Ashleigh Cook - Director of Bands

Ms. Ashleigh Cook is entering her 15th year as a music educator and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Western Carolina University in 2011 and a Master of Music Education from East Carolina University in 2023. Prior to her appointment at Jay M. Robinson High School, she served as Band Director at Northwest School of the Arts, Assistant Band Director at Porter Ridge High School and Porter Ridge Middle School, and Band and Chorus Director at Cherryville High School. In the last year, she also served as Interim Associate Director of Music Programs with Arts+, where she developed educational programming and collaborated with community partners to expand access to music education throughout the Charlotte region. Ensembles under her direction have consistently earned Excellent and Superior ratings at Music Performance Adjudication, marching competitions, and Solo & Ensemble events, and her students have regularly been selected for county, district, and state honor ensembles. While at Cherryville High School, Ms. Cook was named Teacher of the Year and received the Young Band Director of Excellence Award from the South Central District Bandmasters Association.

Ms. Cook has served as an honor band clinician and as a host for Solo & Ensemble Music Performance Adjudication and All-District Auditions for the South Central District Bandmasters Association. She served as Chair of the SCDBA and currently serves the organization as Past Chair.

An active performer, Ms. Cook is a member of the Carolinas Wind Ensemble. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA), South Central District Bandmasters Association (SCDBA), American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA), and Women Band Directors International (WBDI).