Sullivan County Schools

Highly Engaged Employees

Sullivan South High School Band, located in Kingsport, Tennessee, is an award-winning music education program that serves as a cornerstone of the Sullivan County Department of Education's arts curriculum. Established in 1980 alongside the construction of Sullivan South High School, the band program has grown to encompass approximately 95 student mu... sicians organized across multiple ensembles, including a marching band with 59 wind players, 21 percussionists, 12 color guard members, and three drum majors, as well as concert band, winter guard, and jazz band components. The program has earned recognition across the tri-state region through consistent competitive success, including first-place finishes at regional festivals such as the Chilhowee Apple Festival Competition and superior ratings at the Upper Area ETSBOA Concert Festival, while the Sullivan County Winter Guard achieved third-place honors at the CIPA Championships in the SAA Class. The band program's educational mission centers on developing students' cognitive understanding, musical technique, and artistic expression through performance-based learning, with the overarching goal of fostering lifelong engagement with music and the arts while making a positive difference in students' lives. Beyond classroom instruction, Sullivan South Band actively participates in community events and high-profile performances, including participation in the Outback Bowl parade and halftime show, demonstrating the program's commitment to sharing musical excellence with the broader community. The Sullivan South Band Boosters Association complements the educational mission by providing essential funding and logistical support through donations and fundraising activities, enabling the program to sustain and enhance its offerings across all ensemble components. Through dedicated leadership and volunteer engagement from parents and community members, Sullivan South Band has established itself as a model music education program that combines rigorous artistic training with ...Read More