Morton Middle School Band

Please welcome to the Morton Band Mr. Weitkamp!

Mr. Weitkamp will join Mr. Angel as a band director at Morton Middle School beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. See the information below for some background on Mr. Weitkamp, we are very lucky to have him join the program!

Charles “Chip” Weitkamp is finishing twenty-fifth year of teaching. Mr. Weitkamp began his teaching career at Elkhorn Middle School and Franklin County High School in Frankfort. In 2010 he moved to Fayette County to teach at Leestown Middle School. While in Fayette County he also taught at Booker T. Washington Academy, Cardinal Valley Elementary, Sandersville Elementary, Russell Cave Elementary, Meadowthorpe Elementary, and STEAM Academy.

Mr. Weitkamp is the former president of the Fayette County Band Directors Association and served as the Elementary/Middle School Instrumental Music Chair of KMEA District 7 from 2007-2012. He was named the Middle School Teacher of the Year by District 7 of the Kentucky Music Educators Association for the 2018 - 2019 academic year. And won the prestigious Leestown Middle Teacher Chain - an award for which he was nominated by students and their families - in March, 2025.

An active performer, Mr. Weitkamp is a member of the Capital City Community Band, the Dave Hummel Big Band, a former member of the Bluegrass Area Jazz Ambassadors, and has played in several musicals with the Paragon Music Theatre Company and the Lexington Theatre Company. He has also played with the Young at Heart Big Band.

Mr. Weitkamp graduated from Highlands High School in Fort Thomas, Kentucky. After graduation, he attended the University of Kentucky, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education magna cm laude (2000) and a Master’s Degree in Music Education (2008). He is a National Board Certified Teacher. Mr. Weitkamp holds membership in the Kentucky Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the Fraternal Order of Band.

Mr. Weitkamp and his wife, Allison, reside in Lexington with their children, James, Julia, and Joey.

Wednesday was a special night! The weather was amazing, and the students were able to showcase how much progress they had made this year. Enjoy a few pictures from the evening; a video will be posted later this weekend!

The stage is set! Our final performance of the year begins at 6:30. Visit the link below for the concert program.

bit.ly/mmsbandpops

Tonight is the night! The weather looks like it’s going to hold and we will be AT MOONDANCE! We hope you join us!

Our final concert of the year is coming up! Food trucks begin serving at 5:30 and performances begin at 6:30 - we hope you will join us!

Our final concert of the year is coming up! Food trucks begin serving at 5:30 and performances begin at 6:30 - we hope you will join us!

Last Thursday and Friday the jazz band visited the 5th graders at Glendover and Cassidy on a recruiting visit/performance. They gave two great concerts and we were also able to hand out brochures and information on how to join the bands here at Morton! Great job Jazz band!

Sights from the Color Guard club this afternoon! Thank you to several former Morton students and current members of the Henry Clay Color Guard for joining us!

Congratulations to the Morton Band members who participated in honor band this morning! All three bands sounded great!

Here is a link the recording of our 2025 KMEA Assessment performance, we hope you enjoy!

Morton Middle School Band - 7th/8th Grade Symphonic Band - Assessment 2025 - V2

Fantastic performance from the Symphonic Band this afternoon at the KMEA large ensemble assessment! The students earned a distinguished rating from all stage judges and in sight reading. We are very proud of their effort and attention to detail today!

What a great concert last week! Here are a few pictures and the video recordings. If you have pictures, we would love to see them - share them in the comments!

Jazz Band: https://youtu.be/eYv5UKhpczw

6th Grade Band: https://youtu.be/OHwwyf97jfQ

Concert Band: https://youtu.be/yD-NlNrNdtU

Symphonic Band: https://youtu.be/oj_N7yhg8J8