Ms. Colburn became the Director of Bands for the Leesville High School Band Program in 2013, a program where she once sat as a student. The bands program at Leesville has doubled in size since her arrival to the role. Under her direction, the LRHS ensembles have achieved consistently Superior ratings at North Carolina’s Music Performance Adjudication. The bands have performed nationwide including San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Orlando along with invitations for the band to perform with area college wind ensembles and professional groups. The LRHS Bands have been featured in the News and Observer, 919 Magazine, and on UNCTV. In 2017, Colburn was named an “Ed Rooker” Encore Award winner by the NC Chapter of the ASBDA – given to top band directors in the field with less than 7 years of experience. Under her direction, the LRHS Band was invited to perform at the 2017 NCMEA Conference, the 2018 President’s Cup National High School Band Invitational, and the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival in 2019.
Colburn is a frequent adjudicator, guest speaker, and guest clinician. She is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the North Carolina Music Educators Association – where she served on the board as the Advocacy Chair, and the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, where she currently serves as the secretary of her district.
Prior to her appointment at Leesville High School, Ms. Colburn was the Conductor for the Wendell Middle School Band Program where the concert bands and jazz band performed for many in and out-of-state concerts and festivals – receiving multiple superior ratings. There, she was nominated for the Diane Kent Parker 1st Year Teacher of the Year.
Ms. Colburn graduated Summa Cum Laude from Appalachian State University with two Bachelor’s degrees – one in Music Education and the other in Piano Performance. While at Appalachian State, Ms. Colburn was recognized as a Chancellor’s Scholar (Full-Ride Scholarship), Academic Scholar, Harbinson Family Music Scholar, a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, and an Honors Student. She performed in the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, ASU Marching Mountaineers, and other chamber ensembles. She also led the Marching Mountaineers as Drum Major for two years.
Alyssa (Montgomery) Colburn grew up in the Raleigh area and is an alumnus of the Leesville Band Program. While a student of David Saleeba Albert at Leesville Road High School, she played Oboe and English Horn in the Symphonic Band. She was the second drum major in Leesville High School Band history to serve as a two-year Drum Major.
