James G. Daugherty ("Mr. D.") is currently in his nineteenth year as the director of bands and instructor of music theory at Central Davidson High School in Lexington, North Carolina. Under "Mr. D’s" baton the school’s Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble have consistently earned ratings of excellent and superior at regional, state and national music festivals from North Carolina to Florida. More festival superior ratings for the bands have been earned in the last nineteen years than the entire history of the school. In the spring of 2012 the concerts bands of Central Davidson performed at the Dixie Classic Festival in Williamsburg, VA with the Wind Ensemble earning “Honor Band” status for the event. In 2004 the band program was invited to represent the State of North Carolina at the National Festival of States in Washington, D.C. commemorating the new WWII Memorial there. The Wind Ensemble performed for the North Carolina Music Educators Annual In-Service Conference in November of 2005 with a "Midwest Clinic" format program of music for all ability levels. Additionally, the Spartan Legion Marching Band (an all volunteer group) has also performed with the world renowned "Dallas Brass" at the North Carolina Music Educators In-Service Conference in 1997.
In 1996, he was named "Teacher of the Year" at Central Davidson High School and in 1997 for Davidson County (North Carolina) School System (a system of approximately 27,000 students). In January of 1998 he was presented with a distinguished service award of "Outstanding Young Educator" by the Lexington, North Carolina Jaycees and in April of 2006 was nominated for a "Young Alumnus Award" from Appalachian State University. He has been nominated for "Who’s Who Among American Teachers" by his students over four times and was recently recognized by the group "Who’s Who In America".
Mr. Daugherty's educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in music education from Appalachian State University as well as a Master of Music degree in music education with a concentration in band directing also from Appalachian. He also holds certification in Education Leadership/School Administration from High Point University and is a licensed K-12 School Administrator. While attending Appalachian, Mr. Daugherty was a recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellows Scholarship. Mr. Daugherty holds professional memberships in the American School Band Director’s Association (ASBDA), National Band Association, the Music Educators National Conference, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, the North Carolina Association of Educators, the Florida Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Eta Sigma and is a faculty life member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Mr. Daugherty is the Past President of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association and is a past chairman of the Northwest North Carolina Bandmasters Association. Mr. Daugherty was elected to serve as District Five President for the North Carolina Music Educators Association in 2006 and served in that capacity until 2009. Within the district and state band associations he has previously served the Northwest District as treasurer for eight years 2000-2008 and from 2003-2009, he served as the state clinic chair for the North Carolina High School Honors Band. Mr. Daugherty considers one of his most humbling honors to be selected by his colleagues as the “Award of Excellence” recipient for the Northwest North Carolina Bandmasters Association in February of 2007. Mr. Daugherty was featured in the February 2009 edition of Teaching Music (a publication of the National Association for Music Education) in an article entitled “Accentuate the Positive” and was also listed in December 2009 as one of “50 Directors Who Make A Difference” in the School Band and Orchestra Magazine. He has adjudicated at marching band events in North Carolina and Virginia and has also served as guest conductor within those states. He has additionally served as a performance and sight-reading adjudicator for the North Carolina Bandmasters Association Concert Band MPA and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association MPA. During the summer of 2012, Mr. Daugherty completed his twenty-second summer on the faculty/staff of Cannon Music Camp held at Appalachian State University where he serves as the Dean of Men, a position he has held for the past sixteen years. Active in the Lexington community, Mr. Daugherty is a member of Coggins Memorial Baptist Church and is a member of the sanctuary choir.