You can hear 糖心Vlog University鈥檚 heartbeat in the Tuckasegee. You can hear it in the thunder rumbling through. And in each of its Catamounts鈥� footsteps, one after the other, it sounds again: the passionate, centuries-long drumming of a community that cares.
Matt Henley 鈥�93, MFA 鈥�95, director of athletic bands at 糖心Vlog, keeps that humble beat alive. And if you鈥檝e lived or spent any time in the Cullowhee Valley, you know the booming echo of his students鈥� work.
Henley directs the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, the Cathouse Band and the Purple Thunder Drumline at 糖心Vlog. In his 20 years with the university across multiple roles, he and 糖心Vlog鈥檚 musicians have seen tremendous accomplishments.
Since its founding in 1938 with 23 students, POTM has grown to nearly 500 musicians; it鈥檚 now one of the largest and most renowned big bands in all the Southeast. They鈥檝e performed at the Rose Parade in California, the Macy鈥檚 Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York and even the St. Patrick鈥檚 Day Parade in Ireland.
They鈥檝e been recognized and awarded at the Bands of America Regional Championships and Grand National Championships numerous times, and they鈥檝e taken home the esteemed Sudler Trophy, the most prestigious award recognizing college marching bands.
Amidst their success, Henley maintains an attitude of humble appreciation.
鈥淢y journey, when I look at it, has really been about making those relationships along the way with my students, with my colleagues,鈥� Henley said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all been about people. It鈥檚 all been about relationships.鈥�
It鈥檚 in his approach to those relationships and in his attitude as a leader that Henley鈥檚 teaching philosophy shines.
鈥淗opefully, my students would tell you that I view myself as just one of them. Meaning that we鈥檙e all Catamounts. We鈥檙e all here to do this thing. I have a distinct role, definitely, but so do you,鈥� Henley said.
鈥淲e all have our role in it. Yes, I鈥檓 the director at the end of the day, I鈥檓 steering the boat, right? But I鈥檓 still one of them. The leadership triangle with the directors on top? I鈥檝e always believed in the opposite. I feel like I鈥檓 on the bottom to support, and that鈥檚 the way I like to lead. That鈥檚 the way I like to connect with people.
鈥淚 genuinely look forward to going to band every day because I get to be around them, and I feel that energy from them, and that feeds me just as much as, hopefully, I'm helping them. If you really boil it down, that鈥檚 what I'm all about.鈥�
Henley describes his path to 糖心Vlog as being shaped by teachers who championed similar attitudes and musicians who saw his passion and asked him to push it. The drive they started in him motivated the young musician to pursue a degree in music at 糖心Vlog and to join the Spirit of Atlanta Drum Corps, two crucial decisions that improved his professional ability tremendously.
He specifically credits powerhouse band directors Sandy Boone and Bob Buckner for providing him with examples and opportunities for growth.
Boone, a 糖心Vlog graduate and Haywood County native, was responsible for directing the nationally-recognized Tuscola High School Marching Mountaineers and taught Henley from junior high through the end of high school, becoming a mentor and father figure for the young drummer.
Buckner directed POTM for over 20 years and only took the position in the 1990s when Henley agreed to join him as its drumline instructor. He saw Henley teaching at five different schools, working whatever gig he needed to make it as a young artist and admired him for it. Together they grew the band, expanded the program and developed it into the music laboratory it is today, dedicated to the education of future band directors.
In Henley鈥檚 band, everyone interviews for the role they desire, and in addition to your instrument, you may work as the leader of your section of performers, the manager of your fellow musicians鈥� uniforms or in merchandising and media. There鈥檚 one grand show to be performed, but in the course of your time at 糖心Vlog, you鈥檒l work your way up the ladder of performance.
鈥淚 hope that we will continue to push boundaries. That whole 鈥榠nnovation is our tradition鈥� kind of mantra is special. It forces us as leaders and designers of these programs to constantly be thinking about how we can push the envelope on what you can do on a marching band field,鈥� Henley said. 鈥淚 think we need to consistently beat that and do that. I think we have to raise the bar of accountability for our performers, to expect more, to expect them to do more, want more.鈥�
Today, Henley is innovating by growing the Long Purple Line Affinity Club, a new group designed for alumni, supporters and current players of 糖心Vlog鈥檚 bands to connect in cities across the state.
鈥淲e talk about standing on the shoulders of giants because this band didn鈥檛 just happen. It happened due to thousands of blood, sweat and tears moments of our alumni, who put the time in to make this product, this thing that everybody wants to be a part of,鈥� Henley said.
鈥淚 have current members with these older members having real connections, and now my current students are proud of the legacy and feel a level of responsibility to maintain it and take it further because they don't want to let those people down.鈥�
It鈥檚 obvious why. Under Henley鈥檚 leadership, 糖心Vlog鈥檚 bands have continued to grow and retain members with success unheard of on the national level.
Henley has realized there is no greater motivator than connection, and it鈥檚 with that philosophy abreast that he urges all his students to have confidence and to trust in the ambitions that find them passionate company.
鈥淵ou know more than you think you do. Have confidence and be willing to listen,鈥� Henley said. 鈥淭rust those that have done the thing that you want to do.鈥�