. Jack has excelled musically playing trumpet and violin. He has participated in many ensembles to include marching band, jazz band, concert band, orchestra and glee club. He is also a member of the National Honor Society. Jack has been a member of the Williamsport Community Band for six years.
Jack is a freshman at Lebanon Valley College and is majoring in both music and biology. We wish Jacob the best at Lebanon Valley College and thank him for sharing his musical talent with the Williamsport Community Band for so many years. Congratulations Jack!
2020 - Mr. Jacob Miner
The 2020 Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship is awarded to Mr. Jacob Miner. Jacob is a graduate of Williamsport High School. Jacob has excelled musically on saxophone, and other instruments, and has participated in many ensembles to include the Williamsport High School Blue Band, the Williamsport Community Band and the Hagerstown Municipal Band. Jacob auditioned and achieved first chair tenor saxophone for the 2020 All State Band, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the concert was canceled. He has also participated in several honor band festivals throughout the years. Jacob will be studying Music Education at Shepherd University in the fall. We wish Jacob the best as he continues to study music to obtain a music education degree. Congratulations Jacob!
2019 - Mr. Caleb Wescott
The Williamsport Community Band's Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship was awarded to Mr. Caleb Wescott.
Caleb is a 2018 graduate of Boonsboro High School. Caleb attends University of Tennessee. Caleb didn't enter the University of Tennessee in the fall of 2018 as a music education major. After one semester he realized his calling was in music and he wanted to share his love of music to students in the future. He switched majors the spring semester of 2019 and is advancing with his saxophone and music classes. We wish only success to Caleb on his continued journey to becoming a music educator in the future.
L to R: Mr. Brycen Pearl, Mr. Tim Mason, Mr. John Miner, Mr. Bryan Detrow
2018 - Mr. Brycen Pearl, Mr. Tim Mason, Mr. John Miner, Mr. Bryan Detrow
The Williamsport Community Band was honored to award the Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship to Tim Mason. Tim will graduate from North Hagerstown High School in June 2018. Tim will attend Towson University in the fall and major in Music Education.
Three other outstanding students were awarded money from the Harry E. Kight Scholarship fund this year. Brycen Pearl from Boonsboro High School, class of 2018, will attend West Virginia Wesleyan College in the fall to study music. John Miner from Williamsport High School, class of 2018, will attend Shepherd University to study music. Bryan Detrow from Williamsport High School, class of 2018, will attend West Virginia University to also continue his musical journey by studying music. All four of these fine young men have been integral members of the Williamsport Community Band for many years. We wish you much success in your future endeavors!
2017 - Mr. Frank Laredo
The Williamsport Community Band awarded the Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship to Frank Laredo. Frank Laredo, graduated from Clear Spring High School.
2016 - Mr. Will Miller, Ms. Alicia Rafter, Ms. Emily Green & Ms. Hadley Giles
The Williamsport Community Band was honored to award monetary scholarships to four fine musicians.
L to R: Mr. Will Miller, Ms. Alicia Rafter, Ms. Emily Green & Ms. Hadley Giles
Mr. Will Miller, a graduate of Smithsburg High School, will attend Shepherd University and major in Music Education. Ms. Alicia Rafter, from Williamsport High School, will attend West Virginia University to study Music Education. Ms. Emily Green, from Williamsport High School, will attend Towson University to major in Music Education. Ms. Hadley Giles, from Williamsport High School, will attend Rutgers University to major in Music Education. May they take their love of music, learn as much as they can, and someday pass that love on to their own students. These musicians are fine examples of great talent coming out of Washington County, Maryland public schools. Congratulations!
2015 - Ms. Karyann Mitchell
The second annual Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship was presented at the Williamsport Community Band Concert on May 12, 2015. This year the scholarship is presented to Ms. Karyann Mitchell, who is a member of the Williamsport High School class of 2015, a member of the WHS Blue Band, and a member of The Williamsport Community Band. Karyann will attend West Virginia University on an oboe scholarship and will be majoring in Music Education. Congratulations Karyann!
2014 - Ms. Autumn Pittman
The first Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship was presented at the Williamsport Community Band Concert on May 11, 2014. This year the scholarship is presented to Ms. Autumn Pittman, who is a student at Hancock High School in Hancock, MD. Congratulations Autumn!
