Emily McNeil is a 2004 graduate of the University of Idaho where she earned her bachelor's degrees in Music Performance and Education.  She is originally from Lewiston, Idaho where she graduated from Lewiston High School in 1999.  During her time in Idaho, Emily played in many University of Idaho ensembles as well as playing flute and piccolo with the Washington-Idaho Symphony.  She taught at the Lionel Hampton Summer Youth Music School from 2001-2004 as well as teaching private flute lessons and building a studio.

In 2004, Emily moved to Greensboro, NC where she worked as a Residence Hall Director, Flute Ensemble Instructor, and Assistant Marching Band Director at Greensboro College.  She also played in the Greensboro Community Band, UNCG Wind Ensemble, and University Band.  Emily has worked at the UNCG Summer Music Camp as a counselor, flute teacher, and rehearsal assistant for 12 years.  In 2006, she moved to Ithaca, NY where she was a student at Ithaca College and earned her Masters Degree in Flute Performance in 2008.  Emilyi continued teaching private lessons and performed as a freelance musician in the Ithaca area until she moved to Salisbury, NC in 2009 where she became the band director at East Rowan High School.

Emily has played piccolo and flute with the Piedmont Wind Symphony in Winston-Salem NC since 2009 as well as playing in Flutes on Fourth, a community Flute Ensemble.  During her time as the band director at East Rowan, 4 students were selected as All-American Marching Band members, 5 students performed in Carnegie Hall as part of the High School Honors Performance Series, and a student performed internationally after having been selected by audition to play in the Sydney Opera House in Austraila and Musikverenin in Austria.  Mrs. McNeil's students have earned numerous superior and excellent ratings from the North Carolina Music Performance Assessment Concert Ensemble Festival under her direction.  She served as a chaperone and rehearsal assistant at the High School Honors Performance Series at Carnegie Hall in 2017 and 2018 as well as attending the 2017 Band Director Academy at the US Army All-American Bowl where she was named National Band Director of the Year.  When she is not doing music activities, Mrs. McNeil enjoys spending time with her husband, John (who also teaches at West Cabarrus!), and daughter Tenley (2).  They enjoy watching baseball games of all levels, traveling to visit family members, and spending as much time together as possible.

Mrs. McNeil is very excited to be the inaugural band director at West Cabarrus High School.  She looks forward to building a tradition of musical excellence and excitement at the school as well as throughout the community.  She strives to help each student reach and exceed their individual musical goals as well as helping the band program as a whole to thrive.  She plans to bring her influences from all of her musical experiences to build strength in jazz, concert, and marching bands.  Mrs. McNeil's hope is to help students find a build their love of music, not just during their time in high school, but throughout their lives.  Her goal is to help them learn what they need to be successful musicians throughout their lives while having fun making music.  Go Wolverines!

Please visit our West Cabarrus Bands Website at: https://sites.google.com/view/westcabarrusbands

Mrs. McNeil's e-mail addresses: emily.mcneil@cabarrus.k12.nc.us, westcabarrusbanddirector@gmail.com