About me
Melanie H. Watson has served as the Band Director at Starmount Middle School in Northwestern North Carolina since 2022. During her time at Starmount, Melanie has seen a 50% increase in students involved in the band program and was recognized as Starmount Middle’s Teacher of the Year in 2023-2024. Melanie attended Catawba College (’12) for her undergraduate degree and received her Masters in Music from East Carolina University (’18). Prior to her tenure at Starmount, she led East Alexander Middle School’s band program where she was honored as EAMS’s Teacher of the Year in 2019-2020 and became a National Board Certified Teacher in 2019. She has been honored to serve as a clinician in local schools, music camps, and honor bands. Melanie fiercely supports the representation of women in all facets of the field music. She is a charter member of the NC Chapter of Women Band Directors International and served as the President of the chapter from 2022-2024. In addition to her teaching duties, Melanie maintains an active musical presence in the community. She served as the Musical Director for the Yadkin Valley Community Band from 2015-2023, and performs with the Piedmont Wind Symphony and Salisbury Symphony as 4th Horn, and as 2nd Horn with the Western Piedmont Symphony. Melanie resides in North Wilkesboro with her husband, Keegan, daughter, Hazel, and two dogs, Bella and Lia.
