For the past 20 years Dan White has run an award-winning band that has motivated him to stay all these years. When attending VanDevender Jr. High School in the 80s, White was inspired to become a band director from his love of music. After graduating from PHS in 1989, White started school for music education at Glenville State College (now Glenville State University). At one point he changed his major to business with a music minor. Two years later, White went back into music education. In April, White received the Outstanding Teacher Award from Glenville State, an award for Glenville alumni in public teaching.

“That’s one of the big moments in my life that I can remember, for me,” White said about receiving this award. 

Once he started working for PHS he knew he’d stay until he retired, which is what he’s doing at the end of this school year.

“I was sad of course, because I wouldn’t have him my next years and neither would my sister, Anna, but I think it’s his time,” tuba player Eva Baillargeon said.

One of White’s favorite pieces the band played was when they went to Charleston Laidley Fields for a competition and played the piece called ‘Variations of a Korean Folk Song’. Another one was on Nov. 11, 2025 in Washington, D.C., when they performed for the annual Veterans Day Parade.

“Mr. White has passion for music, great passion for music,” alto saxophone player Jacob Daughtery said.  “Obviously it’s like his whole life. He’s done it (music) his whole life and I also have a passion for music. That’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, and I think he’s helped me with that. To realize that music is not just something you do on the side, it can become a career, and he’s encouraged me a lot with music.”

A performance White particularly enjoyed dates back to 2007, when the football team played St. Albans. At the time White’s brother, Tim, worked as the band director for St. Albans. The two got permission to practice for the pregame show with the two bands together. They were able to combine the bands to play for the state playoffs. 

His students say they will remember many things about White and their time with him.

“Him pushing us to our best,” bass drum and mallet player Nikki Rather said. “Anytime we finally did good at something, he’d be like ‘Great! Now do better’.”

Ken Dye, the band director of University of Notre Dame, complimented White and his band while they were at Disney at the same time. Dye told White that he was glad to see a band who can actually do a march. White said he was proud because Dye was one of his favorite arrangers.

White’s time at PHS will be remembered by many current students, alumni, staff and by the people where his band has performed.  

“I think Mr. White has an incredible sense of dedication to what he does and I think to remain as dedicated and loyal to my program as he has to his would be something that I would take on,” choir teacher Joshua Dubs said. 

Current band students had their own ideas of how they want White to remember their band.

• “Being one of his favorite years, that we made him proud for his very last year.” Nikki Rather
• “Just being big and full and us all being friends and having a good time.” Eva Baillargeon
• “I want him to remember us as happy and just excited people in general.” Allayanii Gutierrez
• “Not everyone has the pride and the respect and the courage to do it but I think he remembered the certain people that did. You know all the people that helped him and that he helped.” Jacob Daughtery
• “Kinda like family almost. Doesn’t matter if we have drama, we all end up coming together to play whether we like it or not.” Hattie Brown
• “I want Mr. White to remember all the fun memories he had over the past 20 years he was the director of the band. All the great things we’ve done like march at Disney or at a parade in Washington DC is something very special that not everyone can say they have done before, and I want him to remember how much of an impact he had on many people’s lives because of what he did for the past 20 years.” Julia Fairchild
• “I hope he takes pride in what he does and pride in what he’s achieved in the band as a director.” Jocelyn Balderson

“The band, I feel, is an extension of me, I want the best for them,” White said. “And I expect them to push for the best out of themselves.”