BUCKHANNON, West Virginia – West Virginia Wesleyan College is hosting its 10th North Central West Virginia Honor Band Nov. 6-8.  More than 100 students from 22 different schools around the state will arrive Thursday, Nov. 6. The students will spend three days on campus, engaging in rehearsals with distinguished faculty, touring campus, and participating in activities, making the honor band a highly rewarding and meaningful musical experience. 

The 2025 North Central West Virginia Honor Band conductors are WVWC Director of Athletic Bands Eliza Taylor ‘19 and WVWC Director of Jazz Ensembles Adam Loudin ‘07.

Taylor is conducting the high school honor band. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education from WVWC and a Master of Music in flute performance with graduate certificates in instrumental conducting and music administration from The Ohio University School of Music.  Taylor has directed middle school and high school bands in North Central West Virginia. Her ensembles have most frequently achieved Superior “I” ratings and have also premiered works at West Virginia ratings festivals. 

Loudin will conduct the middle school band and is a dedicated music educator, conductor and performer with over 15 years of experience inspiring young musicians in West Virginia and beyond. He earned his Bachelor’s in Music Education from WVWC and a master’s degree in Jazz Studies from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Under his previous leadership at Robert L. Bland Middle School in Weston, both band and choir ensembles were repeatedly recognized as WVMEA State Middle School Honor Ensembles.

Taylor said, “I was one of the student volunteers coordinating this event in its first year. Our purpose then was to serve local schools in an honor band experience. It is humbling to see how much this event has grown and to see it serve students across the entire state. I am looking forward to the extensive amount of growth that happens to students who participate in events like this. To only spend a day or two on music for an entire concert with ensemble members you’ve never met before is a great experience for young musicians.”

The high school honor band concert will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8  in the Virginia Thomas Law Performing Arts Center. The middle school honor band concert will follow at 3 p.m. in the PAC. Admission is free to both concerts. 

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA WESLEYAN COLLEGE
West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) is a private, four-year residential liberal arts and sciences college in Buckhannon, West Virginia. A tradition of excellence for  135 years, West Virginia Wesleyan is home to 14 Fulbright Scholars. The Princeton Review ranked Wesleyan as one of its 2026 Best Colleges in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the United States. U.S. News & World Report’s 2026  Best College Rankings designated Wesleyan second in Best Value – Regional Universities (South). WVWC offers students nearly 60 majors and 40 minors; graduate programs in athletic training, business administration, creative writing, nursing and counseling; 22 NCAA Division II athletic programs; multiple performing arts groups; and more than 50 organizations. Founded in 1890, the College is closely affiliated with the United Methodist Church and abides by the Wesley doctrine that emphasizes service to others. For more information, visit wvwc.edu.