The Sullivan South Rebel Band is an award winning high school band located in Kingsport, Tennessee. The band was started in 1980 with the construction of Sullivan South High School. The band supports several different programs including a Jazz Band, Winter Guard, Winter Drumline, Concert Band and Marching Band. The marching band now has 89 members including, 16 Color Guard, 19 Percussionist, 53 Horns and one Drum Major.

Over the past several years the band has won several awards at band competitions across the tri-state area including this years 1st place finish at a USSBA competition at Tennessee High in Bristol, 1st place at a USSBA Daniel Boone High in Gray, Tennessee and the band finished 2^nd place at USSBA Southern States Championship at Carson Newman College.

The Band Boosters organization funds and supports the band students in all of their activities. The South Booster organization is one of the strongest of its kind in East Tennessee. The organization is composed of band parents and the instructors of the South Band.

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

Mission of the Band

The mission of the Sullivan South High School Band is to provide young people with an experience that is both enjoyable and educational. The band experience will teach students 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, stage-presence, team work, and the virtue of sacrificing personal wishes for the benefit of others.

We Believe

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. We believe that students 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.

History

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 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. He later graduated from Troy State with his masters degree from Troy State, cum laude and an education specialist degree in administration and supervision from Lincoln Memorial University.

Brent Palmer is in his 9th 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 Ratings and 1^st place finishes at band competitions all around the tri-cities area including Grand Champion and winner of the McChestney Cup at the McChestney band competition and a 2^nd place finish at the USSBA Southern States Championship (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).