Melissa Bushong Harper graduated from Shepherd College (now Shepherd University) in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music education and James Madison University with a Master’s in Music Education. She has taught music from PreK to 12th grade ranging the full gamut of music classes from general music, choir, musical theater, band, marching band, jazz band and orchestra.  After graduating from Shepherd, Mrs. Harper worked as a middle school general music and choral teacher while performing at a dinner theater in Hagerstown, Maryland. After leaving the Maryland area, she went on to teach middle and high school band, musical theater, general music, and beginning band in Columbia, Pennsylvania. After arriving back in Virginia, Mrs. Harper taught concert band, marching band, string orchestra, general music, and music theater at Stonewall Jackson High School in Shenandoah County.  Mrs. Harper has been teaching in Rockingham County, first at Mountain View Elementary and currently at Wilbur Pence Middle School, teaching beginning band, concert bands, and jazz band. She is also the director of the after school musical theater program. As a native of the area and an alumnus of Turner Ashby High School, Mrs. Harper is extremely excited to be in the area where her music roots grew deep.   In addition to her position as band director at Pence, she is active in Valley Wind Ensemble and the director for the Harrisonburg Rockingham Concert  Band. In her free time, Mrs. Harper enjoys spending time with her family and finding as many beaches as possible.