Virginia McChesney worked in Appalachia, the village of Big Stone Gap.  She taught for 16 years before she received a salary.  The school did not provide any money but it let her rehearse in the auditorium and later boarded off the balcony for a band room.  She had her first band room in 1963.  Her 72 piece band continued to use the original bass horn, assorted metal clarinets and other heirlooms.  Parents contributed $2.00 a month for music and state contest expenses. 

Virginia taught over 35 years.  After she retired she continued to give piano lessons. “I know the children won’t all feel that way, but every one of them absorbs something.” There were no band directors around here when I started so nobody complained because I was a woman.” During her career her bands earned an impressive number of superior ratings in both marching and concert bands. Adjudicators included Paul Yoder, Nilo Hovey, Cliffe Bainum, Jack Lee and John Paynter.