Awards
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The Bands at South Aiken High School have a long tradition of excellence. As the community of Aiken grew in the 1970s, it became necessary to divide Aiken High School. This resulted in the opening of South Aiken High School in 1981. Mr. James Kitchings transferred from Aiken High to start the band program at South Aiken. Mr. Kitchings continued the success he was known for at Aiken High with the new program at South Aiken, earning a Superior rating at the SCBDA Concert Band Festival in the first year the school was open, setting a standard which continues to the present day.
Upon Mr. Kitchings retirement in 1984, Mr. Everett Noel was hired as band director at South Aiken High School and Kennedy Middle Schools, beginning a 17-year tenure that included 15 superior ratings in concert band and a performance at the ASBDA National Convention in 1991. In 2001, the program at South Aiken High and Kennedy Middle Schools were split into two jobs. Mr. Noel elected to remain at Kennedy Middle and Mr. Monte Blackwell was hired at South Aiken High School. In 2012, Mr. Neil Nelson was hired as band director at South Aiken. He is only the fourth band director to serve at the school in its 36-year history. He has continued the tradition of excellence in performance that South Aiken has always stood for with superior ratings in concert and marching performance and unparalleled growth in numbers with the size of the band doubling in only four years. Most importantly, our program continues to produce results with students regularly being selected as members of the South Carolina All-State Band and being accepted in the South Carolina Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities for outstanding musical accomplishments. Our graduates value music-making and continue to perform as musicians well into their adult lives. |