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A ten member committee consisting of student representatives, musically-oriented faculty members, the Director of Special Programs, and the Superintendent of Schools was charged with the task of selecting a composer of the new Mountain Ridge High School fight song. After much deliberation on the part of the committee, David Kuhn, a 33-year veteran music educator for the Allegany County Public School System, was selected to uphold this honor for his piece entitled “Miners, Dig In and Win!”
After graduating from Beall High School and Frostburg State College, Kuhn was hired as the band director at Bruce High School in 1974 and remained in that capacity until 1984 when he was transferred to Fort Hill High School. He led the Fort Hill High School band faithfully for ten years, and in 1994 until the present has been employed as an elementary instrumental music specialist in the public school system.
When asked about the process of composing the new song, Kuhn replied, “The melody itself came very quickly, probably because my life has been spent working with mostly instrumental music.” The lyrics, according to Kuhn, took a bit more creativity. “I consciously avoided gender references and I tried to make this a song that would encompass more than just sports.” He went on to say “This song addresses the thought that winning is more about the effort than the score. Resolution and perseverance are the keys to personal victory in endeavors of all kinds, whether it is athletics, academics, the arts – anything.”
The lyrics to the new school’s fight song are as follows:
Miners of Mountain Ridge, All hail to thee!
Be strong and take the lead for a victory.
Stay true to your resolve; never give in.
And make a good fight, Red, Black, Gold, White.
Miners, Dig in and win!
According to Superintendent of Schools, Bill AuMiller, “The Mountain Ridge fight song will quickly become a trademark as the new high school establishes traditions. A special word of thanks to Mr. David Kuhn, an Allegany County music teacher and Beall High School graduate, for sharing his time and talent with this endeavor.”
Kuhn felt that Mountain Ridge should have something original to call its own and he’s delighted that his composition was chosen. And how very fitting that the composer of this fight song who will have their name associated with this school for years to come be the creation of a local resident with strong ties to the many communities affected by Mountain Ridge High School.
To listen to the Mountain Ridge High School band perform the school's new fight song, click here.
Pictured from left to right: Gary Davis, MR athletic director; Justin Blubaugh, MR student council president; Lauren Pappas, student council president; David Kuhn, MR fight song composer; and Wayne Nicol, MR principal.
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