Samuel “Buddy” Gudger is a native of Candler, North Carolina and graduated from Enka High School. He received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Mars Hill College in 1985 and a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Gardner-Webb University in 2013. Mr. Gudger began teaching in 1985 and spent two years in Duplin County before moving to South Brunswick High School in Southport, NC. In 2000, he moved home to Western North Carolina where he taught at Hendersonville Middle School until his retirement in 2018.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gudger’s bands earned consistent superiors at MPA at both the middle and high school level. His students regularly placed in All-County, All-District, and All-State ensembles and earned superior ratings at Solo and Small Ensemble Festival. In 2014, the Hendersonville Middle School 8th Grade Band performed at the North Carolina Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. Mr. Gudger has had numerous student teachers and has been a mentor to countless students and colleagues.

Mr. Gudger served on the board of directors for the Southeastern District Bandmasters Association in several roles including two terms as President. He also served as the middle school All-District Chair for the Western District Bandmasters Association. Mr. Gudger was selected as the South Brunswick High School Teacher of the Year in 1996 and the Hendersonville Middle School Teacher of the Year in 2005. He was also the recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Western District Bandmasters Association in 2009. Throughout his career Mr. Gudger maintained membership with the North Carolina Music Educators Association, The North Carolina Bandmasters Association, and was selected for membership in the American School Band Directors Association.

Mr. Gudger is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performer and currently serves as an Educational Representative for Music and Arts. He plays trumpet in the Asheville Community Band and is a member of the Montmorenci United Methodist Church choir and the Hominy Valley Men’s choir. Buddy and his wife Connie reside in Candler, NC and are the proud parents of Celia and Steven and grandparents of Reaghan and Chesney.