Christine Cumberledge

Mrs. Christine Cumberledge is beginning her 25th year of teaching. More than twenty have been as the director of bands at Central Junior High in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. During this time, her bands have earned several honors, including earning the 2022 John Philip Sousa Sudler Silver Cup, being a 2021 National Foundation for Music Education Winner, 2020 TMEA Invited Performing Ensemble, and a 2019 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference Invited Performer. Central was also named the TMEA 2006 Honor Band. In 2003 the Central Band placed third in the state at the same competition. She was the assistant director of bands at Bedford Junior High when the group won the 2001 TMEA Honor Band. Her bands are named Best in Class and Outstanding Overall Band at competitions throughout the state, and consistently earn the highest ratings at UIL Concert and Sightreading Contest. She has served as guest conductor and clinician for groups each year throughout the country.

Mrs. Cumberledge was named a semifinalist in 2022 and 2023 for the Grammy Music Educator Award. She was also the 2017 Music & Arts National Music Educator of the Year. She was the 2006 Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD Secondary Teacher of the Year.  She was also the 2005-2006 Teacher of the Year for Central Junior High.  She has been included numerous times in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and was named to the National Honor Roll's ''Outstanding American Teachers."  She is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, Texas Music Adjudicators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Mrs. Cumberledge recently earned her Master Degree in Educational Leadership from Lamar University. Her Bachelor of Music Education Degree is from the University of North Texas, where she graduated cum laude. At the University of North Texas, she was a clarinet student with Dr. John Scott. She grew up in the San Antonio suburb of Schertz, Texas where she received private instruction from Mr. Larry Mentzer of the San Antonio Symphony.  Mrs. Cumberledge resides in the mid-cities area with her husband, daughter, dog, and one cat who thinks she is charge of them all.