Morgantown High School Band
109 Wilson Avenue, Morgantown WV 26505
Our Band Directors
Mr. Lorne Hyskell
Band Director
Mr. Hyskell graduated from Punxsutawney Area High School in Pennsylvania, where he met his wife, Emily. He attended Duquesne University, where he participated in the Jazz Workshop, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony, along with various Saxophone quartets and trios. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in PK-12 Music Education in 2016. Mr. Hyskell has remained a member of NAfME, WVMEA, and ASTA.
Following Graduation, Mr. Hyskell was the Marching Band Director for Peters Township High School, where he directed a 140 piece band. Mr. Hyskell has helped lead previous ensembles through participation in several festivals, community festivals, PIMBA Competitions, and Disney Parades.
Mr. Hyskell joined the team at Morgantown High School in 2018 as the Assistant Band Director, accompanying the band on trips, parades, and football games, then became the Band Director in the Summer of 2020. He now teaches Intro to Piano, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Band, and co-teaches Freshman and Concert Bands with Assistant Director Mr. Brian Reed. He has also taught Intro to Guitar and Orchestra while at MHS.
Mr. Brian Reed
Assistant Band Director, Percussion Coordinator
Mr. Reed is a 2009 graduate of Morgantown High School and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Fairmont State University (2015). He has served as one of our Percussion Instructors and our Percussion Coordinator since graduating from MHS. He has also been part of the WVU Marching Band’s Percussion staff for over 6 years. He has travelled extensively from Orlando, FL to Honolulu, HI for parades, field shows and festivals with the Morgantown High School Band and the “Pride of WV Mountaineer Marching Band”. Mr. Reed is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Kappa Kappa Si and an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha (Sinfonia).
Following college graduation, Mr. Reed served as the general music teacher at Mountainview Elementary 2017-2019 and, then, as band director at Clay-Battelle Middle/ High School 2019-2020.
Mr. Reed accepted the position of Assistant Band Director at Morgantown High School in 2020. He leads multiple groups at MHS, including Freshman Band, Symphonic Band, and both Percussion Ensembles. In addition, Mr. Reed also co-teaches the Concert Band along with Mr. Hyskell. Mr. Reed is excited to continue the great tradition of excellence here at Morgantown High School.
Mr. Brian Cain
Drill Designer/Instructor
Brian is a graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School in Princeton Jct., NJ. He received his Bachelor's in Exercise Physiology from WVU in 1997 and a Masters in Secondary Education from WVU in 2002. He has taught in the Monogalia County School System, North Myrtle Beach High School and Wheeling Park High School.
Brian is married to the former Susan Robinson of Morgantown. They are proud parents of Sabrina Frances Cain, born August 7, 2011. He and his family currently reside in New Jersey, where he is working as a Microscopy Specialist in the Biomedical Research division of Nikon.
This will be Brian's 15th year with the Red and Blue Marching Band. He is very grateful to work with such a fine group of students and staff.
Mikaela Atkinson
Choreographer
Mikaela is a proud alumni of Morgantown High School. She graduated in 2015, while participating in the National Honors Society, Morgantown High School Dance Team, and was a four year member of the Morgantown High School Red and Blue Marching Band. During her time in the band, she was a member of the flute section in both symphonic and wind ensembles, and was a Mohiganette, Majorette, and Head Majorette for the 2014-2015 school year.
Within her lifetime, Mikaela has received 15 years of dance instruction from a variety of studios and in a variety of styles. Her instruction included ballet, jazz, trap, acrobatics, contemporary, and lyrical. While dancing, Mikaela participated and traveled on competitive dance teams and attended many successful trainings and workshops around the country.
After graduating Morgantown High School, Mikaela decided to peruse a career in nursing, as a direct admit at West Virginia University. She is currently in her last year of nursing school and will receive her BSN in 2019. So far in her time at WVU, Mikaela was a cheerleader her freshman and sophomore years, is a co-instructor for the Suncrest Middle School Majorettes, and assisted Kristin Brewster with the Morgantown High School's Mohiganette and majorette choreography for two years.
Mikaela is very excited and honored to continue the tradition of excellence as the choreographer of Morgantown High School's Red and Blue Marching Band.
Mr. Keith Reed, Retired
Mr. Reed is a graduate of Morgantown High School and holds both Bachelor and Master’s degrees from West Virginia University. He is a member of the West Virginia Band Masters Association, the Music Educators National Conference and Phi Beta Mu, the National Band Directors’ Honorary. Mr. Reed has been Director of Bands at Morgantown High School since 1987 and was Assistant Director for 6 years prior to that. Under his direction the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Bands have been selected as West Virginia State Honor Band 6 times, and the marching band has participated and placed highly in both national and international field and parade competitions throughout the eastern U.S.
In addition to directing the marching band, wind ensemble, symphonic and concert bands, and Music Department Chair, Mr. Reed leads an active Percussion Ensemble. The Percussion Ensemble/Drum Line has performed at the National Percussion Festival in Indianapolis, IN, the Miss WV Pageant and with singer/songwriter B.E. Taylor.
In 2006 and 2010 Mr. Reed was honored to be named “The West Virginia State High School Band Director of the Year”.
He served as Guest Conductor for the 2010 WVU Honor Band.
Mr. Reed is extremely proud to have led “The Red and Blue” in the 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, and directed the band in the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA.
As a performer, Mr. Reed has performed as a saxophonist with The Mon River Big Band and various local groups. An active member of his church, Mr. Reed serves as pianist, organist, and vocalist. In addition, he is on the Metropolitan Theater Board. Keith and his wife Linda reside in Morgantown. They are the parents of 2 children: Kristin, a teacher at MHS, and Brian, a student at Fairmont State University.