Make Me The Maestro
Make Me The Maestro
Vote for Your Favorite and Support Symphony of the Mountains!
Three remarkable community members are competing for the chance to conduct Sleigh Ride at the Holiday Concert: By the Fireside at Eastman’s Toy F. Reid Center. By making a donation in support of Symphony of the Mountains, you can help your favorite candidate achieve their goal of raising the most funds! Symphony of the Mountains is a 501(c)(3) organization, and all contributions are tax-deductible.
Meet our aspiring Maestro candidates below and cast your “vote” by donating to support their campaign. The candidate who raises the most funds will be the winner! The fundraising competition will end at 11:59 pm on Friday, December 5th. The winner will be announced at the concert on Saturday, December 6th—don’t miss it to see who will be handed the baton!
Fundraising Goal: $5,000!
How to Vote:
- To vote by credit card, click the button below and select your candidate’s name in the donation category dropdown.
- For cash or check donations, call or visit the Symphony of the Mountains office during business hours or mail a check with your candidate’s name in the memo line.
$1 = 1 vote
The Contestants:
CC Ryder
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CC Ryder is the vibrant, sweet-tea-sipping host of In the Fast Lane with CC Ryder on Classic Hits 102.7 WVEK. A lifelong music lover with a flair for Broadway and a heart rooted in Appalachia, CC’s passion for live performance shines both on and off the air. When she’s not spinning classic hits or cracking up her listeners, she’s mom to two amazing kids, dog-mom to Mason, and happily sharing life with her favorite roommate—the one wearing the gold band. CC believes music connects us all, and she’s honored to help bring that joy to the community as part of Symphony of the Mountains’ Make Me the Maestro fundraiser!.
My “Why” Statement:
Music has always been my heartbeat—it brings people together, tells our stories, and heals our hearts. Getting to step onto that podium means sharing that joy while helping keep live music thriving in our community. I’m participating because I believe every note we play helps our mountains sing a little louder. 🎶
John Jeter
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John Jeter is the chief executive officer of Bristol Regional Medical Center in Bristol, Tennessee, and Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia. He received his undergraduate degree in accounting and MBA from Milligan University and is a licensed Certified Public Accountant. Prior to his CEO roles, he served for nearly a decade as a regional chief financial officer and assistant administrator for Ballad Health facilities across Russell, Smyth, and Washington counties in Virginia.
John is originally from Elizabethton, TN and began playing drums when he was ten years old. He has performed in the Elizabethton High School Betsy Band, the Milligan Jazz Ensemble, Excalibur Indoor Percussion Ensemble, the ETSU Marching Bucs, and the State Line Wind Symphony. He taught percussion with the Betsy Band for over eight years, including five years as the percussion caption head and drumline music arranger.
My “Why” Statement:
My experience in music performance and education taught me the art of discipline, commitment, collaboration, confidence, creativity, excellence, and problem-solving; skills that have served me my entire life. This region needs the Symphony of the Mountains and it’s an honor to lend my support to this fine organization as it seeks to enrich our community.
Santa Claus
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Ho ho ho! I’m Santa Claus—North Pole resident, reindeer wrangler, and lifelong lover of music. Between toy-making seasons, I’ve been known to trade jingling bells for orchestral ones, keeping time with a belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly. I’ve conducted countless carolers at the Workshop, led the Elves’ Choir through “The Twelve Days of Christmas” more times than I can count, and even inspired Rudolph to try the triangle. When I’m not overseeing the Naughty and Nice list, I’m spreading cheer and harmony wherever I go. This year, I’m thrilled to bring some North Pole magic to the symphony stage—baton in hand, twinkle in eye, and a heart full of holiday spirit!
My “Why” Statement:
I’m participating in “Make Me the Maestro” to spread joy and raise funds for the symphony’s incredible work. Music brings people together just like the holidays do—and what better way to share that spirit than by conducting an orchestra for a great cause?