MURPHY – The Murphy High School marching and concert band is marching in the right direction under the leadership of band director Sarah Cooper.
Cooper, who is in her first year as Murphy’s band director, spoke with the Cherokee Scout about the importance of the band, her goals for the Bulldogs and the need for new uniforms.
Her music journey began when she started playing the trumpet when she was 10. She continued playing trumpet through high school and then continued into higher education, when she got a degree in music education.
After graduating from college, she performed in a circus band for about 10 years. When it came time for her son to go to kindergarten, she turned to teaching. She became an orchestra director for 21 years in Florida.
Cooper and her husband wanted a chase of pace, which is how she came to Murphy. She took the teaching position at the high school right before the 2025-26 year.
Sense of belonging
Talking about the importance of band for the students, Cooper said it builds a family and creates a sense of belonging. She added that it teaches them organization, how to work together and responsibility.
One of her main goals for the future of the Murphy marching band is new uniforms.
The current uniforms that the students are using are about 10 years old and are showing significant signs of wear and tear, Cooper said.
She said that the importance of the band having good, new uniforms is that they all look the same and no one is singled out.
“I think it just builds a sense of group belonging ... It makes them look good. And if you look good, you feel good,” Cooper said.
In search of uniforms
The band is seeking donation to help them get new marching uniforms. The uniforms they have are 10 years old and showing signs of their age, she said.
Cooper added that they are accepting donations of any size. Donors will have their names on the back of next year’s marching band T-shirt as well as a thank you in next year’s concert programs.
Checks should be made payable to “Murphy High School band.” They can be dropped off at the front office of the high school or sent to “Murphy High School, c/o Sarah Cooper, 234 High School Circle, Murphy, NC 28906.”
Happy to be here
Cooper said one of her favorite moments from her first year as Murphy’s band director was was when someone stopped her at a football game and said, “it’s really nice to hear the band playing the 'Star-spangled Banner' that we can understand what it is.”
She added that she is proud of how they did at their winter concert. Cooper said that the student have grown so much since the beginning of the year.
“I’m just happy to be here. I’m happy that I get to work with an amazing group of kids, both at the high school and the middle school. I’m looking forward to the future,” Cooper said.
From the students
Murphy High senior Olivia Ceberek has been in the band for eight years and her main instrument in trumpet.
She enjoys band because she’s able to work and put on a performance with music, which she enjoys because she has always loved music. She also said that the band is like a second family.
“You make friends that will last a lifetime,” Ceberek said.
Her favorite moment from this school year was getting to go to the 2A football state championship game with the marching band. She got to go her first year in the band and she got to go to state her senior year.
She said that other students should get involved with band because it teaches a deeper appreciation for music.
“It’ll teach you appreciating learning the music and being able to play an instrument itself and just how hard it is and giving you a better understanding,” Ceberek said.
Emily Roberts, a junior at Murphy High School, has been in the band for seven years. She marches tenors and plays percussion in the concert band.
She enjoys band because it can help calm you down, and it’s fun getting to be with friends and make new ones. Roberts said her favorite moment from the year was the football game before state where opposing fans were telling the band to be quiet so they played louder.
She said that other student should get involved with band because it makes you think differently about musicians and how great and hard it is to play music.
Addison England, also a junior at Murphy High, has been in the band for seven year and plays the flute. She said she enjoys being in band because of the emotions playing music creates, as well as making friends and being in the big family of the band.
England also said that getting to play at the state game was one of her favorite moments from the year. Students should get involved with band because “music is a good outlet for a lot of people.”
She added that music can be used to help cope with things in life. She also said student should get involved because you learn a lifelong skill of being able to play music.