Bill Ackerman
William E. Ackerman was born in Florence, S.C. on February 23, 1944. He lived in Bishopville and Summerville, S.C. before moving to Columbia at age six. He attended the Taylor Elementary School, Wardlaw Junior High School, and Columbia High School. Mr. Ackerman started on the clarinet in beginner band during the summer between 6th and 7th grades, then switched to the oboe in the 7th grade. He learned percussion as a marching instrument in high school. Mr. Ackerman’s first band director was Heyward Moore, followed by Robert Maddox. During his senior year he served as band captain and as vice-president of the Columbia High School Student Council. He was voted the “Most Dependable” Senior Superlative in the class of 1962 and was a member of the Key Club.
As a freshman Music Education major at the University of South Carolina, Mr. Ackerman started playing oboe with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra (now the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra). He continued to play in the orchestra for 17 years under conductors Arthur Fraser and Arpad Darazs. While at USC, Mr. Ackerman served two years as band president and two years as president of the Delta Sigma chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He worked as a student assistant in band director James D. Pritchard’s office and drove the band equipment truck.
Mr. Ackerman completed student teaching with Tom Isbell at Brookland-Cayce High School in the spring of 1967 and graduated from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor of Education degree. He was hired shortly thereafter as band director at Fulmer Middle School in Lexington County School District Two. During 30 years in Lexington District Two, Mr. Ackerman served as band director at Fulmer Middle; Busbee Middle; Pine Ridge Middle, and Airport High School. He left teaching in 1978 to become a fundraiser for Henco, Inc., realized teaching was where his heart was, and returned to band directing at Fulmer Middle School in 1980. He retired from the classroom in 1999 and continues to serve Lexington Two as full-time Coordinator for Fine Arts.
In 1973 Mr. Ackerman received a Master of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina.
Mr. Ackerman is the founder and and has been the conductor of the Columbia Community Concert Band since 1981. As a member of SCBDA he served as president from 1972-75, served on the Concert Solo and Ensemble, All-State, Handbook and Bylaw committees, as Central Region Chairman and Parliamentarian. While handbook chair, Mr. Ackerman reorganized the handbook into its present chapter outline format and first transcribed the handbook onto the computer disk in the late ’80s. Mr. Ackerman was elected Teacher of the Year at Fulmer Middle School in 1988. He served in the South Carolina Music Educators Association as president-elect (1993-95), president (1995-97), vice-president (1997-99) and conference chair for the last four years.
Mr. Ackerman presently serves on the steering committee of the Arts in the Basic Curriculum project and on the board of the S.C. Alliance for Arts Education and was elected chair of the S.C. Coalition for Music Education. He is a member of the American School Band Directors Association (state chair 1991-95); Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Music Fraternity; Phi Beta Mu Professional Bandmasters Fraternity, and Pi Kappa Lambda Honorary Fraternity. He received an Alumni Certificate of Achievement from the University of South Carolina School of Music in 1995 and a National Band Association’s Certificate of Excellence in 1997.
Jay Bocook
Jay Bocook, a native of Clearwater, Fla., is recognized internationally as a composer, arranger, conductor and educator. Bocook’s work has been performed at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2003, his music transcriptions of noted film composer John Williams were premiered by the U.S. Marine Band in a concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. An encore performance with Williams and the “President’s Own” took place in 2008. In addition, Bocook was a contributing arranger to a musical called “CyberJam” that opened to rave reviews in 2003 at London’s Queens Theater. His arrangements were also featured in “Mix,” which opened in 2008 in Japan.
In 1982, Bocook was appointed director of bands at Furman. He left the school in 1989 to pursue other opportunities, but returned in 2000 as director of athletic bands. He has served as assistant conductor of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and remains a principal composer and arranger for Hal Leonard Corporation, where he has published over 600 compositions and arrangements. He is the music arranger for the 10-time World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2009, Bocook was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the American Bandmasters Association.
D. Vincent Clayton
D. Vincent Clayton has been Director of Bands at Ridge View High School since the school opened in 1995. He received both the Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of South Carolina and has taught in South Carolina for thirty-four years.
Under his direction, the Ridge View band program has quadrupled in size and has received numerous Superior Ratings and awards in marching and concert events. The Blazer Marching Band is a consistent finalist at the South Carolina State Championships and at several Bands of America Regional competitions. The Ridge View Symphonic Band has received numerous Superior Ratings at state and national events. They have performed at the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational, four times at the South Carolina Music Educators State Convention, twice at the University of South Carolina Band Clinic, the University of Southern Mississippi Band Clinic, and at the Bands of America National Concert Festival.
His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education; the National Band Association; the South Carolina Band Directors Association; Phi Beta Mu; Pi Kappa Lambda; and he is a Past Chapter President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is also a charter member and Past President of the Palmetto Concert Band. Mr. Clayton has received the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence on five different occasions. He has been awarded the Legion of Honor from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, and he received Phi Beta Mu’s “Outstanding Bandmaster Award” in 2015.
Mr. Clayton and his wife Leslie have two children, Grant and Kelsey, and two granddaughters, Taylor and Madison.
James Copenhaver
James K. Copenhaver assumed the position of Director of Bands at the University of South Carolina in 1976 and is a Professor of Music on the USC School of Music faculty. Mr. Copenhaver earned BA and MEd degrees at Morehead State University and completed two additional years of graduate study at Florida State University. Prior to his appointment at the University of South Carolina, he taught at Holmes High School in Covington (KY), Morehead State University and Clemson University. At USC, Mr. Copenhaver is responsible for administering the total band program. He conducts the University Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band and teaches undergraduate and graduate classes in wind and instrumental techniques. Under his guidance, the University of South Carolina band program has established a national reputation for excellence. The Symphonic Band has performed at conferences for the South Carolina Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, and American Bandmasters Association.
Mr. Copenhaver is highly active as a clinician, having served as a guest conductor, lecturer and adjudicator throughout the United States. Leading educational institutions have recognized him for his accomplishments in the areas of instrumental performance and music education. In recognition of his talents and service, he received the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association; the Distinguished Service to Music Medal for Instrumental Music Education from Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and both the Outstanding Bandmaster Award and Outstanding Contributor Award from the South Carolina Chapter of Phi Beta Mu National Bandmaster Fraternity. In 2003 Mr. Copenhaver was inducted into the South Carolina Band Director’s Hall of Fame.
Mr. Copenhaver is an active member in several professional organizations within the band field, including the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. He is a Past-President of both the National Band Association and the Southern Division of the College Band Director National Association. He is the founder and co-conductor of the Palmetto Concert Band, an adult semi-professional concert band that presented the Grand Finale Concert at the 1999 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Helen Culp
Helen Culp is a native of Rock Hill. She has served the SCBDA as secretary, chairman and host of the South Carolina District Music Festivals. After receiving a BS in music and an MA in education, Ms. Culp taught in the Kingstree schools and became the first full-time band director for Dillon School District 2. While there she received the Dillon County Star Teacher Award in 1979.
Her bands participated in all phases of the SCBDA events, twice winning the state marching band championships in their class. Her bands also gained national recognition through parade performances including Miami’s Orange Bowl, the Greatest Bands in Dixie Parade in New Orleans, and New York City’s Macy’s Parade.
Among her many career honors are Career Woman of the Year, awarded by the Business and Professional Club. Ms. Helen Culp was inducted into the SCMEA Hall of Fame in 1996. She is also the recipient of the 1992 Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Contributor Award.
In addition to a career in education, she is a commercial artist and the designer of the official logo for the SCMEA. Now retired, Ms. Helen M. Culp serves as an adjudicator, artist illustrator for music-related needs, and actively follows the musical careers of many former students.
Dan Ellis
Dan A. Ellis has been a friend and supporter of South Carolina music educators and of the SCBDA since he became the band director at Furman University four decades ago. His contributions to the school band movement in South Carolina are countless.
At Furman, he was instrumental in building the bands and instrumental music program into one of the most outstanding in the state. Mr. Ellis organized and hosted the first South Carolina Marching Championships in 1959. Through his efforts, Furman University has been the host of the All-State Bands for many years.
Mr. Ellis has also been active and held offices in music organizations at the national level. His name is well-known throughout the country as a judge and clinician. He is a charter member of Phi Beta Mu for which he was President. Mr. Ellis was awarded the Theta Chapter Outstanding Bandmaster Award in 1978 as well as the Outstanding Contributor Award in 1987.
Dr. Jerry Gatch
Dr. Jerry Gatch worked for twenty-nine years as a public school music educator in South Carolina. He earned the Master of Music degree in Theory/Composition and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from the University of South Carolina.
Dr. Gatch is active as an adjudicator, clinician, arranger, and performer. He spent twenty years as Director of Bands at Lexington High School (SC) where his bands achieved a national reputation for excellence. Additionally, he was the conductor of the South Carolina Philharmonic Youth Orchestra for twelve years. Dr. Gatch has served as a judge and guest conductor for numerous contests, festivals, clinics and camps throughout the country. He is a free-lance performer bass and is an active composer and arranger.
Dr. Gatch has been awarded the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence seven times and was elected to the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s BandWorld Legion of Honor. He was inducted into the South Carolina Band Directors Association’s Hall of Fame in 2013. Dr. Gatch’s professional affiliations include SCBDA, SCMEA, CBDNA, NAfME, NBA, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha and Phi Beta Mu.
Steve Gillespie
Steven H. Gillespie has worked to make instrumental music and the arts an integral part of the curriculum for schools in Greenville County for forty years. A graduate of Parker High School, he received his initial instruction from Ty Boling, Jack Pruitt and James B. Senn. His primary influence in the band field has been “Jimmy” Senn who became a mentor for Steven and many other band directors in our state. He also graduated from Furman University where he was privileged to study with Mr. Dan Ellis and Mr. Larry Cook.
He began his teaching career at Berea High School and also taught at Greenville High School. The majority of his teaching career has been in the Greer community where he taught for 30 years at Greer High School and is in his fifth year at Greer Middle School. He was named Director Emeritus for the Greer High School Band. Steven was named a Greenville County District Finalist for Teacher of the Year in 1977. While at Greer High School he has been the site chairman for the region band auditions.
Steven proudly served our nation as a member of the Fort Jackson (South Carolina) Army Band. He also studied and taught music classes at the Military School of Music in Little Creek, Virginia.
Steven has served as lead band director for Greenville County schools for more than 20 years. During that time he coordinated the All-County Honour Band program and secured internationally known clinicians for this annual event. He enjoys partnering with the other district band directors to make this annual event both musically educational and enriching as a performance.
Steven is a member of Phi Beta Mu, SCBDA, SCMEA, and MENC and has served on the Phi Beta Mu Scholarship Committee.
Edna Y. Grace
Edna Y. Grace, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, received a B.S. in Music Education from South Carolina State College, a M.A. in Music from the Ohio State University, and a M.Ed. in Administration and Supervision from the Citadel.
Edna was employed by the Charleston County as a choral/general music teacher and then band director from 1981-1991. The 1991 school year marked the start of her tenure in Berkeley County at College Park Middle School where she was employed until 2007. While at College Park, the bands under her instruction received the highest ratings at the state Concert Festival and Solo and Ensemble Festival, while individual students were selected for membership in honor bands (Berkeley All-County, Region Five Honor Band, and South Carolina All-State Bands). The band program was a consistent recipient of the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award and earned the honor of performance at the 2003 SCMEA conference. During the 1997-98 school year, Ms. Grace was selected as College Park’s Teacher of the Year and was named a top three finalist for the district. While at College Park, she also served as an assistant director at Stratford High School during marching season. The fall semester of 2007, Edna become the director of bands at Stratford where with assistant director, LeeAnn Moore, students continued a tradition of excellence through participation in the concert bands, jazz band, marching band, small ensembles, symphony orchestra, winter guard/dance line, class piano, and class guitar. Here also the bands received the highest ratings at the state Concert Festival and Solo and Ensemble Festival, while individual students were selected for membership in honor bands (Berkeley All-County, Region Five Honor Band, and South Carolina All-State Bands).
At the start of her thirty-fifth teaching year, Ms. Grace took the sole position at Stratford High School of director of the choral music program, having had the dual role as head band director and choral director the previous four years. Her primary goal has been to increase student membership in the program while continuing the program’s past excellence.
Edna has served as an honor band clinician and concert band adjudicator in South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Georgia. Professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education (formerly National Education Association), Music Educators National Conference, National Band Association (NBA), Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Fraternity, Women Band Directors International, the South Carolina Band Directors Association which she has served as secretary and as a member of several committees (Solo and Ensemble, All-State, Concert Festival, Winter Ensemble), the American Choral Directors Association, and the South Carolina American Choral Directors Association. She has been an adjunct faculty member of Charleston Southern University where she has taught studio oboe and Music Appreciation. Edna has been active in community music ensembles including the Summerville Community Orchestra, the Charleston Wind Ensemble (one year as conductor), and the Goose Creek Community Band for which she currently serves as conductor. Among the honors that have been presented to Ms. Grace are the NBA Citation of Excellence and the WBDI Scroll of Excellence. She also serves her church as substitute organist/pianist, class leader, and director of the Women’s Choir.
Marshall Kirby
Marshall Kirby retired after 31 years of public school teaching. He received his Bachelor of Music Education and Performance degree from Converse College where he received Distinction in Performance and was in the honors music program. He received his Master’s degree from Converse. He taught for 10 years at both at Jonesville and Boiling Springs High Schools. His Jonesville band was the first Class A band to win the SCBDA OPA and won it eight times. His elementary band won it two times at Jonesville. While at Jonesville, he won the Class A state championship three times. For seven years he taught at Spartanburg School District 7 as high school director and band coordinator and four years at Whitlock Junior High. The Spartanburg High School Wind Ensemble won the Honor Band Award at the Orlando Dixie Classic in 2003.
Bands under his direction have performed for the USC Band Clinic and Conductors Symposium and performed at the SCMEA In-Service Conference three times and received many superior ratings in concert and marching festivals. Mr. Kirby is the recipient of the 1983 ASBDA Stanbury award for the Outstanding Young Band Director in South Carolina and won the regional award for the eleven southeastern states. His bands have won the South Carolina Band Director’s Association (SCBDA) Outstanding Performance award 22 times. His professional affiliations include MENC, SCBDA, Phi Beta Mu and the National Band Association. He served as President of Phi Beta Mu for one and a half terms. He has twice been awarded the NBA Citation of Excellence. He was president of SCBDA from 1991-93, was the awards chairman and has served on the SCBDA executive board since 1989. Marshall Kirby was inducted to the SCBDA 1997 Hall of Fame.
David Mauldin
David Mauldin, a graduate of the University of South Carolina, served as a band director for 25 years. During his tenure at Hartsville and Laurens District 55 High Schools, his bands were awarded over 150 superior ratings in marching and concert competitions. Mauldin’s bands have performed in the London New Year’s Day Parade, the Atlanta Summer Olympic Ceremonies, Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, and across the southeast.
An Assistant Principal in Laurens, S.C., Mauldin was a recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence and is a Hall of Fame member of Phi Beta Mu National Band Fraternity. He is active as an adjudicator and as a clinician.
Linard McCloud
Linard McCloud has passed on his love of music not just to his students, but to communities across the state. He has been a music educator for over 30 years at Burke High School.
The Palmetto Invitational Contest, which Mr. McCloud initiated over twenty years ago, brings together marching bands from small schools throughout South Carolina and many historical black Colleges and Universities. Over the years, the audience for the program has grown to more than 9,000 people and has generated enough revenue to purchase uniforms, instruments, and give six yearly scholarships to band members and Burke students totaling $6500. Mr. McCloud has also established a concert band exchange program as far away as St. Catherine’s Ontario, Canada. Laura Secord Secondary School and Burke have established a unique relationship since 1990. This program started with Dave Marsden and has been continued under the direction of Dave Sissler.
Mr. McCloud is a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, and Phi Beta Mu fraternities. He has received numerous awards for his achievements and was presented the Key to The City of Winter Haven, Florida. Mr. McCloud is credited with helping Burke Band members and students earn over 6 million dollars in academic and band scholarships. He is married to the former Veronica Rivers and they have two children, Rosalee and Linard R. McCloud.
C. Phil McIntyre
C. Phillip McIntyre began teaching in the fall of 1977 at Blue Ridge High School. He taught there for six years and in 1983 he began his tenure at James F. Byrens High School as Director of Bands. He is a native of Greenville, South Carolina, and a 1973 graduate of Parker High School. While at Parker, Phil was under the guidance of his teacher, mentor and friend, James B. Senn. Phil received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1977 and Master of Arts in Education degree in 1982 from Furman University. While at Furman University he studied trombone under Dan. A. Ellis, Director of Bands at Furman University. In 1982 Phil was named Teacher of the Year at Blue Ridge High school. In 1998 Phil was again awarded Teacher of the Year — this time at Byrnes High School. Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity in 1999 awarded Phil the Outstanding Bandmaster of the Year award. In 1999 and 2002 Phil was awarded The National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence. He was also named one of the Top 12 South Carolina Music Educators in the October 2000 issue of Teaching Music, a national music educator’s journal. In 2000 he was inducted into the S.C. Band Directors Association Hall of Fame. Phil is also a nine-time recipient of the Most Influential Teacher Award at Byrnes High School.
Under his leadership, the band program at Byrnes has grown from 120 members to over 350 students. The James F. Byrnes Band program offers a variety of ensembles including three concert bands, three jazz ensembles, percussion ensemble, two indoor guards, and the nationally renowned Rebel Regiment marching band. The Symphonic Band is a Class Six ensemble that has received consistent Superior ratings at the SCBDA concert band festival. This ensemble has been featured in concert performance at the SCMEA In-service Conference in 1999, the Bands of America Regional Concert Band Festival 2001 and the South Carolina Governor’s Inaugural ceremonies in 1991, 1995 and 1999. In 2002 the symphonic band was featured in concert performance at the University of South Carolina band clinic, and in 2003 performed at the National Adjudicator’s Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia.
In December 2001 the John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the Rebel Regiment the Sudler Shield for Outstanding Achievment in Marching Band. The Rebel Regiment established a standard of excellence in performance that has been recognized and rewarded throughout the southeast. The band has marched in three of the most prestigious parades in the world; the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1996 and 2002, the Presidential Inaugural Parade in 1985 and 2001, and The Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena in 2000. The Rebel Regiment has consistently been a finalist at Bands of America regional events and a semi-finalist at the Grand Nationals. The Rebel Regiment has won the AAA & AAAA State Championship on ten occasions since 1983.
Phil is a member of Phi Beta Mu, American School Band Directors Association, SCBDA, Phi Mu Alpha, SCMEA, and MENC. He has served the SCBDA as President, Chairman of the Marching Committee, and Chairman of the Adjudication Committe. He has served as president and on the executive board of the South Carolina Music Educators Association. He has also served as President of the Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in South Carolina.
James Henry Mills
James Henry Mills is a graduate of the University of South Carolina in Columbia where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master’s degree in Music Education. He has completed numerous hours of additional course work at USC and other institutions. Upon graduation, he served as a band director in Columbia with Richland District One Schools before entering military service. He spent three years as a U.S. Army bandsman, attaining the rank of Sergeant (E-5). Jimmy began playing the baritone horn during a six-week summer program in the Sumter schools prior to fifth grade, and became hooked on band. He attended Crosswell Drive Elementary, McLaurin Junior High, and Edmunds High School where he was a band student of Edwn Litaker, James D. Pritchard and Robert Simmons. The influence of these teachers and his love of music led him to teach.
For 25 years Mr. Mills served Lexington-Richland District Five as director of bands of the Chapin schools, teaching fifth graders at Chapin Elementary, sixth through eighth graders at Chapin Middle, and at Chapin High School where his band was the recipient of numerous S.C. Band Directors Association Outstanding Performance Awards. His marching bands consistently received Superior ratings, finished among the top five in their state classification 22 times, and twice were state champions. The CHS band participated in the Lord Mayor of Westminster’s Parade in London in 1991 and 1997. The symphonic band traveled to festivals in Atlanta, Nashville, St. Louis, Philadelphia, the Festival of Champions in Panama City, and numerous other events. In 1995 the symphonic band took Best in Class honors at the Toronto Music Festival, also receiving the Grand Championship award.
Upon his retirement, Jim taught for four years at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia. He currently serves as educational representative for Star Music Company’s Columbia locations and continues to be active as an adjudicator and clinician. He is in his fifth year as conductor of the Sumter Community Concert Band, and for a number of years served as conductor of the Columbia Summer Band and the Original Five Points Wild Irish Band.
Mr. Mills is a member of MENC, the S.C.M.E.A., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and is a past-president of the S.C. chapter of Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters Fraternity. As a member of the S.C. Band Directors’ Association, he served on various committees including the Concert, Solo and Ensemble, Ethics, Marching, Region, and All-State Committees, hosted regional band auditions and served as region and all-state chair. He was elected to the S.C.B.D.A. Hall of Fame in 2007. He is listed in Who’s Who Among American Educators and Who’s Who in America. Other professional honors include the Sertoma Club Service to Mankind award and the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence.
Gus Moody
James A. “Gus” Moody began his teaching career at Lamar, South Carolina. His next assignment was in Summerville where over a span of more than two decades he distinguished himself as the director of the outstanding Green Wave Band. During his tenure at Summerville he served as President of the SCBDA and became a member of Phi Beta Mu and the American School Band Directors Association. Mr. Moody has served as the President of the SCMEA and was elected to that organization’s Hall of Fame. His teaching standards are highly regarded and will serve as a positive influence for the South Carolina School Band Movement for years to come.
He was awarded an Outstanding Band Director award by Phi Beta Mu.
Lorraine Paris
Lorraine Paris has been a beacon of leadership and encouragement to the thousands of her students during her 47 years as the band director at Newberry High School. Through her pioneer spirit and dedication, she shaped and maintained one of the outstanding band programs in our state.
As a model teacher, Miss Paris inspired many students to follow in her footsteps and inspired other band directors to follow her example. She has made countless contributions to the SCBDA and counts among her leadership roles; president, executive secretary and treasurer.
Miss Paris is a member of Phi Beta Mu, the American School Band Directors Association, and the National Women’s Band Director’s Association. Among her many awards and honors is her induction into the South Carolina Music Educators Association’s Hall of Fame, the 1982 Theta Chapter Outstanding Bandmaster Award as well as the 1991 Outstanding Contributor Award.
Charlie Polk
Charlie Polk was born in Greenville and moved frequently throughout the state as the son of a Methodist minister. He attended public schools in Columbia and Union before moving to Walterboro where he started beginning band in the 5th grade under the direction of Gerald Polk. Charlie also played in bands directed by Richard Johns, Jack Perkins, and A.B. King before graduating from Marion High School in 1974.
Mr. Polk attended Wofford College in 1974 and began taking music classes in an exchange program at Converse College his sophomore year before transferring to the University Of South Carolina in 1976. While at USC, he studied trumpet with Dr. A. Keith Amstutz and was a first place winner in the 1977 Music Department’s annual Concerto Aria competition. He earned the Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees both with Performance Certificates.
Mr. Polk has served as Director of Bands at Lexington Middle School in Lexington, S.C. since1979 where his bands have consistently earned Superior Ratings at festivals and contests throughout the Southeast. The Lexington Middle School Band received the S.C. Band Director’s Outstanding Performance Award for twenty nine consecutive years. In the 1992-93 school year Charlie was named Teacher of the Year. Before coming to LMS he was Director of Bands at Battery Creek High School in Beaufort, S.C. Mr. Polk is a member of SCBDA, ASBDA, Phi Beta Mu, and MENC.
Charlie is an active clinician as well as a seasoned performer on trumpet. He has performed at the Spoleto Festival in both the legit and jazz areas. He is a member of the Dick Goodwin Big Band, South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, and Darius Rucker Big Band. He has played lead trumpet with a host of renown artists including Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole, and The Temptations, in addition to traveling shows such as Disney on Ice, the Ringling Brothers, and the Broadway in Columbia series. Locally, he maintains an active schedule of trumpet engagements for weddings, church services, as well as community theatre productions.
Charlie and his wife Lessie are the proud parents of Hannah Polk, also a USC music graduate, who is Director of Bands at Pleasant Hill Middle School.
Glenn Price
Glenn C. Price is a native of Kershaw County and a graduate of Camden High School. He graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree and taught in North Carolina for one year before returning to South Carolina. Upon returning to Kershaw County, Mr. Price taught at Lugoff-Elgin Middle School for one year before moving on to the high school where he has been the Director of Bands since 1975. His bands are always competitive in marching competitions and the program is a consistent winner of the Outstanding Performance award and in 1981 won the AA State Marching Band Championships.
Mr. Price has been very active in the South Carolina Band Directors Association since returning to the state. He has chaired the Marching Committee several times, been chairman of the Adjudication Committee and also served on the Concert Committee. While at Lugoff, he has hosted numerous SCBDA events at his school facility including the state marching band championships, concert festivals and region band clinics.
Mr. Price is a past-president of SCBDA and it was during his term in office that a number of significant changes to the association were made. As president-elect, he was responsible for changing the bylaws to bring jazz bands under the umbrella of the association. The South Carolina Band Link website was established, along with the Band Counts database for former band students. The website was one of the first in the nation and has been emulated by many other state associations. The Band Counts idea was then picked up by Bands of America to create a nationwide database of band students, both past and present. It was also during his presidency that the SCBDA logo and tag line ‘Music is Instrumental to Success’ were created by association members with help from an outside consultant. The region lines were redrawn to reflect state population growth and shifts and to give flexibility for the future. He continues to serve the association as a facilities host in an advisory capacity with respect to technology issues.
His professional affiliations include the Music Educators National Conference, South Carolina Music Educators Association, South Carolina Band Directors Association, National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Price serves on the Educational Advisory Board for Bands of America and is a member of the South Carolina State Department of Education Committee to review visual and performing arts curriculum standards. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the southeastern states. He received the Phi Beta Mu 2001 Outstanding Contributor Award.
Mr. Price has joked a number of times that his goal is to teach students for 50 years or more. As he finishes his 30th year as Director of Bands at Lugoff-Elgin, his passion for music and his desire to pass that on to his students continues to burn brightly. He has endeared himself to everyone who has met him and they are better for having known him. No doubt that he will continue to lead the bands at Lugoff and be a driving force in SCBDA for many years to come.
James Senn
James B. “Jimmy” Senn began his teaching career at Travelers Rest and Marietta High Schools. His next post was at Parker High School where he established a band program that was a standard-bearer for excellence. Under his direction the Parker Bands were prominent in every phase of the program and received many invitations to perform for state, national, and international settings. Mr. Senn taught and served as Principal at Greenville’s Fine Arts Center. He was the Instrumental Music consultant for Greenville County and is presently serving as Fine Arts Coordinator for Spartanburg District Five schools.
He has served ASBDA in numerous capacities, including a tenure of president of the organization. He will be remembered for his work as site coordinator for many of the state marching contests. He was presented the Outstanding Bandmaster Award from Phi Beta Mu in which he is a charter member. He is a recipient of a Career Service Award from the state chapter of ASBDA. Presently, he is the Music Director of the Carolina Ambassadors of Music for their European concert tours.
Kathleen C. Vogt
Kathleen C. Vogt served as director of bands at Sangaree Middle School since it opened in 2004 until her retirement in 2012. The band students participated in beginner and junior All County Honors Bands and all the SCBDA events, earning the Outstanding Performance Award 8 consecutive years.
From 1984 to 2004, Miss Vogt was director of bands and performing arts at Hanahan High School. Under her direction the bands consistently excelled in all facets of the band medium. The Hanahan Marching Pride had been named AA State Champions 4 years and AA Lower State Champions 11 years (10 consecutive years). The Concert Band received numerous superior ratings at concert festivals, and students earned chairs in Honor Bands at the county, region, and state levels. The Hanahan Bands had been presented the Outstanding Performance Award each of the 20 years during Miss Vogt’s tenure.
Prior to her position at Hanahan High School, Miss Vogt taught instrumental and choral music in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for 11 years. She attended Duquesne University, earning the Bachelors of Music Education, Summa Cum Laude in 1973 and the Master of Music Education in 1975. She continued serving on the Music School faculty of Duquesne University for five years following her 2 year graduate teaching assistantship.
She was owner-operator of a dance studio and taught dance, guard, majorettes, and percussion at several high schools and summer camps.
After moving to South Carolina, she continued teaching on the college level as an adjunct professor in the Music School at Charleston Southern University. Miss Vogt has performed with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, McKeesport Symphony Orchestra, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. She has also played percussion in the Charleston Opera Company productions, church cantatas, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston Community Band, Low Country Winds, Charleston Winds, and is presently performing with the Southcoast Symphony.
Larry Wells
Larry Wells has been the Director of Bands at Northwestern High School for the past 18 years. Prior to Northwestern, he was the Director of Bands at Olympic High School in Charlotte, NC for 24 years.The bands of Northwestern have a strong tradition of excellence and have been awarded the South Carolina Outstanding Performance Award for the past 21 years. The Symphonic Band is a consistent grade VI superior band and was the featured performer at the 2000 and 2006 SC Music Educators Conference. Other major performances include a concert at the famed Westminster Hall in London in 1999 and the Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri in Hawaii in 2003 and 2009. The Symphonic Band is one of six bands at Northwestern including; three concert bands, two jazz bands, a marching band and various woodwind, percussion and brass ensembles. The Purple Regiment marching band is a Bands of America finalist, most recently at the St. Petersburg Regional in 2004, 2005 and 2006. In addition, the Purple Regiment is a consistent finalist in the South Carolina State 5A Marching Championships finishing in 2nd place as the silver medalist in 2004 and winning the 5A Upper State Championship in 2004 and 2005. The Purple Regiment was the State 4A Marching Band Champion in 2008 and Silver Medalist in 2009, Bronze Medalist in 2010 and Silver Medalist in 2011. In addition, the Northwestern Band was 4A Upper State Champion in 2008, 2010 and 2011.
Mr. Wells is a member of SC Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, American School Band Directors Association and Phi Beta Mu. He has served as President of the North Carolina South Central District Band Association and Secretary of the North Carolina Band Masters Association. Mr. Wells has received the North Carolina Band Masters Award of Excellence, Citation of Excellence and Citation of Honor. In addition, Mr. Wells received the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award in 2011.He is an active clinician and adjudicator for both concert and marching bands throughout the Southeastern US and has served on adjudication panels in Montreal, Canada, Maastricht, the Netherlands and Brussels, Belgium. He lives with his wife Ember in Rock Hill, SC. His son Eric is the Director of Bands at Clover High School.
George Wenger
George Wenger taught in the public schools for 44 years before his retirement in June 2010, after 6 years at Dawkins Middle School. He taught one year in Carlisle, PA, 19 years at Tennessee High School in Bristol, TN., and was the band director of Dorman High School and the District Six Band Coordinator for 18 years. Under his leadership, both Tennessee High School and Dorman High School were highly successful in state and national competitions. The concert bands had years of consecutive superior ratings. He is currently the director of the Lawson Band at Converse College and teaches some 40 private brass lessons each week.
Through the years he has served as both a clinician and adjudicator of bands in South Carolina, Virginia, Arizona, Tennessee, Georgia and North Carolina. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, an honorary band directors association; the South Carolina Teachers Association; South Carolina Band Directors Association and the MENC.
In 1996 he was chosen Teacher of the Year at Dorman High School and WalMart Teacher of the Year. In 1997 he was chosen as an Honored Teacher by the Huntington Learning Center in recognition of dedication to the teaching profession and contributions that went beyond the call of duty. On several occasions, Wenger received the Citation of Excellence Award from the National Band Association. A recent award was on March 12, 2011 when he was inducted into the International School Bandmaster Fraternity Hall of Fame. George Wenger was named the director of the Spartanburg Community Band in July of 2004 and retired in July 2011.
Robert Wertz
Robert E. Wertz, III is a native of Denmark, South Carolina and a 1967 graduate of Denmark-Olar High School. He began his musical training in 5th grade under the baton of Alton McCollum and continued under Bob Gillam and Buist Farmer. He served as Drum Major in the 11th and 12th grades and won the John Philip Sousa Award in his senior year.
Mr. Wertz continued his education at the University of South Carolina where he received a B.S. in Music Education in 1971 and a Master of Music Education degree in 1972. He served as a graduate assistant under the guidance of Dr. Arthur Fraser. He did his student teaching in 1970 at Airport High School under the direction of William E. Ackerman. While at USC he was a member of Sigma Nu Social Fraternity and was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor society.
Robert Wertz began his teaching career at Lower Richland High School in Columbia. In his fourth and final year at the school he was selected as Teacher of the Year by the faculty. In 1976 Mr. Wertz began a successful 26-year stint as Director of Bands at Camden High School. In 1980 he won the prestigious ASBDA-Stanbury Award as the Outstanding Young Band Director in South Carolina and that year had a total of 14 students “seated” in the All-State Bands. Mr. Wertz has won various community service awards from the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and Camden Jaycees.
At Camden High School under Mr. Wertz’s direction, the band won the Outstanding Performance Award a total of 21 times, including a stretch of 18 in a row. The marching band at one time held a streak of 68 consecutive Superior ratings in all local, state, and national field show and parade competitions. The Wind Ensemble was a consistent recipient of Superior and Excellent ratings for 24 years of his tenure.
Mr. Wertz has held memberships in the American School Band Directors Association, the National Band Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Beta Mu (state president-1983-85) and the South Carolina Band Directors Association. Mr. Wertz served on five of the six committees of the SCBDA during his career and was president-elect (1997-1999); President (1999-2001); and Vice-President (2001-2002). Since his retirement in 2002 after 30 years in the profession, he has been employed by Custom Printwear in Lugoff, S.C.
W. Pat Wylie
W. Patrick Wylie received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Furman University in 1963 and the Master of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina in 1970. Mr. Wylie has served as Band Director at R.H. Fulmer Junior High School and Airport High School in West Columbia and as Associate Director of Bands at the University of South Carolina. He retired in 1997 after 25 years as band director at Camden Middle School in Camden, SC.
Mr. Wylie has maintained his affiliation with the University of South Carolina, serving as the “voice” of the Carolina Band. He retired in 1998 after serving 25 years as Dean of Students for the annual USC Summer Music Camp but continues to serve as Director of Residence Life for the USC Concert Clinic and Conductors Symposium held in February of each year.
He holds memberships in SCBDA, SCMEA, MENC, NBA, ASBDA, and Phi Beta Mu, is a chapter honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, and a lifetime member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. A past-president of the SCBDA, Mr. Wylie has served in several positions with the executive board of the SCMEA. He has served on the Board of Directors of the NBA as both Elementary-Middle-Junior high school representative and as Community-Military-Professional representative.
Mr. Wylie was awarded the NBA Citation of Excellence in 1981, 1984 and 1998 and was a 1984 recipient of the Citizenship award by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He received the Outstanding Bandmaster award from the Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in 1990. In 1997 Mr. Wylie was presented the Outstanding Contributor Award by Phi Beta Mu for his contributions to the development of bands in South Carolina and was, at the same time, inducted into the SC Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Hall of Fame. In 1998 he was inducted into the South Carolina Band Directors Association’s Hall of Fame.
He is active as a clinician and adjudicator in the southeastern United States. Mr. Wylie is married to the former Nancy Carlton of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Nancy and Pat reside in Camden where Pat continues to conduct the Camden Community Concert Band which he organized in 1980. He is presently employed by Pecknel Music Company, serving as assistant to the manager of the Columbia store.
Bill Young
Bill Young retired in 2005 after leading the Walterboro High School and Colleton County High School Band of Blue for 32 years. He is a native of Allendale, S.C. He received his BA degree in Education from the University of South Carolina and his Master of Education degree in School Administration and Supervision from the Citadel.
Under his leadership, the Band of Blue won the South Carolina State Marching Band Championships in 1982, 1986, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995 and 1997. The Band of Blue has performed for one presidential inauguration and for the past four gubernatorial inaugurals. In 1994 the Band of Blue marched in the 105th Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California and was featured in the Macy’s 2000 Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Mr. Young is a past president of the South Carolina Band Directors Association. His professional affiliations include Music Educators National Conference, Phi Beta Mu Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity, South Carolina Music Educators Association and the South Carolina Band Directors Association.
Mr. Young currently serves as mayor for the city of Walterboro. He has served on the Walterboro City Council since 1989. In 1999 the South Carlolina Band Directors Association inducted Mr. Young in the SCBDA Hall of Fame. Mr. Young has won more state marching band championships than any other active band director in South Carolina. He is also the recipient of the 2002 Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award. Mr. Young recently was inducted in the 2007 SCMEA Hall of Fame.