Miranda Cook

Miranda Cook is a dedicated music educator and flutist who studied under Professor Nina Assimakopoulos. She directs band and choir at Northern Garrett High School and values music’s power to connect and inspire. Miranda fosters creativity, expression, and lifelong appreciation through inclusive teaching and active participation in performance and leadership.

Miranda Cook is a passionate and dedicated music educator who empowers her students with the power of music. Her teaching philosophy is creating a supportive community that inspires creativity, expression, and communication. Music is a part of everyone’s life that extends to more entertainment–it touches our hearts, enriches our souls, and creates connections that transcend time, culture, and language. She encourages her students to explore various musical aspects to grow as musicians and human beings, to develop a love and appreciation for music throughout their lives. Miranda currently serves as the Band and Choir Director at Northern Garrett High School in Accident, Maryland. She leads the marching band, concert band, jazz band, and choir program, as well as teaches piano and music appreciation classes. She works with Northern Garrett Middle School to strengthen the music programs in the area. Prior to her position at Northern Garrett, she taught elementary music and beginning band at George Ward Elementary School and served as the assistant band director at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School, both located in Mill Creek, West Virginia. Miranda is active with performing and professional development, as she believes that music educators should continue to hone their craft of artistry. She currently performs in the Garrett County Community Band, Garrett County Choral Society, and rings handbells at the local church. Whenever the opportunity arises, she will help perform with different musical ensembles in parades and concerts. She also serves on the National Leadership Team of Kappa Kappa Psi, the National Honorary Band Fraternity, where she is the Alumni Association Vice Chair and is transitioning from Membership Director to Local Alumni Association Director. Miranda graduated with her Master of Music in Music Education at James Madison University in May 2023. While at James Madison University, she served as a graduate assistant for the JMU Band Program, where she had the opportunity to help teach, lead, and perform with the Marching Royal Dukes, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Pep Band. She also helped lead and teach the launch of the JMU Middle School Lab Band, composed of middle schoolers from the Shenandoah Valley to learn and perform together for a concert. She also had the opportunity to conduct the JMU Symphonic Band and JMU Horn Choir, and has performed with the Valley Winds Community Band. Miranda received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from West Virginia University in May 2018, including a minor in History. While at West Virginia University, she performed with the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, The Pride of West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band, Fife and Drum Corps, Flute Choir, and Mountaineer Chorale. She studied flute with Professor Nina Assimakopoulos. Miranda was also engaged in her studies and was acknowledged as a McNair Scholar, the WVU Marching Band Outstanding Senior, and the Kappa Kappa Psi J. Lee Burke Outstanding Student Achievement Award. In her spare time, Miranda enjoys making music, playing video games, reading, painting, and cooking.