Scotland County's new high school band director says he's excited to join one of the state's top bands.

"This band has a really good history," Dustin Hoke said. "The performances have been outstanding in the past and that will continue."

The quality of the Scotland High School band program and the community support it receives drew the North Carolina native to the director position. He joins the staff at the Scotland High School of Visual and Performing Arts in mid-July.

"I really liked how the school and the community centers itself around the image of its band," he said.

Hoke said school bands often serve as a symbol for the communities they are in, something he feels the Scotland band does well.

"One thing I do hope to do is to continue to develop the relationship between the band and the school," Hoke said, adding that he hopes to emulate the strong bond between Western Carolina University, his alma mater, and band.

He also hopes to "bring a new set of excitement and innovation that has come into the music world" by applying new techniques and using more modern pieces.

The incoming band director hopes to add choices for high school musicians.

"We are hoping to develop a jazz program," he said, a particular love for Hoke as he's played the saxophone since he was 10.

He also wants to increase the selection of music theory courses offered at Scotland High.

While Hoke has big plans for the band, his focus will be on the development of students into musician scholars.

"I like to see my kids excel, both in the band and in their other studies," he said.

Hoke said his family has a long musical tradition that inspired him to perform.

"Music has always been part of my life," he said, recalling his parents listening to classic rock and family members playing bluegrass in the Appalachian mountains.

He pushed himself to become a band director after attending several music clinics.

"You get to witness directors doing all this stuff with music," he said.

Hoke says he enjoys the imaginative nature of leading a band.

"No piece can be performed the same way twice," he said. As a musician, you can "make piece into what you want it to be."

Hoke is a recent college grad, earning his bachelor's in music education in 2009 and since helped East Burke High School's marching band, a nationally recognized high school band.

The East Burke High School Cavalier Marching Band traveled to Orlando, Fla. to compete in the Dynamic Music Festival in April, where it earned Grand National Champions after competing against bands from 28 states and 12 countries.

East Burke earned first place for wind ensemble, symphonic band, percussion ensemble and marching band and earned division champion trophies for percussion and marching.

VAPA Principal Jonathan McRae says Hoke and incoming Associate Band Director James Leatherwood will be great additions to the school.

"Both are very positive," McRae said. "Hoke is very excited about the opportunity to be in a strong program like the Scotland County band program. He's enthusiastic and has a vision of continued growth and excellence for our program."

McRae said Leatherwood shares Hoke's vision for the band.

"We feel that as a team, they'll make that happen," he said.

McRae believes the pair will modernize the current performances.

"I think their half-time shows will reflect more popular music," he said.

He expects the band to play more Top 40, beach music and Motown hits than before.

"Our program has a state reputation and somewhat of a regional reputation for excellence and they really want to promote that regional and move perhaps to a national level of excellence," he said.

He hopes the students will be more excited about working with the new band instructors.

"All their references said that kids love to work with these directors," McRae said. "One person told us that if you hire these guys, get ready to get some new uniforms. These kids are going to come out and want to be a part of this band."

Having Hoke and Leatherwood as the men in charge of the band has brought something else to Scotland, McRae said – Western Carolina.

He said the state school, which has a nationally recognized band, has become interested in Scotland's band and has promised to help out with clinics prvoided by their music instructors.