Julie Kade

Julie Kade is a native of Rainelle, WV and graduated from Greenbrier West High School in 1974. She earned her degree in music education at Concord College in 1979 and later earned a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership from Concord University in 2004.
She began her career in Greenbrier County teaching band, choir, and general music from 1979-1984 at Crichton Elementary and Junior High and Rainelle Elementary and Junior High. She came to Mercer County in 1984 and was the Itinerant Instrumental Music Teacher at Silver Springs, Melrose, and Straley Elementary Schools and Oakvale High School until 1987. In October of 1987 she began her 29 years of service to Princeton Senior High School and Mercer Elementary School.

Throughout her 33 years as a high school band director at Oakvale and Princeton High Schools Mrs. Kade has led her bands to be the recipients of numerous superior ratings for concert band, jazz band, and countless awards for marching band. She has had a wave of students yearly participating in the Mercer County All County Band. Her students have participated in the Region 1 Solo and Ensemble Festival on a local level as well as the state level. Many of her students have also been selected to the WV All State Band and the WV All State Orchestra. Under her direction the Princeton Senior School Marching Band received several Grand Champion awards. She has received multiple awards for Best Show Design and is known for her drill writing skills. As a conductor she has directed honor bands at Marshall University and West Virginia University. Professionally she was repeatedly voted by her colleagues as Teacher of the Year for PSHS and honored mentor for the WV Governor’s School for the Arts. She was the recipient of the Mercer County Chamber of Commerce Eagle Award for the PSHS Bands outstanding service to the community. In 2014 she was presented with a Governor’s Proclamation and a County Commission Resolution proclaiming September 15 as “Julie Kade Day.” As of May 31, 2017, she hung up her bullhorn and retired after 38 years of service.

For the past 39 years she and her husband David have resided in Princeton, WV where they also raised 2 daughters, Noel and Ashley. Noel is an architect in Charleston, South Carolina and Ashley works all over the United States and Canada in the cosmetic industry. Julia and David also have a granddaughter, Avery, who is Ashley’s first child. Julia is currently serving as Festival Chair for the Region VI Ratings Festival. Most recently, Julia and her husband David have founded the Tri-City Jazz and Town Bands. They both also play for the Lifeline Praise Team on Sunday mornings.

David Kade

David Patterson Kade is currently retired after 35 years of service to Mercer County Schools. During his time with Mercer County he taught at the elementary and middle/junior high school levels at Silver Springs, Thorn, Oakvale, Ceres and Glenwood schools.

Mr. Kade received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education K-12 in 1980 from Concord University where he was the recipient of the Benedum Music Scholarship and the Ella Holroyd Award for Juniors. In 1979, he received an Honorable Mention in the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Composition Competition for his symphonic work “Transmutations.” Mr. Kade has been named teacher of the year at Glenwood School on three separate occasions and is a member of the 110% Club in Mercer County. Nominated by his professional music colleagues, Mr. Kade is a member of the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters fraternity. He has also served as guest conductor for the Marshall University Middle School Honor Band Festival.

Concert Bands and Stage Bands consistently received superior ratings under Mr. Kade’s direction. He served as chairman for instrumental music in Mercer County for 12 years. He has performed professionally since the age of 14 with popular groups such as Bits and Pieces, Horizon, Top Flite, The Redcoats, and Funky Mountain Express which appeared in “Seventeen” magazine in 1973. Mr. Kade has also performed with legends Frankie Avalon, The Temptations, and with members of Walt Levinsky’s Great American Swing Band. He has been a long time member of the Bluefield State Jazz Ensemble and the Concord Commanders Dance Orchestra. Mr. Kade also serves as Principal Trumpet with the East River Mountain Town Band and the Princeton Church of God.
Mr. Kade resides in Princeton, West Virginia with his wife of 39 years, Julia, retired director of bands at Princeton Senior High School and is the father of two daughters, Noel and Ashley. Noel is an architect in Charleston, South Carolina and Ashley works all over the United States and Canada in the cosmetic industry. Julia and David also have a granddaughter, Avery, who is Ashley’s first child. David also arranges music for local bands and ensembles throughout the community. Most recently, David and his wife Juila have founded the Tri-City Jazz and Town Bands. They both also play for the Lifeline Praise Team on Sunday mornings.

Julie & David Kade