Dear Northeast Mississippi Band Clinic Participants:
It is a pleasure to welcome each of you to the 66th Northeast Mississippi Honor Band Clinic. We are proud that you will be able to join the “Showband from Tigerland” to perform.
We want to congratulate this very talented group of musicians on your achievement. Also, we want to congratulate and say “thank you” to all of the directors and teachers for giving so sacrificially to these special students/ musicians.
The Northeast family would like for you to feel welcome and at home for your visit. Please let me know if we can assist in any way.
We hope you have a great weekend and please come back to visit at any time. Good luck and Go Tigers!
Sincerely,
Dr. Ricky G. Ford President Northeast Mississippi Community College
The Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association
Present the 66th Annual
Northeast Mississippi Band Clinic
Guest Clinicians
Jennifer Sills
Kevin Welborn
February 14-15, 2023
Saturday Concert at 3:30pm
Bonner Arnold Coliseum
Northeast Mississippi Community College
Booneville, Mississippi
2025 NEMBDA Honor Band Clinic Schedule
Clinic Schedule
Friday, February 14th
8:00am-9:30am Registration – Bonner Arnold Coliseum
8:00 am- 9:45 am Jazz Rehearsal
9:30am-10:00am Junior high judges meeting – Hines Hall Room 1
10:00am-12:00pm HS Rehearsal JH Auditions
11:30am-12:00pm Seating of the Junior High band
12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm-4:30pm Rehearsals (until 5:00, if needed)
4:30pm-6:00pm Dinner
6:00pm NEMBDA Honor Jazz Band Concert - BA Coliseum
6:30pm-9:00pm Rehearsals
7:00pm-9pm
NEMBDA Business Meeting
Saturday, February 15th
8:30am-11:30am Rehearsals
10:00 - 11:00am Director Clinic
11:30am-1:00pm Lunch
1:00pm-2:30pm Final rehearsals
2:30pm-3:00pm Dress for concert
3:30pm-5:30pm Final Concerts
Bonner Arnold Coliseum
NEMCC Symphonic Band
NEMBDA Junior High Honor Band
NEMBDA High School Honor Band
Guest Clinician
Jennifer Sills
Jennifer Sills is in her 27th year of teaching band in Mississippi. She is currently in her 1st year with the Pascagoula-Gautier School District where she serves as Band Director at Singing River Academy and assists with all facets of the Gautier Band Program. She has had the privilege of working in Madison County Schools, the Gulfport School District, Stone County, Clinton and Jackson Public schools. Ms. Sills received her Bachelor of Music Education from Delta State University and her Masters and Specialists of Instructional Leadership from William Carey University. She is also a National BoardCertified teacher. Ms. Sills is a member of the Mississippi Band Directors’ Association, American School Band Directors’ Association, Gulf Coast Band Directors Association and Phi Beta Mu. She has served as guest clinician throughout the state of Mississippi and has consistently produced Superior bands throughout her career. She has an active private lesson studio and is a National Board mentor for the World Class Teaching Program through the University of Mississippi as well as a member of the State Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council. Ms. Sills is the proud mother of Peyton Sills, assistant band director at Madison Central High School and Kaitlyn Sills Redwine, who is an English teacher in Birmingham, AL.
Guest Clinician Kevin Welborn
Kevin Welborn currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at The University of Alabama. Mr. Welborn works with all aspects of the band department, including instruction and logistics of The University of Alabama Million Dollar Band marching band, conducting the Symphonic Band which is the second of four concert ensembles, professor of undergraduate and graduate conducting, graduate seminars, and assisting with all other areas, directors, and operations. Mr. Welborn also currently serves as the Associate Music Ensemble Coordinator for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Welborn previously served as The University of Alabama’s Associate Director of Athletic Bands from 2019-2022, and the Director of Bands for the Avon High School Band in Avon, Indiana from 2022-2023. Welborn also served as the Director of Bands for the Clinton Public School District in Clinton, Mississippi from 2015-2019 and as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Percussion from 2009–2015. Prior to 2009, Welborn served as an assistant band director at Kempner High School in Sugarland, Texas as well as an educator for several high schools and drum corps. Kevin and his wife Karen live in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where she works for Butler Snow Law Firm as well as serving on the Alabama band staff as a choreographer for both the Million Dollar Band Color Guard and Alta Marea Winterguard. The Welborns also own a design and consulting firm for high school and collegiate bands throughout the country.
2025 Hall of Fame Inductee Brian Gillentine
Brian Gillentine was born and raised in Amory, Mississippi. He attended Amory High School, Itawamba Community College, and the University of Mississippi. His career as a band director began at Hatley High School, where he achieved the school’s first superior rating in concert band in 1992. The following year, he returned to the University of Mississippi to earn his master’s degree. Gillentine then had a long and successful tenure at Pontotoc High School, during which he received the A.E. McClain Award for the Mississippi Outstanding Young Band Director of the Year in 1995 and the Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association George Henry Schultz Award in 1998. Gillentine served as President of the Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association in 1999, President of the Mississippi Band Directors Association in 2002 and was recognized as the Section 3 NFHS Music Association Award Winner in 2004. Notably, he was the first band director in the state to achieve National Board Certification. Additionally, he was the concert director on staff with the Lions AllState Band in 1998, which traveled to Birmingham, England. In 2003, Gillentine returned to his hometown to serve as the band director at Amory High School for two years, during which the band consistently received superior ratings. In 2005, he became the director of bands at Itawamba Community College, where the band grew to over 330 members, making it the largest community college band in the state each year. He was also the president of the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu from 2012 to 2013. After retiring from full-time work, Gillentine continued to share his passion for music by working part-time at Nettleton High School. He is currently teaching at Sulligent High School in Alabama. Brian Gillentine’s family includes his wife, Susan, and their sons, Corbin and Aubrey, along with Aubrey’s wife, Macie.
NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI BAND DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME
This award was established in an attempt to recognize and pay tribute to band directors for their outstanding achievements and contributions to bands in Northeast Mississippi. Several qualifications for membership into the hall of fame must be achieved by the recipient.
The qualifications are as follows:
1. Five years teaching band in Northeast Mississippi
2. Service to bands
3. Service to NEMBDA and NEMJHBDA
4. Professional affiliation
5. Professional achievement
6. Professional honors and awards
7. Local musical involvement
PAST INDUCTEES ARE:
2005....Robert Paul (Bob) Chase, Sr.
2005 George Henry Schultz
2005 William S. Bailey
2005 Williard Taylor
2006....James Marshall Christian
2006 Floyd Stevens
2007 Charles S. Ellington
2007 Anna Presley Scott
2007....James Mann Scott
2007 Fred Ronald Smith
2008 Stanley Crow
2008 Ken Lewis
2008....Jimmy Wallace
2009....David East
2009 Billy Eubanks
2009 Walter Glin Partlow
2009....Ernie Reece
2010....Thad Mullins
2011 Larry Burrell
2011 Kevin Cole
2011 ....Robert Plunkett
2014 Michael Cates
2014 Buddy Edge
2015 John Emerson
2015....Laura Emerson
2016 Ernest C. Cadden, Jr.
2017 Sam Cunningham
2018 Toni Reece
2019....Jeff Young
2020 John Mixon
2024 Dale and Vance Wigginton
*A Hall of Fame selection was not made in 2022 due to COVID disruptions.
2025 Honor Jazz Band Schedule
Thursday, February 13
Registration in Hines Hall ........................................................ 3:30-4:00pm
Dr. Jason William Beghtol is currently teaching at Northeast Mississippi Community College where he is an assistant band director, jazz band director, and professor of brass. Dr. Beghtol is also an adjunct instructor of graduate music education for the Winters School of Music at William Carey University where he teaches various online masters and doctoral level courses as well as oversees students in their final thesis stages. Dr. Beghtol holds a Bachelor of Music degree and a Master of Music degree in music education from the University of Mississippi. He also holds a Master of Music degree in music performance from The Florida State University. In 2018, he earned his Ph.D. in music education from the University of Mississippi. Additionally, he has completed level I and II training in the OrffSchulwerk method of music education from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Beghtol is the bass trombonist in the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra of which he has been a member since 2005. He is also the principal trombonist with the Corinth Symphony Orchestra. Dr. Beghtol performs across the southeast as a soloist and as a chamber musician. He has worked with or played along with artists such as: Kim Adair, Scott Bernard, Kory Caudill, Jeff Coffin & the Mu’tet, Donny Edwards, the Fever Band, Wycliffe Gordon, Mac McAnally, Bobby McFerrin, Jermaine Morgan, Sam Mosley, Adam Nitti, Rashawn Ross, the Red Stone Jazz Project, Ron Wilkins, and Roy “Futureman” Wooten. Prior to coming to NEMCC, Dr. Beghtol taught in the Tupelo Public School District where he was the assistant director of bands as well as the freshman band director. During his tenure, the Tupelo High School band was the 2006 5A marching band state champion. In addition to his work with the Tupelo Bands, Dr. Beghtol was employed as an adjunct professor at Itawamba Community College. Beyond his teaching and performing duties, he does some composing, arranging, adjudicating, and clinician work for both band and studio events. Aside from his musical obligations, he also does voice work. Dr. Beghtol has been the announcer for various marching contests and festivals. He has also recorded narration or voice-over work for marching bands, indoor marching groups, ads/commercials, political ads, etc. He is married to Ginger Beghtol and they have two sons, Jackson and Johnson.
GEORGE HENRY SCHULTZ
A legendary figure among Mississippi band directors, George Henry Schultz touched and enriched the lives of thousands of young people for some fifty years after his graduation from Millsaps College. His successful tenures at Brandon, Taylorsville, Philadelphia, Tupelo and Amory bear testimony to the talent, dedication, enthusiasm, kindness and hard work that so esteemed him to his students and colleagues.
As founder and owner for fifteen years of the Bandwagon, a music store located in Tupelo, Mr. Schultz continued in his contributions to developing band programs and music education in northeast Mississippi. Terms as president of both the Mississippi Bandmasters Association and the Mississippi Music Educators Association enabled Mr. Schultz to contribute his vision and abilities to the development of music all across the state of Mississippi. Mr. Schultz married the former Miss Hazel Johnson. Their daughter Dora has two children, Melissa and Marc.
It is in honoring an outstanding and meaningful life well spent that the Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association awards the George Henry Schultz Award.
AWARD RECIPIENTS:
1983 Willard Taylor, Ripley High
1984....William S. Bailey, Bruce High
1985 Bob Chase, Houston High
1986 Floyd Stevens, Tupelo High
1987 Charles Ellington, Corinth High
1988....Billy Eubanks, Pontotoc High
1989....Stanley Crow, Water Valley High
1990 Ronnie Smith, Corinth High
1991 David East, Amory High
1992....Ernie Reece, Aberdeen High
1993....Vance Wigginton, Booneville High
1994 Lora Emerson, Smithville High
1995 John Emerson, Hatley High
1996....John Mixon, Oxford High
1997....Jeff Young, Oxford High
1998 Brian Gillentine, Pontotoc High
1999 Larry Burrell, Amory High
2000....Mitch Moore, Alcorn Central High
2001....Toni Reece, Aberdeen High
2002 Thad Mullins, Columbus, High
2003 Robert Plunkett, Ripley High
2004 Kevin Cole, Lafayette County High
2005....Kenneth Clay, Shivers Junior High
2006 Dale Woods, North Pontotoc High
2007 Tim Matlock, Tupelo Middle/High
2008 Michael Cates, Itawamba Agricultural High
2009.....Dale Wigginton, Tupelo Middle
2010....Sam Cunningham, Ripley High
2011 Chad Hawkins, Eupora High
2012 Bruce Dobbs, Corinth High
2013....Sara Todd, Pontotoc High
2014.....Melanie Stark, Amory High
2015 Bruce White, Saltillo High
2016 Jeff Colburn, Amory High
2017 ...David Hopple, New Albany High
2018....Brandon Harvell, Kossuth High
2019 Bernard Hatch, Ripley High
2020 Diane Cole, Kossuth High
2021....Rickey Brown, West Point High
2022....Jeff West, Lafayette County Middle
2023 Joshua Forsythe, Booneville High
2024 Robin Hill, Saltillo High
Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association 2025 Junior High Honor Band
FLUTE
Lily Kate Warren - Hatley
Whitney Stacy - Mooreville
Seely King - Armstrong
Molly Bolton - Kossuth
Tiana Brown - Columbus
Alee Harris - Nettleton
Chloe Pettit - Houston
Yuri Sakai - Tupelo
Avynn Schaller - New Hope
Sarah Bowling - Tishomingo
Alice Garcia - Kossuth
Shawn Alexander - Pontotoc
Rylee Howard - Aberdeen
CLARINET
Santianna Heard - Okolona
Christian Diaz - Houston
Sydney Burch - Pontotoc
Audrey Nguyen - New Albany
Sarai Johnson - West Point
Gracie Riggan - Amory
Ahyonna Fells - Shannon
Kassidy King - Okolona
NyAsia Watson - Eupora
London Wilson - Colombus
Jasmynn Hollinger - Water Valley
Brisa Mendez - Clarinet
Bailee Tate - Will Higginbotham
Madelyn Gan Lim - Tupelo
Chloe Hamlin - Alcorn Central
Ansly Mallette - South Pontotoc
TUBA
Christian Gann - Corinth
Zane Hodum - Ripley
Branion Loden - Amory
Zoe McAllister - Lafayette
Chloe Webster - New Albany
HORN
Carlynn Borlen - Lafayette
Jordy Nelson - Alcorn Central
Alivia Bland - South Pontotoc
Jack Jones - Booneville
Mikaela Jones - Baldwyn
Mason Todd - New Albany
Cruz Thornton - Burnsville
Auston Floyd - Booneville
TRUMPET
Trip White - East Webster
Sam Roberts - Baldwyn
Warren Funderburk - Tupelo
Jake Trickey - Burnsville
Jonah Cunninham - Caledonia
Landon George - Guntown
Alex Kitchens - North Pontotoc
Draven Mitchem - Hatley
TJ Mitchell - Itawamba
Layla Hardin - Kossuth
Gavin Byrd - Lafayette
Cade Robbins - Ingomar
Molly Kate Jones - South Pontotoc
Isaiah Wilson - Nettleton
Eli Wright - Corinth
TROMBONE
Jonas Williams - Tishomingo
Anderson Crane - Belmont
Colton Mosely - Mantachie
Christian Schultz - New Hope
Nathan Garton - East Webster
Max Buchanan - Ripley
Aden Rowzee - North Pontotoc
Ricky Moore - West Point
Lucas Waldrop - Hatley
Kamari Pickens - Okolona
Gracie Johnson - Trombone
PERCUSSION
Eli Rutherford - North Tippah
Alan Salazar - Mooreville
Adele Crane - Belmont
Dustin Jaggers - Guntonw
Akely Allen - North Tippah
ALTO
Hunter Trimnal - Iuka
Wesley McMahan - Hamilton
James Marc Key - Ingomar
Gavin Chandler - Eupora
Kerigan Buford - Water Valley
Logan Upton - Tishomingo
BASS CLARINET
Rianna Fowler - Mooreville
Morgan Mitchell - Amory
OBOE
Aviel Nyatta - Armstrong
Caroline Giles - Caledonia
BASSOON
Eason Holliman - Caledonia
Jorja Michael - Mantachie
BARITONE
Weston Langston - Iuka
Lori Anna Ratliff - Pontotoc
David Vandergriff - Iuka
Robert Cox - Mantachie
MALLET
Scarlett Foster - Alcorn Central
Kylie Buckles - Belmont
Shakira Bradley - Ingomar
Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association 2025 High School Honor Band
FLUTE
Cathleen Gan Lim - Tupelo
Jaycee Mcmillen - South Pontotoc
Evee Sheftield - Saltillo
Layne Seymore - Nettleton
Addalyn West - Mantachie
Kaitlyn Ellis - Mooreville
Emma Pelayo - Tupelo
Dallas Hurst - Baldwyn
Anastasia Simmons - Ripley
Kara Coleman - Lafayette
Ava Grace Martin - Mooreville
Sarah Grisham - Saltillo
Trinity Woodard - North Tippah
OBOE
Lily Gray - Itawamba
CJ Burcham - Saltillo
BASSOON
Jaxon Harris - Tupelo
Jaxon Vanlandingham - North Pontotoc
CLARINET
Faith Tzib - Pontotoc
Daniel Phillips - North Pontotoc
Ella Horan - Starkville
Audrey Haynes - Ripley
Cheyenna Cable - North Pontotoc
Jada Robinson - Shannon
Addison Hisaw - Itawamba
Nic Taylor - Pontotoc
Anna Katherine Holmes - Pontotoc
Evie Thompson - Starkville
Elizabeth Hatcher - Amory High
Kylie Wesley - Hamilton
Aubrey Mooney - Lafayette
Serenity Ozah - Aberdeen
Gracie Riggan - Amory Middle
Audrey Nguyen - New Albany
Makhylee Pass - Pontotoc
BASS CLARINET
Annajane Burcham - Tishomingo
Christopher Wyatt - Lafayette
Izzy Kuhn - Lafayette
ALTO SAX
Luke Sheftield - Mantachie
Joseph Thompson - Starkville
Ashton Wood - Starkville
Peyton Collins - Tupelo
Cohen Watson - Tupelo
Hayden Caples - Pontotoc
Jayden Criddle - Hatley
TENOR SAX
Lana Tubbs - Mantachie
Roshalynn Holley - Tishomingo
BARITONE SAXOPHONE
Sarah Hays - Pontotoc
Savannah Hayes - Starkville
TRUMPET
Simon Heatherly - Tupelo
Max Todd - Pontotoc
Colton Namie - Mooreville
Donovan Harville - Corinth
Kayleigh Smith - Corinth
Carson Nichols - Mooreville
Laryssa Eaton - Itawamba
Carter Bell - Tupelo
Addison Hampton - Amory High
Aiden Allred - Eupora
Quin Reynolds - Booneville
Grant Fremin - West Point
Giovanno Baccallas - Hamilton
Christopher Hadden - Booneville
Kyle Horn - Booneville
Rocco Mazzoccoli - Corinth
Dylan Gofourth - Alcom Central
Jude Hammer - Pontotoc
Jon Beghtol - Tupelo
Thomas Phillips - Columbus
Mia Tover - Bruce
HORN
Zander Gomez - Kossuth
Riley Stark - Amory High
Matthew Sorrells - North Pontotoc
Carlynn Bolen - Lafayette
Ben Hays - Tupelo
Daniel Kuek - Mantachie
Mollie Satterwhite - Itawamba
Noah Jalla - Corinth
TROMBONE
Hayden Martin - Mooreville
Wyatt Murphree - Corinth
Zach Todd - Pontotoc
Jackson Beghtol - Tupelo
Connor Namie - Mooreville
Joesph Hidalgo - Mantachie
Joshua Cumberland - Corinth
Cobe Temple - New Hope
Caiden Fast - Tupelo
Joshua Thompson - Tupelo
Evan Rollins - Mooreville
BARITONE
Analeigh Bowen - Hamilton
Casey Ledbetter - Itawamba
Isaac Hurt - Caledonia
Joel Bolen - Tupelo
Raina Hubbard - West Point
TUBA
Ava Crane - Belmont
Jabari Rodgers - Shannon
Aiden Ehler - Itawamba
Peyton Williams - Ripley Middle
Anderson Shoemaker - Tupelo
Carter Flemings - Tupelo
Tate Garton - East Webster
TIMPANI
Elijah Pittman - Kossuth
PERCUSSION
C’Nia Price - Tupelo
Gray Fisher - Lafayette
AJ Chennault - Guntown
Landon Roberts - Mantachie
Anderson Long - Booneville
LJ Mosley - North Pontotoc
MALLETS
John Kyle Harris - Smithville
Ian Sibley - New Hope
Gloria Wood - Itawamba
2025 Northeast Mississippi Community College Symphonic Band
FLUTE
Haley Brooke Geno - Booneville
Afton Reynolds - Booneville
Erin Mattox - Booneville
Isabelle Parks - Ripley
Chance Littlejohn - New Albany
Elijah Chapman - Saltillo
Kayleigh Smith - Booneville
CLARINET
Alana James - Calhoun City
Kellie Hutchinson - Hardin Co.
Izzy Rutherford - Wulnut
Kaitlyn Houston - Kossuth
Yuridia Benavides - Ripley
Autumn Brackett - Ripley
Brianna Tensley - Tishimingo Co.
AliRaven Treece - Booneville
Lillian Brown - Booneville
AnnaGrace Floyd - Corinth
BASS CLARINET
Jesse Grantham - Baldwyn
CONTRA BASS
Peyton Hodge - Booneville
ALTO SAX
Casen Woodruff - Kossuth
Evan Null - Tishimingo Co.
Reed Roberson - Alcorn Central
Makayla Meteer - Kossuth
Ethan Stubblefield - Tishimingo Co.
TENOR SAX
Angel Guerra - Ripley
BARITONE SAXOPHONE
Cooper Guerra - West Union
TRUMPET
Eli Emerson - Tishimingo Co.
Jack Powers - Tishimingo Co.
Daisy Ruedas - Ripley
Matthew Schermer - Ripley
Carson Allison - Satillo
Jada Pate - East Webster
Persephone Loop - Ripley
HORN
Calob Gray - Kossuth
Andrew Langley - Booneville
TROMBONE
Gabe Shook - Booneville
Ava Henery - Tishimingo Co.
Ryan Patterson - Tishimingo Co.
Ion Miller
Lauren Greenlee - Hamilton
BARITONE
Montavius Hatch - Ripley
Seth Brasher - Bruce
Isaac Cavenaugh - Corinth
TUBA
Harley Markle - Alcorn Central
Nyla Smith - North Pontotoc
JD Moore - Bruce
PERCUSSION
Samuel Wright - Booneville
Emilie Little - Pontotoc
Maria Jenkins - Booneville
Zack Brown
Mackenzie Stevens - Booneville
MALLETS
Mason Ruffin - Mantachie
Ignacio Benevides - Ripley
Alyssa Griffin - Bruce
Dylan Roberts - Falkner
2025 Northeast Mississippi Community College Concert Band
FLUTE
Ella Shamblin
Jasmine Lemus
Faith Keller
Miriam Sherwin
Edith Aburto
Aleah Gassaway
CLARINET
Kayla Scott
Kierra Slack
Chase Mills
Amyiah Peterson
Alondra Benevides
Summer Coggins
ALTO SAX
Joseph Bay
Jada Scales
Chance Jernigan
Zander Bell
Mollie Colley
James Gibbons
Brooklyn Davis
Aly Sanfacon
TENOR SAX
John Robbins
Andrew Ballard
TRUMPET
Alaina Klink
Brandon Nichols
Peresephone Loop
Wll Catlin
Morgan Calvert
Eli Lamar
Graceyn Smith
Isaiah Hatch
Jesse Granham
Navaeh Ivy
Cohen Brown
Holt Waggoner
Kalandrya Rias
HORN
Bailey Timmons
TROMBONE
Lauren Greenlee
Whit Everitt
JJ Hamilton
Jeffrey Rigdon
BARITONE
Nathen Benjamin
Cameron Rickman
Conner Adkins
TUBA
Levi Lovelace
Sadie Henderson
Ethan Nelms
PERCUSSION
Mehki Osborne
Jasmine Smith
L.J. Spite
Jase Riddle
Guintin Green
Zack Dildy
Kyndle Rider
Jay McGurty
Jordan Reifers
MaCari Chatman
Christeona Freeman
Timothy Morgan
Edward Hernandez
Fabiola Chaperno
Amanda Gamez
Jeremiah Wilson
Shun’Tasia Robinson
Bravion Sanders
MALLETS
Sheridan Shinar
Abigail Clayton
Vee Higginbottom
Morgan Eakin
Timothy Madra
Brian Faulkner
PROGRAM
Northeast Mississippi Community College Symphonic Band
Directed by Mr. Bryan Michell
Precession of the Nobles .................................... Nicholas Rimsky-Korsakov
Fantasy on a Japanese Folk Song Samuel R. Hazo
Danza Cubana ..................................................................... Robert Sheldon
Junior High Honor Band
Directed by Mrs. Jennifer Sills
Above and Beyond........................................................... James Swearingen
Shake it Off ....................................................................... Robert Longfield
