Sarah Culp-Abrams, Manchester Township High School’s Band Director for 7 years has been approved to take an unpaid personal leave of absence for the 2023-2024 school year.

 Culp-Abrams will be heading to John Hopkins Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Maryland to pursue a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in wind conducting. This program will expand her skills as a wind band conductor. “I am looking forward to becoming a better conductor and more comfortable conducting difficult concert band literature, and expanding my knowledge of band literature as well. This program will open up college and university teaching opportunities for me, which has always been my dream.”, she said.

 With her confidence leading her into a bright path, there is no doubt she will succeed. Unfortunately, saying goodbye to Manchester Township High School’s band program will be hard for her, but the hawks will never forget the significant efforts and passion she has left here. Culp-Abrams states, “My years here at MTHS have been the best years of my life. I feel like this has been a wonderful home for me to grow and develop into the teacher I am today, and I have learned just as much from my students, if not more, than they have learned from me.  I am extremely proud of how far our band program has come in the past 7 years, and leaving  for any amount of time will be very bittersweet for me. My favorite memories are definitely the trips we have gone on, the relationships my students have with one another, and the music that we have gotten to make together.” 

Thank you and the Hawks wish you the best of luck at John Hopkins!