Music lover

Piney Creek's Wendy Lewis enjoys music and teaching

It was a passion for music that helped bring Wendy Lewis to Alleghany County, and she shares that passion with pupils at Piney Creek Elementary School.

She is director of the school's after-school musical program. The program started as a branch of JAM (Junior Appalachian Musicians), which is part of the Mountaineer Millennium program at Sparta School. But Piney Creek's endeavor is now a separate entity and will soon have a new name.

"Growing up being around music and music people kept me out of a lot of trouble," said Lewis. "Not every kid is athletic. They need a passion, they need something. The music community is a great group of people to surround children with, especially the traditional music community."