West Virginia Music Educators Association hosts an annual WVMEA conference, and each year, WV music teachers are encouraged to submit recordings of their students’ best performances for the chance to be selected as performers during the conference. For the first time in Ohio County Schools history, one of our middle schools was selected to perform.
Wheeling Middle School alumna and, in a sense legacy, Kailey Filben teaches Steel Band at WMS. Her father, the late Buddy Filben, was also a legendary teacher in the same classroom Kailey teaches in. Since her time in Ohio County Schools, Kailey has taught at both Middle Creek Elementary and embraced the steel band group her father loved dearly.
After submitting several recorded pieces, her all-female, 7-member steel band troupe was selected as an “X-Ensemble” selection at the upcoming conference. X-Ensembles are unrelated to choral and band submissions and often comprise a unique opportunity for students. WVMEA is known for fierce competition as recordings are judged thoroughly and blindly.
Wheeling Middle School will perform on March 6th at 12 P.M. in Charleston.
