James "Jim" M. Stokes, a 1953 graduate who directed the Hendersonville High School Band Program from 1968 to 1988, garnered many awards for his band and himself on state and national levels.

Stokes was a high school band director for 30 years, the last 20 at Hendersonville High School, his alma mater. In 1991, three years after retiring, he founded the Hendersonville Community Band.

In our town's extraordinarily rich tapestry of music and the performing arts, the community band has been one more amazing success story.

After using his love of music to enrich the community for 37 years, Jim Stokes has decided it is time to move on.