12th Annual Panther Band Classic - October 17, 2026

The PCHS Band Program was founded on the ideals of Pride, Honor, and Tradition. Through the leadership of our three former directors and our current director, this vision has remained our guiding goal. The band strives for excellence in everything we do, and members of the PCHS Band understand that professionalism is at the heart of all our efforts.

PCHS Director of Bands Past & Present

Ms. lori j. evans

2000 - 2007

Ms. Lori J. Evans founded the PCHS Band Program. Before becoming the founding director at PCHS, Ms. Evans was the director of bands at Elizabeth City Middle School and was the founding director of River Road Middle School.

Ms. Evans and her late husband, Robert, wanted to make the new PCHS Band program a force to be known throughout Eastern North Carolina. They started by becoming a competition band whose ideals came from Carolina Crown and other DCI Ensembles.

The program's excellence did not stop with just the Panther Pride Marching Band but continued with the PCHS Symphonic Band. The PCHS Symphonic Band is one of our multiple award-winning ensembles. The Symphonic Band has won awards in North Carolina, including a "Superior" rating at MPA (2014), as well as a 1st Place finish in New York City at the Heritage Festival (2005). In addition, PCHS began hosting a competition in September - "The River City Band Classic."

mr. robert l. spitler

2007 - 2012

Having "excellence in all that we do" did not end with Ms. Evans's departure. In the Fall of 2007, Mr. Robert L. Spitler became the second director of bands in program history. Bands under Mr. Spitler continued in musical excellence. The Panther Pride Marching Band continued right where Ms. Evans left off by having a successful season on the Marching Band Field. The band placed in numerous competitions across Eastern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia.

The PCHS Symphonic Band also had success at MPA, recording "Excellent" ratings. The band prides itself on keeping the tradition of successful years both in Marching Band and in Symphonic Band.

Mr. Spitler asked to share the following: "Tell all my kids from 2007-2012 that I miss them and wish them all the best in the world."

mr. john w. russell

2012 - 2019

The Fall of 2012 brought PCHS a new director, Mr. John W. Russell. Mr. Russell continued where Mr. Spitler and Ms. Evans left off- pushing the program in the right direction toward continued musical excellence. Mr. Russell became the first director in program history to be a native of Elizabeth City.

Bands under Mr. Russell earned the program's first "Superior" rating at MPA (2014), high ratings at other MPA events, and high ratings at marching band competitions across Eastern North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia.

Mr. Russell also brought the Panther Jazz Collective into a more prominent role. Additionally, the marching band competition returned to PCHS as the "Panther Band Classic."

mr. nicholas g. stanley

2019 - Present

In the late summer of 2019, PCHS welcomed its fourth director of bands to the program. Mr. Nicholas "Nick" Stanley became the second Elizabeth City native and the first PCHS Band/School Alum to become the director of bands.

While at PCHS, Mr. Stanley has kept the goals the same - to continue to have "excellence in all that we do." Under Mr. Stanley, the PCHS Band Program has received many awards in marching band from Eastern/Central North Carolina and Southeastern Virginia, as well as "Excellent" and "Superior" Ratings at Symphonic Band MPA.

Bands under Mr. Stanley have also grown in popularity around Elizabeth City. The Panther Jazz Collective is now the opening band at the NC Potato Festival; "The SOUND of The NORTHISDE" is extremely popular in the community, and the PCHS Symphonic Band consistently earns "Excellent" and "Superior" ratings at MPA.

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