Fifteen Dawson County Middle beginner band students attended the Young Harris College Beginning Band Institute on Sept. 10 in Young Harris.

The program was an opportunity for young students to take group lessons with the college faculty and attend seminars and concerts.

Charles R. Land, the band and chorus teacher at Dawson County Middle, said that the program was particularly meaningful to him because three of his former students, and Dawson County High graduates, are music education majors at the college who also assisted with the institute.

"It was a great learning experience and the students benefited greatly by attending," Land said.