If nothing else, those attending Monday night’s third annual Founder’s Day program at Thomas Hunter Middle School came away from the evening certain of two things:

1. For such a small community, Mathews County has produced and continues to produce a great deal of musical talent. And,

2. There are two people who planted the seeds for making much of that possible.

“A Celebration of Music: Thomas Hunter School. Past, Present and Future” was the title of this year’s program, and for nearly three hours, the people who packed the school’s J. Murray Brooks Auditorium heard performances by students, former students and community members. And they also heard a parade of speakers with words of praise for two retired Mathews music teachers—Rosalind Knight and David Shuber.

The two guests of honor were kept in the dark that Monday night’s celebration was going to focus on their contributions, and one could tell by the looks on their faces that it...