CENTREVILLE — On May 1st, Episode 20 of ArtScene | the Podcast invites listeners on a captivating journey into the world of instrumental music with Centreville Middle School (CMS) Band Director, Heather Fullerton. With a remarkable 25-year legacy in QACPS, Maryland, Fullerton embodies musical excellence through prestigious roles and dynamic leadership as a conductor, adjudicator, and the newly appointed 2024 Eastern Shore Band Director’s Association President.
Throughout the podcast, Fullerton shares personal stories about her experiences growing up in a musical family and how she’s paying it forward with her own CMS ‘band family’.
“I have always been surrounded by musicians,” shared Fullerton. “My mother was a classically trained pianist who studied at Peabody Conservatory as a child. She met my father in college as he was training to be a music educator. My father retired from teaching after forty-seven years as a High School Choir Director. My brother and I both received Bachelors of Arts in Music Education at Salisbury University. My daughter is currently a Music Education Major at Salisbury. I also met my husband, a retired band director, through our shared professions.”
With such a rich musical heritage, it’s no surprise that Mrs. Fullerton has found innovative approaches to sparking student engagement and instilling the tenacity required for students to learn an instrument and persevere.
Fullerton also shares heartwarming stories about meaningful performances that pay tribute to life-changing events, from 9/11 to recent personal tragedies surrounding her students. These stories illustrate how music plays an integral role in uniting entire communities.
Fullerton’s current ‘once-in-a-lifetime project’ centers around her band community and a selfless act from the student who was just highlighted as a ‘QACPS Performing Arts Teen of the Week’ that faced the sudden loss of his father in June 2023. His inspiration, and his family’s generous gesture of donations led to the creation of a world premiere in his honor, as Fullerton commissioned Dr. Mark Lortz to compose a piece of music titled “Perseverance” in memory of Mr. Dave Baugh. ‘Perseverance’ was recently named a JW Pepper Editor’s Choice and can be found online here.
This piece will premiere at the CMS Band Spring Concert on June 4, 2024, at 7 pm in the QACHS Auditorium and is open to the public.
Tune in to “ArtScene | the Podcast” for this episode and more on Spotify or at: https://anchor.fm/artscene. Also available on iTunes, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your favorite podcast.
