About the Band

The Sullivan South Rebel Band is an award winning high school band located in Kingsport, Tennessee. The band was born in 1980 with the construction of Sullivan South High School. The band now has 89 members including, 16 Color Guard, 19 Percussionists, 53 Wind players and one Drum Major. Over the past several years the band has won several awards at band competitions across the tri-state area. Last year’s accomplishments include a first place finish at Powell Valley High School winning the Grand Champion prize the McChesney Sweepstakes Award. The band won first place in their division at the USSBA band competition in Bristol, Tennessee. The South band has been invited to represent the State of Tennessee at the 2008 4th of July, National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C. this summer.

The primary goal of the Sullivan South High School Band is to provide young people with an experience that is both enjoyable and educational. We believe that a student should improve through daily progress. We are firmly convinced that the happiest band student is the one that is improving him or herself through regular habits of practice and daily progress. Moreover, all students are taught a number of non-musical skills that have importance as they communicate with audiences through festivals, concerts, and contest. Students learn responsibility, self-discipline, cooperation, team work, and the art of sacrificing personal wishes for the benefit of others.

The student must not only know right from wrong, but must be able to stand strong for the principles in which they believe. The students must develop a strong sense of purpose toward which they are willing to work. The Sullivan South prides itself on its development of student leaders and feels that this leadership is an important part of the Band success.

The South band is made up of several programs that offer many learning opportunities for its students. The South band offers a Jazz Band, Winter Guard, Winter Drum-line, Marching Band and Concert Band. 

The band is under the direction of Mr. Brent Palmer. Color Guard instructor is Beth Evans. Percussion Instructors are Mark Peters, Chris McDavid, and Josh Stevenson.  The middle school band directors are Mr. Eddie Dalton at Colonial Heights Middle School and Mr. Shane Ladd at Sullivan Middle School.

Band Director
Brent Palmer a native of Waynesboro, GA graduated from Burke County High School in 1993. He began his collegiate career at Mercer University in Macon, GA where he spent one year going to school and performing with the Mercer University Wind Ensemble and Mercer University Brass Ensemble. He then transferred to Troy State University in Troy, AL where he performed with the Troy State Symphony Band, the Sound of the South Marching Band and the Troy State Pit Orchestra. He had the honor of serving the band as Section Leader, Band Captain, and Drum Major. During his time at Troy State he was a member of the Kappa Delta Pi, Gamma Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa. His awards include the John M. Long Academic Scholarship, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Excellence in Music Award, (97-98) Sound of the South Most Outstanding Band Member. Mr. Palmer obtained is his Masters degree from Troy State, cum laude in 2000 and his Education Specialist in Administration from Lincoln Memorial University in 2006.

Brent Palmer is in his 12th year of teaching in the public school systems. During this time his bands have won Grand Champion and Superior Ratings at Festival of Champions in Orlando Florida (Eastbrook Middle School). They have earned Superior Rating at District VIII Band Festival (Carroll High School Concert Band). His bands have earned Superior Ratings at Festival of Champions in Panama City, Florida (Eastbrook Middle). Superior and Excellent ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation District VII (Eastbrook Middle). Over 300 Superior Ratings at District VIII Solo & Ensemble Contest (East Gate Middle School) Superior Rating at Central N.C. Band Festival with a second place finish and a first place finish at the Appalachian Marching Band Classic (Sullivan South Rebel Band). His honors include two time Teacher of the Month, nominee and runner up for the Teacher of the Year (02-03) and Teacher of the Year (03-04 Eastbrook Middle School).