The Harry E. Kight Student Musician Scholarship
The Williamsport, MD Community Band offers a music scholarship (not to exceed $1,000.00 per year) to deserving instrumental musicians that will continue in college and major in music.
The scholarship was formed in the spring of 2014 after the death of Mr. Harry E. Kight. Kight was the founding director of the Williamsport, MD High School “Blue Band,” and over the next 28 years built the program into a national powerhouse with award-winning concert, marching and jazz ensembles.
Upon Mr. Kight’s retirement, Mrs. Susie (Downs) Kunkle, a prior Blue Band student of Mr. Kight, followed him in 1979 as the second band director at Williamsport High School.
Mrs. Kunkle and her husband, Mr. Noel Kunkle, founded the Williamsport, MD Community Band in the summer of 1998.
It was fitting, after Mr. Kight’s death, that the Williamsport Community Band establish the Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship to possibly benefit future music education students from our surrounding area.
Click here for application: harry_e._kight_scholarship_application_2022.pdf
The scholarship was formed in the spring of 2014 after the death of Mr. Harry E. Kight. Kight was the founding director of the Williamsport, MD High School “Blue Band,” and over the next 28 years built the program into a national powerhouse with award-winning concert, marching and jazz ensembles.
Upon Mr. Kight’s retirement, Mrs. Susie (Downs) Kunkle, a prior Blue Band student of Mr. Kight, followed him in 1979 as the second band director at Williamsport High School.
Mrs. Kunkle and her husband, Mr. Noel Kunkle, founded the Williamsport, MD Community Band in the summer of 1998.
It was fitting, after Mr. Kight’s death, that the Williamsport Community Band establish the Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship to possibly benefit future music education students from our surrounding area.
Click here for application: harry_e._kight_scholarship_application_2022.pdf
Harry E. Kight Student Musician Scholarship Winners
Mr. Evan Turner
2022
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!
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!
Mr. Jack Wood
2021
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!
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!
Mr. Jacob Miner
2020
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!
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!
Mr. Caleb Wescott
2019
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.
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
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!
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
The Williamsport Community Band awarded the Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship to Frank Laredo. Frank Laredo, graduated from Clear Spring High School.
The Williamsport Community Band awarded the Harry E. Kight Music Scholarship to Frank Laredo. Frank Laredo, graduated from Clear Spring High School.
L to R: Mr. Will Miller, Ms. Alicia Rafter, Ms. Emily Green & Ms. Hadley Giles
2016
The Williamsport Community Band was honored to award monetary scholarships to four fine musicians.
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!
The Williamsport Community Band was honored to award monetary scholarships to four fine musicians.
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!
Ms Karyann Mitchell
2015
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!
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!
L to R Miss Autumn Pittman, Mr. Alan Rodgers, Mrs. Susie Kunkle
2014
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!
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!
