Jane McLaurin 2017 Award of Excellence Recipient

Jane Burris McLaurin was born in Valdese, North Carolina and began studying music at an early age.  She studied piano for many years and played flute at Valdese Junior High and later at East Burke High School.  Her band directors, Mr. Leonard Brendel and Miss Kathryn Siphers were very instrumental in helping her develop a real love for band music.  During high school, Jane was a member of the Western Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, the Western Piedmont Youth Symphony, and the Waldensian Presbyterian Church Choirs.

 

Jane graduated from Appalachian State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education.  She completed her Master of Arts degree in Music Community/Junior College at Appalachian State University in 1987.  While at Appalachian, she studied flute with Dr. Lynn White and was a member of the Appalachian State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. William Gora and also the ASU Marching Band under the direction of Mr. Joe Phelps.

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 Jane taught middle school band for thirty-two years in Scotland County, North Carolina.  She taught at Shaw Middle School, Carver Middle School, and I. Ellis Johnson Middle School.  Her last sixteen years in Scotland County were at Spring Hill Middle School.  Her middle school bands participated in North Carolina MPA performance each year she taught and consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings in Grade III music.  Her students were selected to participate in the Southeastern District All-District Band each year and she served as a guest conductor of the Southeastern District All-District Band in 2003.  Jane is a member of the Southeastern District Bandmasters Association, North Carolina Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education.  She is currently in her second year of teaching music and band at Wallace Elementary/Middle School in Wallace, South Carolina.

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Jane loves spending time with family and being outdoors.  She also enjoys playing flute in orchestras and small ensembles.  She is married to Allen McLaurin of Laurinburg and they have three children, John, Patricia, and David.