County School Districts 3 and 4 presented a free All-County Band concert on Saturday, March 7 at 4:00 pm in the Dillon Middle School Gymnasium. The students began rehearsing for this performance on Friday, March 6 from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm and on Saturday, March 7 from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. Participants were nominated and selected by the band directors of the Dillon County Schools.
Mr. Adrian Wright, Dillon High School band director, introduced the Junior Band Director, Charles Outen, a native of Columbia, South Carolina.
He is a 2005 graduate of W. J. Keenan High School. Mr. Outen attended Claflin University and graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor’s of Music Education Degree. He previously taught at R. E. Howard Middle School in Orangeburg, South Carolina. While there, Mr. Outen’s bands consistently received superior and excellent ratings. Also, numerous students under his direction have been selected to participate in various honor bands across the state of South Carolina. During his tenure at R. E. Howard Middle School, Mr. Outen also earned the distinct honor of “Teacher of the Year.” Mr. Outen is currently the Director of Bands at Alcorn Middle School in Columbia, South Carolina. He is an active musician, performing with various ensembles. He is very passionate about his work and has become an awe-inspiring and articulate voice for advocacy of the fine arts. He holds membership in the South Carolina Music Education Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Education.
The musical selections by the Junior Honor Band included: Clarinets Packing up Early by Gary Fagan, With Valor and Honor by Mark Williams, SKYFALL arr. by Robert Longfield, African Spirit Dance by John O’Reilly, Avenger by Rob Grice, Anasazi by John Edmondson, and An American Hymntune arr. by Robert Sheldon.
Mr. Adrian Wright introduced the Senior Band Clinician, Mr. Curtis M. Bates. He is Director of Bands in Calhoun County Public Schools (2012-present) where he teaches at St. Matthews K-8 School and Calhoun County High School. As Director of Bands, he directs the Marching Saints, the Saints Concert Band, Calhoun County Honor Band, and various Middle School Ensembles. Prior to his arrival in Calhoun County, he was an Assistant Band Director at Columbia High School (2010-2012), in Columbia, South Carolina.
Mr. Bates is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, including the South Carolina Music Educators Association and the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA). He also serves on the Solo and Ensemble committee within the SCBDA.
Mr. Bates graduated from Claflin University in 2010 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Music Education. He has a strong passion for education and is currently in Graduate School at Columbia College in Columbia, South Carolina working on a Master in Divergent Learning. As Mr. Bates continues through life as a musician, he continues to put God first, because he believes through him all things are possible.
The Senior Honor Band played the following selections: St. Petersburg March by Johnnie Vinson, Northwest Suite by John O’Reilly, Flight of the Thunderbird by Richard Saucedo, Flight of Eagles by Elliot Del Borgo, Ammerland by Jacob de Haan, and Marching Song arr. by John Moss.
Mr. Adrian Wright, Dillon High School, gave the closing remarks by thanking the guest clinicians, recognizing the Band Directors of Dillon County (Mr. Kevin McLellan of Dillon Middle School, Ms. Margot Griggs of Latta Middle/High School, and Mr. Jamie Kirby of Lake View Middle/High School), recognizing 2015 supporting sponsors (Stuart Freeman and “Music and Art”, Anita Brown, Lilly Page, Cedric Page and Miranda Manning, Keith and Robin Morris, Ida King and Perfect Accents by Kendra Fling/Kadra Wright), thanking the parents for their support and applauding the students for the wonderful performance. The concert was enjoyed by all.
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La-Taurean Brigman is an 8th grade student at Dillon Middle School and has been in band since 7th grade. As a beginner, she wanted to play the clarinet but she didn’t stop there. She also played bass clarinet and transitioned to the Eflat contra bass clarinet. Dillon Middle School Band and Kevin McLellan, band director, are proud that she was selected for the All –State Clinic which was held March 13 – 15, 2015 at Furman University. Students had to play scales, a solo, define terms, and sight read during the audition. Students competed against students from around the state of South Carolina. La-Taurean’s accomplishments include the following: (1) Eastern District Band at South Florence High School receiving 1st chair (the highest); (2) Region Band Clinic at Cane Bay High School 1st chair (the highest), and (3) All-State(top band in the state) held at Furman University 2nd chair (second highest). The Junior Band Conductor was Michael Sweeney who is currently Director of Band Publications for Hal Leonard Corporation in Milwaukee, WI one of the largest publishers of printed music in the world. Michael is directly responsible for the development, production, recording and marketing of new publications for school bands. In additional, he contributes as a composer and arranger in all instrumental areas, and is particularly known for his writing at the younger levels for concert and jazz bands. Since joining the company in 1982, Hal Leonard has published over 500 of his compositions and arrangements.
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Three students from Dillon Middle School Band have made history for the band program by becoming the first students to make the All-State Band Clinic which was held March 13 – 15, 2015 at Furman University. Kevin McLellan, band director, and the student’s auditions began at Eastern District Band at South Florence High School, then Region Band at Cane Bay High School, and finally All-State Band at Furman University. The students had to play scales, a solo, define terms, and sight read during the audition. They competed against students from around the state of South Carolina. Pictured l to r: (1) Kezia Dentley – 2nd chair Alto Saxophone District Band, 4th chair Alto Saxophone Region Band, and Alto Saxophone Alternate at All-State; (2) La-Taurean Brigman – 1st chair Contra Bass Clarinet District Band, 1st Chair Contra Bass Clarinet Region Band and 2nd Chair Contra Bass Clarinet All-State Band, and (3) T’Niya Williams – 1st Percussion Eastern District Band, 2nd Chair Percussion Region Band, and 2nd Chair Percussion Alternate All-State Band.
