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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 on 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.
