History of the Asheville High School Band
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The Asheville City Schools band program is the oldest continuously running band program in North Carolina, with a rich tradition of excellence. It began in the fall of 1924 under the leadership of British military bandsman Colonel George E. Hurt, a World War I veteran and graduate of the Royal Navy School of Music.
Pictured above is the 1926 Asheville High School Band on the David Millard campus, standing in front of the school. Before the new downtown school was built, bands from the west campus at Hall Fletcher and the east campus at David Millard—much like the athletic teams—combined to form the “Asheville High Band.”
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, under the leadership of Edwin Gould, M.T. Iverson, Walter Von Brock, Pittenger Fox, and others, the Asheville High band flourished. The program expanded its reach by participating in state band contests, performing at football games and community events, and even playing for President Franklin D. Roosevelt during his 1937 visit to McCormick Field.
Asheville High first attended North Carolina’s second State Concert Band Contest in 1926 and has remained a consistent presence ever since. Pictured above is the 1929 Asheville High Band on the steps of the newly centralized Asheville High School building on McDowell Street.
Throughout the 1940’s and 50’s the band program in Asheville City School was led by Joe DeNardo, known as “Mr. Music,” who directed both the feeder programs at Hall Fletcher and David Millard and the band at the renamed Lee Edwards High School (AHS). Pictured above is DiNardo conducting the Hall Fletcher Band.
Marching Band in 1952 under the direction of Joe DiNardo
In addition the band program at AHS/Lee Edwards, it is important to remember that before schools were integrated ACS was home to the largest comprehensive high school for African American students in Western North Carolina. Part of that school tradition was the thriving and award-winning band led by Madison “Doc” Lennon, who later went on to Spellman College.
Stephens Lee High School is pictured below:
Upon the retirement of DiNardo, Ed Bensen was hired as the Director of Music for Asheville City Schools / Director of the Lee Edwards Band, and in 1961 Pat Garren was hired which began a period of growth and quality in bands that has continued to the present day. With school integration in the 1970’s the band programs were consolidated at the new South French Broad Junior High and the newly integrated Asheville High School under the leadership of Pat Garren and Ernie Black. By the 1960’s both the junior high and high school bands were attending the district/state band contest regularly and achieving one Superior Rating after another. Pictured are the 1966 concert and marching bands.
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