News

Former HHS band director wins Golden Rose Award

Fran Shelton receives the Golden Rose Award from Patricia Garren.

By Lightning Reports, Published: January 20, 2020

Fran Shelton, who retired as Hendersonville High School in 2015, was honored recently with the Golden Rose Award, the highest honor from the Women Band Directors International.

Winners of the award have produced outstanding band programs and served as a clinician or adjudicator in the United States as well as internationally. Shelton met the requirements, leading award-winning symphonic and marching bands at HHS for 28 years while also conducting the jazz band and mentoring middle school students. She served as president of the North Carolina Band Masters Association and was recently inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame, and also served as president of WBDI.

She also has organized and conducted high school musicians on tours of Europe.

Patricia Garren, who taught band at Asheville Junior High School for 30 years and is also N.C. Band Masters Hall of Fame, nominated Shelton for the award. Garren presented the Gold Rose Award to Shelton during the 50th anniversary celebration of Women Band Directors International and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago.