Note: This is part of a series on bands in Transylvania County. 

Brevard College Band

As time progressed, other bands formed. The Brevard College Band was established in the 1937-1938 school year. It was formed by students with freshman Revis Frye as the band’s director and seventeen student band members. The band expanded to include a 30-member Concert Band and a Marching Band by 1949, each led by Mr. Malvin Artley.

Ecusta Band

The Ecusta Band was formed in February 1942, and by May the band had 35 members made up of employees and local musicians with John Eversman, the Ecusta Recreation Director, as the director. Through the support of Mr. Harry Straus, the children of his employees could take music lessons with the free instruments that the company provided. Ecusta also funded a summer band camp for the Ecusta Band students. Over the next several years, the Ecusta Band performed open-air concerts for both employees and the public, concerts at area schools and high school football games, and performed at the dedication of the American Legion Memorial Building. Besides having a marching band, Ecusta also had a string band who played string band music for their award-winning square dance team.

Brevard High School Band

In 1953, through the generosity of the Ecusta Paper Corporation, the Brevard High School Band formed when the instruments, music library and band uniforms from the Ecusta Band were given to the school system. John Eversman, who directed the Ecusta Band, became the first band director at Brevard High School. The marching band has been a strong part of school culture ever since.

Rosman Tiger Band

Rosman High School formed the Rosman Tiger Band in 1973 through the actions and drive of the Rosman students, their parents, as well as the county’s support. Rosman’s music program grew to have a Marching Band that performs at football games, area parades and competitions, a Symphonic Band that performs concerts, and a Rosman Middle School band as well.

Brevard Academy Travel Band

Brevard Academy formed their band in the 1999-2000 school year thanks to a $10,000.00 grant. The Brevard Academy Band started as an after-school activity, but today all 5^th through 8^th grade students take band lessons as part of their regular coursework. Over the years the Brevard Academy Travel Band has performed at area nursing homes, the Brevard College Porter Center, and as far away as Walt Disney World.

Brevard Community Band

The Brevard Community Band came together in the spring of 2001 in Dunham Hall at Brevard College. This band was composed of area musicians coming together with a common purpose: a shared passion for musical interests as well as to further the importance of music in our community. The first conductor was Dr. David Kirby. The Brevard Community Band now has over 60 members, both professional and amateur musicians who range in age from 16-90. It is an all-volunteer summer band that to this day embodies the joy that music brings to us all.

More and more bands of varied types of music formed over the years. Stay tuned for more in this series, Band Camp! Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Library Assistant Helaine Kranz. Sources available upon request.