opportunities for success are all around you
—they lie not alone in largs cities and com
munities adjacent to famous metropolitan centers,
but wherever you go out to find them. Such fact
has proven itself right here in our own little
community, and the story, one of several, dates
back to 1944.
During that year, plans were formulated to
start a children’s music project for the purpose of
providing musical education for talented children
of our employees. It was on October 16, 1944,
that the first Ecusta children’s music project ac
tually got under way with an enrollment of near
ly sixty eager and conscientious 'kids.” You will
recall that our start consisted of a chorus and
music study group.
Through 1945, individual band instrument in-
VIRGINIA EDMUNDSON
struction was given to many of the children. One
of these was a girl named Virginia Edmundson,
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Herschel Edmundson of
Mills River. Herschel Edmundson, is an employ
ee in our Maintenance Department and a mem
ber of our Ten Year Service Club.
Choosing the clarinet, Virginia began her
studies and eventually became one of the original
members of the Ecusta Children’s Band. Follow
ing her graduation from Mills River High School,
she attended Brevard College, where she became
a member of the Glee Club and the College
Band. However, she continued her association
with the Ecusta Band as first clarinetist until
August 1947.
In the fall of that year, Virginia enrolled in
the Western Carolina Teachers’ College for her
remaining two-years’ college work, graduating
from that school in 1949- In addition to all the
other duties Virginia had at WCTC, she was also
a member of the Glee Club, Band, Chorus, Mc
Dowell Music Club, and Music Appreciation
Club.
Today, Virginia holds a North Carolina Teach
er’s "A” Certificate in music and science, and is a
teacher of public school music, band, and glee
club at the Valley Springs High School in Bun
combe County. At the Valley Springs High
School, and incidentally, during her first year
on the faculty, Virginia organized a band of twen
ty-seven members and a glee club of forty mem
bers. Both of these organizations have made seve
ral public appearances during the past twelve
months. Carrying her knowledge and music ap
preciation still further, she has, among her other
duties, that of teaching public school music to
students from the first through the eighth grades.
It is our hope that past, present, and future
members of the Ecusta Band will have an oppor
tunity to read this article and from it understand
that "stepping stones to success” can be found
right here in Western North Carolina.
We know that, in time, we will be able to
bring you more of these success stories. WE ARE
JUSTLY PROUD OF MISS VIRGINIA ED
MUNDSON.
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