About The hS Band

Dustin King

Director of High School Bands

Charleston County School of the Arts

Originally from North Carolina, Dustin King is a graduate of Western Carolina University where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. At WCU he served in leadership positions for the 2009 Sudler Trophy recipient “Pride of the Mountains” Marching Band and was the principal saxophonist for the WCU Wind Ensemble. He was a recipient of the distinguished Maxie Beaver Excellence in Music Education award given by the WCU School of Music, served as a student conductor with the WCU Symphony Band, and a guest saxophonist with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra.

In 2012, Mr. King received his Master’s of Music Education degree completing a graduate assistantship with the University of South Carolina Bands under the direction of Scott Weiss and Rebecca Phillips.

Upon completing his graduate work, Mr. King accepted the position as Director of Bands at Batesburg-Leesville High School in SC. The band under his leadership received numerous awards at the South Carolina Band Director’s Association State Marching Band Championships, excellent & superior ratings at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment, and the Outstanding Performance Award from 2013-2016. In addition to these accolades, the BLHS Panther Band was one of sixteen American marching bands to perform in the London New Year’s Day Parade on January 1, 2015.

From 2016-2022, Mr. King served as the Ridge View HS Director of Bands in Columbia, SC. The Blazer Band was a consistent SCBDA State Marching Band Championships contender and won numerous awards at competitions across the state, including the 2019 3A Lower State Championship and 3rd place at the 3A State Championships. The concert ensembles consistently received superior & excellent ratings at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment, as well as, the Outstanding Performance Award. Students in the Ridge View HS Band were actively involved in music communities outside of the school including Region and All State Bands, the University of SC Band Clinic, Winthrop University Band Invitational, Coastal Carolina University Band Clinic, and the Bands of America National Honor Band and Orchestra, the Charleston Youth Wind Symphony and the SC Youth Philharmonic. The RVHS Wind Ensemble was selected as a featured ensemble in the 2020 “President’s Cup” Invitational in Washington, D.C., 2021 SCMEA Conference, and 2021 UofSC Band Clinic.

Mr. King is an active member in the South Carolina Band Director’s Association, having served on the association’s executive board from 2015-2019. In February Mr. King has received the 2019  South Carolina Music Educator’s Association Outstanding Young Music Educator Award, and is a member of NAfME, SCMEA, SCBDA, NBA, and Phi Beta Mu Honorary Bandmasters Fraternity. Outside of teaching he enjoys spending time with his wife Kristen, son Evan, daughter Charlotte, and the family dog, Bentley.

Band

Boosters

The purpose of the SOA High School Band Boosters is to:

  • Provide financial and logistical support to the band and the director;
  • Promote a positive image to the students;
  • Aid in the development of student involvement;
  • Promote student leadership;
  • Assist and support the band director;  and
  • Cooperate in creating and maintaining an outstanding band.

Executive Board

President: Lori Kothera

1st Vice President/Communications: Allison Tumminia

2nd Vice President/Fundraising: Emily Szymkowicz

Treasurer: Lori Fox

Secretary: Stephanie Severance

High School Board

Uniform Coordinator: Stephanie Severance

JJW Chair: Justa Tumminia

Event Outreach: Akeya Harrold

Orchestra Liaison: Mary Elise Marcy

Middle School/High School Liaison: Brian & Carrie Bates

Parent Coordinator: Jennifer Aikman

Volunteer & Trip Coordinator: Kim Reddout

Oversight Committee

Oversight President: Lori Kothera

Oversight Treasurer: Lori Fox