SMETHPORT — Abbie Weaver, a 2008 honors graduate of Smethport Area Junior-Senior High School, returns home to direct the IU9 Senior High Band Festival today at her alma mater.

The doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the concert to begin at 7 p.m.

A French horn specialist, Weaver participated in the IU9 band festivals while she was in grades seven through 12. She then attended Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where she studied with Drs. Jack Stamp and Jack Scandrett and graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in music education.

While at IUP, she performed in the Wind Brass and Horn ensembles, symphonic band and was an active member of the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association.

After earning her undergraduate degree, Weaver taught for three years in the middle and high schools grades in Raleigh, North Carolina, where her bands received “superior” ratings at the North Carolina Band Masters Association Festivals.

She is now completing the requirements for a master’s degree in music conducting at San Diego State University. She is director of the concert and varsity bands and a graduate assistant for the wind symphony, symphonic band, Marching Aztecs and pep bands. Weaver also performs with the San Diego State University Symphonic Orchestra.

At SDSU, she enjoyed the opportunity to conduct the West Coast premier of Michael Daugherty’s “Rio Grande,” that Grammy-award winning composer’s most popular band work.

“I will graduate in May,” she said, “and I have just accepted the position of director of bands at the Ramona High School in California.”

For today’s public concert featuring musicians from McKean, Cameron, Elk and Potter counties, Weaver said she has selected varied compositions.

“I’m really excited to return to see the directors and introduce new music and composers to the high school musicians,” she said. “Among the selections will be a work by Steven Bryant, a young North Carolina composer, ‘Flourish for Wind Band,’ a crowd favorite, and a John Philip Sousa march, ‘Manhattan Beach.'”

She is an avid promoter of music education and a member of the National Association for Music Education, College Band Directors Association and the California Music Educators Association.