About Us

Director of bands - taylor alley

Taylor Alley started her teaching career this year at McMichael High School where she graduated from in 2019. Ms. Alley was born and raised in Madison, North Carolina and spent all four years of her high school career dedicated to the McMichael Bands as a clarinet player. She graduated from Appalachian State University in 2024 with her bachelors in Instrumental Music Education. At App State, she was a member of the Appalachian State chapter of National Band Association and performed with the Appalachian Symphony Band, the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, the Appalachian Concert Band and the Appalachian Clarinet Ensemble and participated in the Marching Mountaineers for 3 years where she also served on the leadership team. After graduating, Ms. Alley spent a year in Orlando, Florida partaking in the Disney College Program before moving back and taking the position as the McMichael High School Band Director. Ms. Alley is a member of the North Carolina Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Educators. She strives to grow the program and use her passion for music and teaching to inspire students to be their best!

About the program

McMichael Bands consists of a year-long Concert Band, a year-long Jazz Band, and a fall-season Marching Band. The Marching Band travels to competitions, in-county away football games, and performs at home football games during the months of August through November. We strive to perform at our best for our community. The Concert Band holds concerts throughout the fall and spring and performs at community events. The Jazz Band performs at Concert Band events and community events (taken as a class in the spring, rehearsal in the mornings before school in the fall).

About the school

Dalton L. McMichael High School was established in 1991 after merging Stoneville High School and Madison-Mayodan High School. Formerly the Falcons and the Eagles, the new mascot became the Fighting Phoenix “rising from the ashes” of the merging schools. McMichael High School was named after Dalton L. McMichael (1914-2001), a textile executive and former chairman of the Madison-Mayodan School Board.