The Cox Mill High School Band was founded in 2009. From the beginning, the Cox Mill band started a tradition of excellence by receiving multiple Superior Ratings at both marching and concert festivals. The concert bands perform every year at NC state MPA festival. In 2013, the band had the privileged to perform at the NCMEA state convention. In 2023, the band was invited by our United States senators to Washington, DC to march in the National Memorial Day Parade. We are currently preparing for a trip to Ireland, where we will be marching in the 2027 Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade.

DREW CARTER 

Director of Bands

Cox Mill High School

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Drew Carter directs the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble.

He has taught in public middle and high schools in the South Central, Central, and Northwest Districts for over twenty years, earning many accolades, including consistent Concert Band MPA Superior Ratings in Grades II-VI. His Jay M. Robinson Symphonic Band was selected to play as a clinic band for Prof. Dennis Fisher at the 2019 NCMEA Professional Development Convention and as part of 2019 President’s Cup through the U.S. Army Band, “The Pershing’s Own.” His Robinson Marching Band represented North Carolina, at the invitation of the Department of Defense, as a performing band for the 80th Pearl Harbor Commemoration in Honolulu, HI in December of 2021.Mr. Carter has also conducted the Charlotte Concert Band, a band of professional and dedicated amateur musicians which performs regularly throughout the year at various locations in and around Charlotte (www.charlotteconcertband.org). The band performed at the NCMEA Professional Development Convention in 2008 and for its 50th Anniversary in 2015.

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Mr. Carter earned his National Board Certification in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood in November of 2010, and admittance into the American School Band Directors Association in 2016. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Music (horn performance) from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2000 and his Master of Arts in Teaching from UNC-CH in 2001. He has received further instruction in conducting from Prof. Daniel Cook, Prof. Eugene Corporon, Dr. Donald Hunsberger, Dr. Mark Scatterday, Dr. Mallory Thompson, Dr. Andrew Trachsel, and Dr. Eric Wilson. He is married to his wonderful and supportive wife Mandy. They live in Cabarrus County with their two sons, Van and Levi.

LEAH PFEIFFER

Director of Bands

Harris Road Middle School

Leah Pfeiffer, a native of Lansing, NC, received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 2011 from Elon University. Following graduation, she taught beginning through advanced chorus at North Gaston High School in Gaston County, NC. After a year at North Gaston, Mrs. Pfeiffer moved to Rowan County where she taught beginning through advanced band at Corriher-Lipe Middle School until 2018. During her time at Corriher-Lipe, Mrs. Pfeiffer grew the band program by 300% and earned the school their first Superior at the North Carolina Music Performance Adjudications in over thirty years. In 2017, she further had the honor of being selected as the 2017-2018 Teacher of the year.

Currently, Mrs. Pfeiffer is the director of bands at Harris Road Middle School in Cabarrus County. At Harris Road, she has had the honor of being selected as the 2018 recipient of the ASBDA Edgar Q. Rooker Encore Award. In 2021 Mrs. Pfeiffer helped found the North Carolina chapter of Women Band Directors International serving as the Vice President, while also becoming a National Board Certified Teacher. Mrs. Pfeiffer loves to work with new teachers and serves as a mentor through the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and currently serves as the middle school’s MPA representative for the South-Central Bandmaster’s Association. She currently holds professional associations with the National Association for Music Educators, the North Carolina Music Educators Associations, Women Band Director’s International, and the South-Central District Bandmaster’s Association.

Under her direction, her concert bands have received consistent and consecutive superior ratings with her separate sixth, seventh, and eighth grade bands at the North Carolina Music Performance Adjudications (MPA). Mrs. Pfeiffer began taking her bands to MPA in 2015 and has since earned eleven superiors. Her seventh and eighth grade bands travel to perform annually in either Orlando, Florida Festival Disney Competition or Williamsburg, Virginia Busch Gardens Music in the Parks. The Harris Road sixth grade band performs annually at the Carowinds Festival of Music. All three groups receive consistent first place and superior ratings during their travels.

Mrs. Pfeiffer resides in Charlotte with her husband, Josh, and children, Nolan and Graham.

"The Spirit of Cox Mill" 

Marching Band

This ensemble is the primary group to perform at football games, community events, parades and marching competitions. The marching band has been invited to march in the 2027 Dublin St. Patrick's Day Parade in Ireland. For more information about marching band contact andrew.carter@cabarrus.k12.nc.us.

Wind Ensemble

This class consist of 10th-12th graders. This class occurs in the Fall for any 10th-12th grader, and it also occurs during the Spring semester. The Spring semester placement in this ensemble is by audition only. This ensemble is our top concert ensemble and plays music grades IV-VI. This ensemble performs six concerts throughout the school year.

Symphonic Band

​This class consist of 9th-12th graders that register for band during the Spring semesester. This ensemble focuses heavily on fundmentals and musical performance. This ensemble typically plays music grade III-V. This ensemble peforms three concerts during the Spring semester. 

Concert Band

This class consist of our 9th grade students and occurs during the Fall Semester. This class focuses heavily on fundamentals and growth of the individual musicians. The Concert Band performs two concerts during the Fall Semester.

Jazz Band

This ensemble usually consists of those individuals who wish to play various musical styles including jazz, blues, rock, Latin and Dixie-land. Students will build their knowledge of improvisation as well as basic chord structure. Concerts will be held to showcase selections for parents and the community. Jazz Band meets after school during the Spring Semester.

Percussion Ensemble

This ensemble is for percussionist who would like to extend their skills and music vocabulary to further continue their music learning at Cox Mill. This ensemble focuses heavily on fundamentals of each percussion instrument and performing advanced percussion ensemble literature. The percussion ensemble performs at school and community events. This ensemble is a class that meets during the Fall Semester. 

Winterguard

This is an ensemble for any students who are intrested in dancing and spining flag and rifle during the Winter Season. This ensemble focuses fundatments of dance and prepares a show each year to perform competive on the local and state levels. The Winterguard also performs at school and community events. Winterguard meets after school during December-March and is open to anyone who would be interested! For more information, please contact DeAnna Morris: dmorris3148@gmail.com