News

NHHS band director Sigmon honored for excellence

Steve Sigmon.

By Bill Moss, Published: November 10, 2015

North Henderson High School band director Stephen Sigmon received the “Award of Excellence” on Monday from the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, a division of the North Carolina Music Educators Association.

Sigmon, who is largely responsible for bringing the NHHS band program back from the dead, was awarded a plaque recognizing him as an outstanding band director in the association’s Western District who has made valuable contributions to his school and community and holds leadership roles in the NCBA. He accepted the award at the North Carolina Music Educators Convention in Winston-Salem.

Now in his eighth year at North Henderson, Sigmon is currently serving as past president of the Western North Carolina Bandmasters Association and as a director for the John Philip Sousa Foundation's International Collegiate Wind Band. He has served as clinician in multiple states, and internationally in France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Holland and Belgium.

Since 2008, under Sigmon’s direction, North Henderson’s bands have received only Superior ratings at the State Concert Festival (MPA), enrollment in the band has grown from six to 115 members, and the Concert, Marching, and Jazz bands have won National and Regional competitions.

He was elected the 2011-2012 North Henderson High School Teacher of the Year, was chosen by School Band and Orchestra (SBO) Magazine as their North Carolina Representative for the annual “50 Directors Who Make a Difference” campaign, was recognized by RBC Bank's “Tribute to Teachers,” was chosen by the Carolina Panthers as a recipient of their “Carolinas Teacher of the Week” program, and was given a “Special Recognition” award by the Henderson County Education Foundation at their 2011 Hall of Fame Banquet.

A graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education, Sigmon is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, American School Band Directors Association, North Carolina Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.