Madison Hughes is an assistant band director in our school’s band program. She is also the first female band director in our school’s history. She has been a part of band from sixth-grade playing clarinet to her senior year conducting as a drum major at Mckinney Boyd High School. She later went on to get a bachelor’s degree in music education at Oklahoma State University and marched in the Cowboy Marching Band during that time. She has performed with famous clarinetists and participated in TMEA All Region and All Orchestra performances.

Hill Top Times: What is your position in the Rock Hill Band?

Madison Hughes: I am an assistant band director on staff.

Hill Top Times: What has drawn you to want to become a band director?

Madison Hughes: I have loved music ever since I picked up the clarinet in sixth grade, and I also loved teaching. This led me to get into some leadership roles during high school band. We got a lot of opportunities to teach kids that were within our sections, and so as a section leader and a drum major, I knew that I wanted to teach music when I got older, so I applied to college to be a music ed major and here I am teaching band.

HTT: What is it like being the first and only female band director at Rock Hill?

MH: It’s interesting. It’s definitely fun. I think there’s a cool role I get to play as a female director. Working with all males is different because I am the only one who understands girl problems, but I think I can speak to the kids a little bit differently than some of the males could. I fill a specific role that maybe they couldn’t, like a motherly, loving role that the males can’t always fulfill.

HTT: Has there been a person who has influenced your love of music or someone who has drawn you more towards wanting to become a music educator?

MH: Yes. I had a female director in high school, and she was one female amongst many men she was kind of my go-to person when I was in school because she was a clarinet player just like me, but I went to her for anything music-wise, or school, or just life in general. If anything was going on, she would always listen to me.

HTT: What’s one lasting effect you hope to leave on the Rock Hill Band?

MH: I just hope kids know that they are their person and they are individuals, but they can also be a part of something larger than themselves. I think the band does a good job of that by creating uniquenesses in individual performance opportunities as well as full ensemble performances like marching shows and band concerts.