Conductors
Tim Wise
Music Director
Mr. Tim Wise has been Music Director for the Mountain Winds since January of 2025. He retired as Director of Bands of Tuscola High School in Waynesville, North Carolina in 2022 following 31 years of teaching. Prior to his tenure at Tuscola, Mr. Wise was the Assistant Director of Bands at Riverdale High School in Riverdale, Georgia. In 2024-25 he served as Interim Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Morehead State University in Morehead, Kentucky in 1991 and from Western Carolin University with a Master of Arts in Education in 2003.
Tim lives in Maggie Valley, NC with his wife Fritzie, a retired Haywood County music teacher of 29 years.
Bob Buckner
Conductor and Founding Director
Bob Buckner retired in June 2011 as Director of Athletic Bands at Western Carolina
University. During his twenty year leadership the band grew to over 400 members and
achieved national recognition culminating with it’s selection as the recipient of the 2009
Sudler Trophy. The Sudler is is highest honor that a collegiate marching band can
achieve. The band’s distinguished resume includes a performance in the 2011
Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA.
As a high school band director at Sylva-Webster High School, Bob led the “Golden
Eagle Band” to countless concert band and marching band awards. Those included
being named as the “National Field Show Champions” at the Festival of States in
St. Petersburg, FL and being named “Grand National Champions” at the 1979
Bands of America Championships.
Bob served as the director of the U.S. Army’s All American Band during it’s first two
years in existence and continues to serve as visual designer for the group. As a
consultant, Bob has worked with Pygraphics, Disney’s “Future Corps,” the United
States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” and the “Commadant’s Own,” United States
Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
Bob’s honors include WCU’s “Paul A. Reid Distinguished Service Award” for faculty,
MENC’s recognition as a “Lowell Mason Fellow,” being named to the Bands of
America “Hall of Fame,” being awarded Drum Corps International’s “Award for
Excellence in Marching Music Education,” and recently being installed in the North
Carolina Bandmasters “Hall of Fame.” In June of 2011 Bob was presented the
“Order of the Long Leaf Pine” from North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue. Bob
served as director of the 2013 and 2017 Bands of America National Honor Band at
Pasadena’s “Tournament of Roses” Parade.
Jon Henson
Conductor and Founding Director
Board of Directors
President – Jon Henson
Vice President – Bob Buckner
Secretary – Rebecca Manring
Treasurer – Robert Edwards
Member At Large – Boyd Sossman
Band Personnel
| Flutes Sarah Cifani Lisa Gaetano Ashley Lawrence Jane Newmeyer Henry McMahan Ashley Buol Oboe Ann Valle Bailey Kaufman Bassoon Lee Goodhew Clarinet Bruce Buchanan Rebecca Manring Scott Parmele Kendra Kirkpatrick Melony Bolden Karen Kandl Martin Best Tommy Dickens Kaely Strayer Nancy Toney Kimberly McClure Alexandra Cisney Madison Lovingood Megan Vogt Natalie Smith Bass Clarinet Dan Yearick | Alto Sax Ethan King Jason Miller Eros Trujillo Misty Brown Jillian O’Beirne Kat Sack John Crain Tenor Sax Caden Hopkins Bari Sax Micahel Houtzer Trumpet Andy Buckner Dave Gingrich Laurel Lown Nathan Borchelt David LeMay Dave Michael Boyd Sossman Rich Wagner Michael McGrew Sherry Trout Peter James Jim Graber French Horn Tommy Chekelelee Jackson Grant Chelsea White Jill Dixon Cecila Wright Calvin Huffman | Trombone Larry Trout Paul Draper Katelyn McNorrill Bob Holquist Robert Edwards Byrd Nicholson Corey Higgins Ronald Bumgarner Chris Hodor Neil Lown Robert Houghton Euphonium Steve Smith Jeffrey Neff Jayda Copeland Eric Miller Quintin Ellison Tuba Bob Buckner Michael Schallock Robert Johnson Matt Sanders Percussion Jon Henson Mario Gaetano Anthony Cooper Oliver Taylor Emrielle Wheatley |