Yonkey

Yonkey

From Pago A1

in Fauquier County and we want to start to raise a family and try to just continue living and making sure we have the funds to do so.” Yonkey said.

He said his wife does not have plans to switch jobs.

During his time as band director at Rappahannock County High School. Yonkey led the Panthers to numerous distinctions.

In the 2005 the concert band received top recognition at the H^rshey Park “Music in the Park” competition. At the 2006 Cedar Point competition in Ohio, all three of the high school bands — jazz, concert and marching — took home top marks. And last spring the Panthers traveled to New York City and again distinguished themselves.

In April the band members will pack up their instruments and head to Bush Gardens for one last competition under Yonkey.

“I try to bring forth as much energy as I can to the group and hopefully evoke enough energy from the kids and keep them on track and try to inspire them in every way, shape or form to get the best result.” he said.

Yonkey said his approach to teaching draws from years of experience in the musician's seat. From that vantage point he learned first hand what methods worked best.

“I can take what I like and take what t didn’t like and form it into the best overall director and try to follow those guidelines to improve what I’m doing with the kids,” he said.

Yonkey started playing music early on. In high school he played saxophone, making first chair in the Pennsylvania .state band and performing at Carnegie Hall with a regional band that drew musicians from up and down the east coast.

He went on to Bowling Green State University in Kentucky for the school’s topnotch sax program, but transferred after a semester to Shenandoah Conservatory to be closer to home. There he played in the wind and jazz ensembles.

After he graduated from Shenandoah he took a job at Peter Muhlenberg Middle