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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 104 members including, 15 Color Guard, 26 Percussionists, 62 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 Award. The South band has been invited to represent the State of Tennessee at the 2012 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C..
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 nonmusical 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. Kenneth Carrico. Color Guard director is Nancy Strickler. Color guard instructor is Emylee Steadman. Percussion Instructors are Brandon Hilton, Josh Stevenson, and Mike Allen. Brass instructor is Etan Tate. The middle school band directors are Mr. Eddie Dalton at Colonial Heights Middle School and Mr. Shane Ladd at Sullivan Middle School.
Band Director
Kenneth L. Carrico III was born in Chicago, IL. He attended school in East Tennessee where he studied under Allen Joanis and Rande Sanderbeck. He marched two years with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps (1998, 1999) and one year with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2001). He also marched one year with the 7-time Independent World gold medalists, Music City Mystique. (2003). He went on to teach the percussion section for Carolina Crown in 2004, Southwind in 2007, and Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps in 2008.
Mr. Carrico has worked as a percussion instructor, director, and clinician for 13 years. He has taught in Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and North Carolina. Some of the notable schools he has taught at include Dobyns-Bennett, Ronald Reagan, and West Johnston High Schools. A recent graduate of ETSU, Kenneth now lives and works in Kingsport, TN with his supportive wife Katie and their dogs Kobi.and Keegan. He is in his first year as Band Director at Sullivan South High School.
Mr. Carrico is currently endorsed by Innovative Percussion Inc. and Dynasty Drums.
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