About Mr. "C"

Mr. Leslie Augustus "Gus" Cothern, also known as "Mr. 'C'.", has taught general music and chorus for Edgewood Elementary School in the Whiteville City Schools since August of 1989. He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a BMeD in 1988, and a MMeD in 1992. Both his degrees are in Music Education, with Voice/Choral as the primary instrument. 

A former Eagle Scout, he has participated in the local scouting organization as a former Scout Master, and Cub Master. 

Mr. Cothern is currently the Director of Music Ministries for the Whiteville United Methodist Church.   Past duties included being the accompanist for the Praise & Worship choir, the children's choir director, the leader of Ye Olde Hymns and Hers,  and the director of the Jane Wyche Schulken Handbell Choir.  Additionally, he also played the Piano for Sacred Heart Catholic church for the Saturday Vigil, and later during the early Mass from 1/1997 until 2/2013.  In February 2023, Mr. Cothern took on the interim Choir Director position for 1st Presbyterian Church in addition to his duties at Whiteville UMC.

Mr. Cothern was also the Assistant director for the Southeastern Oratorio Society, a post he held until 2005.  Mr. Cothern has in the past taught private voice and piano. Several  of his students have been selected for the Governor's School, and Mr. Cothern has had several student's go on to major in music/voice at the college level. Mr. Cothern was an adjunct music instructor (Music 110 on the internet) from 2002 - 2015 and briefly taught the Chorus at Southeastern Community College during the Fall of 2013.  Likewise, he briefly taught Voice at SCC from the Fall of 2013 to Spring 2015.)

Personal Information:

Mr. Cothern directed the First Columbus County All-County Middle School Chorus in 1993 and again directed the Choir in 1997, 2001, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2022, and did so one last time in 2024. He has served twice as Teacher of the Year for Edgewood Elementary School (1992-1993 and 2012-2013). His elementary chorus over three decades has  performed for the Festival of Trees in Wilmington, and many other local festivals and events in Columbus County. The EES Chorus was also one of the Main Stage performers for the Autumn With Topsail Festival, and was the only school invited for 2000-2001. In 1993, three of his student's (Elizabeth Bass, William Grove, and Celia Waldron) were selected by audition to participate in the 1993 American Choral Director's Association, Southern Region, Elementary Honor's Chorus. Hunter Hammonds attended Honor's Chorus for the 2002 ACDA Southern Region. In 2005, two students (Ashley DiMuzio & Margaret Garner) were selected for the ACDA National Elementary Honors Chorus in Los Angeles, California. The EES Chorus opened for the Southeastern Oratorio Society performance of Handel's "Messiah"  in December of 2014,SEOS Spring concert of Broadway classics in 2022, and once again for the Spring 2024 SEOS 2nd concert of Broadway classics .

Mr. Cothern is married to Mrs. Sandy Godfrey Cothern, who retired as the WIC Director for Columbus County in 2025.  Their daughter,  Sarah Elizabeth, currently resides in Greensboro.