ABOUT US

Mission Statement

The mission of the Haywood Community Band is to bring musicians and audiences of all ages from our rural area together for entertainment that educates and strengthens the community bond through the life-affirming quality of the concert musical arts and to contribute to the musical education of young people, the future generation of adult musicians, through loaned instruments and financial scholarships for summer band comps and post-secondary musical degrees.

Purpose / What We Do

The Band, formed in July 2002, aims to enhance music appreciation in Haywood County and nearby areas by performing at civic events and other functions. Its goals are to:

Enrich local musical life with quality band performances.
Offer members artistic expression and musical development opportunities.
Support young musicians through concerts, loaned instruments, and scholarships.
Promote American band heritage by diversifying and enhancing the audience’s musical experience.

Vision

The vision of the Haywood Community Band is to:

Provide opportunities for both professional and amateur musicians for musical growth, education, expression, enjoyment and fellowship.
To bring artistic excellence in the performance and presentation of concert band music to the communities in the Haywood County region in order to improve appreciation for music and the arts.
To specifically recruit and engage high school and college aged students to include the awarding of annual music scholarships to further their pursuit of a music education.
Continue the tradition of the community concert band as an important part of America’s musical heritage.

Our Conductor

Mr Stephen M Razo joined us in 2024 and is preparing the band for an exciting 2025 season. Stephen has had an extensive and varied career in the music field. He is a former award-winning high school instrumental music director in California and Arizona, an accomplished former Air Force military band commander, a published composer / arranger, and musical director and conductor of the prestigious southern California Moreno Valley Wind Symphony for over 20 years.

His goal is to provide a yearly concert series that delights audiences and children alike with musical programming that educates, entertains, and inspires. Currently retired and residing in the Waynesville area, he is devoting his time to the Haywood Community Band, composing, freelance conducting, and helping young artists reach their goals.

Our Associate Conductor

Jenna Misch originally hails from Northern California, and began her musical endeavors with flute in Middle School. Following her passion for music education, she received her Bachelor’s degree from Southern Oregon University and Master’s of Music Education from Arizona State University. Jenna taught band for ten years in Scottsdale AZ, mostly in Middle School. In 2018 she stepped away from the classroom when her daughter was born and moved out to Western NC in December of 2019. Jenna is married with two children she currently homeschools and is the Choir Director at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Clyde NC.