INWOOD, W.Va. — The Musselman High School Applemen Marching Band captured 1st place in the Group 4 Open division at the Atlantic Coast Championships in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Musselman High School Bands Director Michael Knepper talked about the November 1st championship. “It was a windy Saturday morning, but the kids pushed through with a dynamite performance and at the end of the day they took home the first West Virginia Group Four Open Championship for our school and the first to represent our state.”
(Photo: Michael Knepper)
Group Four represents the largest division.
“Post-pandemic, since 2020, keeping kids involved in an extracurricular and co-curricular activities was a challenge,” Knepper says. “We stayed and maintained a large size group (at Musselman High School.) One of the achievements is that we are an open band, which means that we are at the advanced level of performance-based marching bands.”
“That really made me feel good that the students and the seniors helped build this program maintain the legacy of music in our schools in Berkeley County.”
Asked if he knew going into this competitive season that he had something special, Knepper said, “All of the groups that I’ve had for the past 25 years here at Musselman High School have been special. I do feel there’s always something very unique about a group and this group of seniors and their peers had a great synergy.”
“I felt like I felt that the cultivation of relationships here and the talent was going to do some great things like the ones in the past before. And I did feel like the people around that were helping me, such as my staff and the community probably felt that synergy as well.”
“We worked together to tailor a show for them and a set of skills where they could perform. And these kids just did a fantastic job on that morning. You could tell it on their faces, that synergy and that momentum.”
“The performance pressure was there,” Knepper said. “When they announced the results when they came off of the field, you could see the tears. They felt lifted and it was surreal,” said Knepper who said he could see the happiness and the feeling of achievement come through.
(Photo: Michael Knepper)
Drum Major Jonah Smith talked about wading into such a large, long-running competition. “It can be a little intimidating. You know, there’s a lot of different groups, all different types of shows. It’s eye opening.”
“I get to see a lot of different perspectives,” Smith says. “I get to go and take my band someplace where we’ve never seen any of these shows, all different groups that we’ve never met before and get to really like size up against them and see, you know, how our progress is compared to theirs and just we really get to experience everything together. It’s an amazing time.”
Asked how it felt to bring the championship home not just to Inwood but for the first time to the state of West Virginia, Smith said, “We put in the work just like everyone else. We practice hard. We have amazing staff that really pushes us beyond our limits.”
Knepper has spent the last 25 years of his career at Musselman. He said, “I am blessed to have an administration and a school system that that supports music in the schools. I grew up in Berkeley Springs so my heart is here. I have been in other places and on the West Coast and every day was beautiful, but there’s nothing more than coming and seeing the foliage and the snow and the different seasons. I enjoy the people here and the community and I felt that this was a place that made me feel like I belong and I wanted to do the same in my classroom.”
“Being a music teacher has been a great career move,” he says. “We try to offer all different kinds of genres of music such as jazz band that is very successful here at Musselman High School.”
He says when he is able to take his students to different communities and expose them to other types of bands, “I think that when the parents come along and the families, they see that as well and they want to try to offer and cultivate those same and equal opportunities for kids here in Berkeley County.”
He said he appreciates the support from the people in the community, the board of education, and the administration. The Berkeley County Commission on Thursday will issue a proclamation honoring the achievement. “I couldn’t be any prouder that the community just recognizes the importance of all student activities and what they do to making it meaningful and relevant.”
Screenshot of Performance from Michael Knepper video
In addition to performing at Musselman High School football games, the band is set to perform in the annual South Berkeley Christmas Parade next month.
Their jazz ensemble, Exit 5 will perform Sunday at the 12th annual Warm Hearts and Warm Hands event.
“Exit 5 started when Governor Justice and his cabinet members invited us to play for the Joyful Christmas celebration and the (tree) lighting and so created that little group Exit 5 to go down and play. And the jazz combo is … kids that like to jam and improvise.”
Exit 5 will play at the Warm Hands, Warm Hearts event at Taylor Farms Sunday at 1 p.m.
As for the competition season, which wrapped up over the weekend, Knepper says, “We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and an incredible year.”
In announcing the championship to the South Berkeley Community, Knepper said, “To our incredible community, thank you. Your unwavering support and love kept us focused and inspired to represent you with pride. This championship is not just for our current students, but also for the many years of Applemen Band members who gave their all on the north side of the band field, often battling the elements with grit and spirit.
This victory is for you as well for your cheers, your encouragement, and your belief in us over the past two decades. We are honored to carry your legacy forward.”
Jonah Smith and Lucy Green have been announced as the 2025–26 drum majors for Musselman’s marching band.
Another Eastern Panhandle school had a great showing at the Hershey event, as well. The Hedgesville High School Marching Eagles earned 2nd place in the Group 3-A division Saturday.
