Cara Townsend is a graduate of Christopher Newport University with her Bachelor's of Music. She has worked at Bruton High School since 2001 and was awarded 2005 Teacher of the Year. Prior to Bruton, she taught at Tabb Elementary School. She was awarded a "YCSD Golden Apple Award from the Superintendent of Schools. Mrs. Townsend's professional organizational groups include MENC and VBODA. While attending CNU, she performed Bb clarinet and bass clarinet with the VA Beach Symphony and she also performed with the Peninsula Community Players in the show "Oklahoma". She studied clarinet with Fran Goldman and Marvin Western. Her conducting instructors include Percy Ironmonger and Dr. Mark Reimer. During the summers, she has worked and continues to for the Hampton Roads Marching Band Academy as the head drum major instructor. She also has worked and currently works with local drum majors and band leaders such as Tabb HS, Grafton HS, York HS, Menchville HS, Churchland HS. This summer Mrs. Townsend will be working the Christopher Newport University staff in their Marching Band Camp in which she will also be working with Boston Crusaders.
While at Bruton, she has lead the band to full competitive status with their marching, jazz and concert band. She enjoys working with her students. Her hope is that her students will leave Bruton with a great appreciaton for music as well as a foundation for leadership skills and hardwork. Music is a very powerful thing. Her thoughts are the same as those of Ludwig Van Beethoven as he stated, "Music can change the world". A band is something that can bring all types of people together for one common goal to make music. Her goal is to help develop creative hardworking goal seekers.
During her time away from Bruton, one could find her spending time with her wonderful husband Howard, son Howard, and daughter Gabriella.