Hatteras Island Community Strings launches some big changes in 2024

Hatteras Island Community Strings has only been in existence for two years, but like many Outer Banks programs that resonate with the local community, the nonprofit organization has had a steady series of growth spurts and adjustments since launching in 2022.

Jessie Taylor, a music teacher for more than 23 years, first started to envision a community music program for Hatteras Island students in 2021. Cemented in her brain, (and later on paper), she had the details readily worked out when she received a phone call from Rev. Gina Miller at St. John United Methodist Church in Avon that would bring her idea to life.

An anonymous donor had given $10,000 towards a music scholarship type program, and with the St. John’s Church providing the classroom space, Hatteras Island Community Strings, (affectionately nicknamed “HICS”), hosted its first classes in September 2022.

HICS focuses on violin, guitar, and ukulele instruction, and the organization has already made waves since welcoming its first groups of young students. Recitals and concerts were held in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and the popularity of the program made it clear that it was time to take some long-term steps that would allow it to continue for miles to come.

“At the beginning of this year, we became our own nonprofit organization,” said Taylor. “We used to be under the umbrella of the St. John UMC, but we agreed it would be beneficial to be our own nonprofit as we were beginning to grow.”

A new HICS Board of Directors was also formed to help map out the future of the nonprofit organization, which includes Taylor, Kelly Williams, Vicki Langhel, and Stephen Day. A new instructor was also enlisted to work alongside Taylor, famed local musician, Lou Castro.

“He had just moved back [to the Outer Banks], and being an amazing musician and a teacher, he was the perfect fit,” said Taylor.

There were additional changes that were launched in 2024, as well. Now with two years of classes under the organization’s belt, the shape of the program was changing based on students’ interest, budget, and beneficial local partnerships.

One of the largest changes as the September 2024 classes arrived was the location. Through local ties and remarkably similar goals, HICS partnered with Heart Space – another relatively new nonprofit organization that is focused on creating an outlet for Hatteras Island’s creative youth.

Founded and orchestrated by Antoinette Gaskins and Jennifer Price, Heart Space and HICS seemed like natural partners from the start.

“Earlier his year, we as a board were talking about partnering with another nonprofit, and particularly Heart Space, because they were working with the same focus on creative [outlets], and they had the space for classes,” said Taylor. “We met, and it was an instant no-brainier. We were on the same page when it came to helping kids in the community, and we’re really hoping down the road we can get Heart Space kids and HICS kids together to do some fundraisers or some fun programs.”

The final big change was the type of classes that launched in the fall 2024 season.

HICS teaches weekly classes from fall through April every year, which is a perfect way for local students to have fun all winter long, when the island may be a little slower in terms of youthful entertainment.

Before the fall of 2024, there were multiple classes in different age groups and experience levels, but the end result was difficult to manage. Offering individualized classes for violin, guitar, and ukulele in different age/experience groups meant that there were roughly five classes happening at once, with a very limited instructor staff and budget.

The students were certainly learning in this original class set-up, but after a couple years, it seemed like it was time to create a different type of program to create a better and more educational experience for the kids who really wanted to learn.

“We revamped the vision of the program and said, ‘let’s have it be audition-based,’ and that will really help to target the kids who are very dedicated and who are serious about the program, and serious about playing their instruments,” said Taylor. “We had two sets of auditions this past summer, and all of the kids who auditioned got in.”

Today, HICS has two classes with 10 students each. The first class is called Fantastic Fire, for students who have been playing for 18 months or less on varying instruments. “They’re actually a band, which is a lot of fun,” said Taylor. “They are currently working on ‘Surfing USA’ and ‘Twist and Shout.’ They’re learning how to play individual parts, how to play together, and they are getting involved in singing as well… so they truly understand what it’s like to be in a band and work together.”

The second class is more advanced, and a little more versatile, with electric guitars and a bass player in the mix. Also following a collaborative band-style program, the intermediate group is working on multiple songs like “What I Like About You” and “Island in the Sun” by Weezer.

“It’s really neat to see them starting to understand the different dynamics of the parts to play,” said Taylor.  “As a group, we haven’t come up with a band name yet, but we’ll get there.”

It’s a whole new set-up and situation for Hatteras Island Community Strings.

HICS started in 2022 with an idea, a generous donation, and a location, and it will wrap up 2024 as an official 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization with a Board of Directors, two incredibly talented instructors, and a partnership with Heart Space that promises bright milestones ahead.

However, this success is not that surprising given how much the HICS students have embraced the relatively-new opportunity since classes were first held in 2022. Taylor estimates that out of all of the current students, about 90% are returning students, and about 10% are new to the program this year.

HICS has had some major changes in 2024, but like any new venture – musically or otherwise – it takes practice, practice, practice for everything to fall into place.

“It’s a totally different approach to the classes this year, and I see the students’ joy,” said Taylor. “They’re having such a great time when they come to the classes, and I can see there’s more enthusiasm to their approach.

“They’re happy to be there, and they are having a great time every week. It’s really grown into a fun program for them.”

For more information and how to help:

Donations can be made online on the Hatteras Island Community String’s website, and folks can also check out their Facebook page for information on upcoming concerts and events.