ASHTON, W.Va. (WV News) — Former Hannan Jr/Sr High School band director, and now principal, Dr. J.R. Carlisle, was invited to tell the story of the Hannan band’s extraordinary comeback while he was at the South Dakota Music Educators Conference. The event was held last week at the Sioux Falls Convention Center.
Carlisle is currently a national quarterfinalist for the Grammy Music Educator award. He has also been invited to present at the New Jersey Music Educators Convention in February.
Carlisle told those assembled that when he arrived at Hannan seven years ago, the band consisted of four students.
“They were using Walmart bags as the handles for their cymbals,” Carlisle said.
In five years, Carlisle would grow the band to over 50 students, which represented 21% of the student body. That number has now expanded to 38%. That means a greater percentage of students play in the band than at any other school in the county.
“Just 10% is considered a good size,” Carlisle said.
The Hannan band has enjoyed consistent success at area band competitions in recent years, with numerous superior rankings. That level of success has continued under the leadership of Carlisle’s successor as band director, Lilly Lauffer.
Additionally, the band has been selected to be the West Virginia representatives at the 2025 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii. That announcement was made earlier this year at the Second annual Mason County Band Night, an event Carlisle created.
Carlisle shared his experience at the conference while in Chicago waiting for a connecting flight to bring him home.
“I had such fun talking to a group of young [musicians], educators and college students about what to expect in their first job,” Carlisle said.
“That don’t think because there’s nothing there, that nothing cannot be built. Don’t be quick to run away to the next big job. Something I learned the hard way, when I left a great school years ago for the bigger job,”
Carlisle shared his means of redirecting the Hannan band as teaching tool for the young educators in attendance.
“I spoke with great pride of the kids and community at Hannan and gave them many ideas on how to navigate the waters in those tough situations,” Carlisle said.
“I was a principal of a world class performing arts school which was nationally renowned. I told them with great passion that I’m more proud to be the principal of Hannan Junior Senior High School then I was of that art school,” Carlisle said.
The Hannan band has enjoyed consistent success at area band competitions in recent years, with numerous superior rankings. That level of success has continued under the leadership of Carlisle’s successor as band director, Lilly Lauffer.
Additionally, the band has been selected to be the West Virginia representatives at the 2025 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii. That announcement was made earlier this year at the Second annual Mason County Band Night, an event Carlisle created.
Carlisle shared his experience at the conference while in Chicago waiting for a connecting flight to bring him home.
“I had such fun talking to a group of young [musicians], educators and college students about what to expect in their first job,” Carlisle said.
“That don’t think because there’s nothing there, that nothing cannot be built. Don’t be quick to run away to the next big job. Something I learned the hard way, when I left a great school years ago for the bigger job,”