Neil Nelson, Director of Bands
Neil Nelson is Director of Bands at South Aiken High School in Aiken, South Carolina, a position he has held since 2012. In this capacity, he guides all aspects of the band program including marching, jazz, and concert ensembles and teaches additional courses in guitar and music appreciation. After four years at the helm of the program, the South Aiken Band has achieved 50% growth in overall membership in addition to receiving straight superior ratings for concert and marching band performances.
He has served in a similar capacity as band director at South Rowan High School in China Grove, North Carolina and Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington, North Carolina. Bands under his direction have been praised for their style of programming and have consistently received excellent and superior ratings at festivals and competitions.
Prior to coming to South Aiken, he served as a senior staff member at Grace Notes Music Studio in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he taught clarinet lessons, served as conductor of the studio’s youth and children’s string orchestra classes, and assisted with the teaching of the adult string classes. In addition to his duties at the studio, he also served as Assistant Band Director at St. Jude the Apostle School in Baton Rouge and taught band classes at Children’s Charter Elementary School.
He holds a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Louisiana State University. During his time at LSU, he served as a graduate assistant to the music education department and taught undergraduate courses in instrumental techniques and supervised student teachers in addition to writing a Master’s thesis. He also pursued additional studies related to conducting under the guidance of Maestro Carlos Riazuelo. Undergraduate studies were completed at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina where he was an active member of the ASU Wind Ensemble and Marching Mountaineers. He is also the recipient of a prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellowship.
As a clarinetist, he has performed with numerous university and community ensembles as a freelance musician. He is currently a performing clarinetist with the Palmetto Concert Band, a nationally recognized ensemble of professional and semi-professional musicians in the Columbia, South Carolina area. He has also been in demand as a private clarinet teacher, featuring students that have been honored with high placements at All-State and All-District events. He also serves at Director of Instrumental Ministries at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo, South Carolina where he serves as conductor of the church orchestra and coordinates the handbell ministry.
His professional affiliations include NAfME: The National Association for Music Education, South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA), Aiken County Band Directors Association, International Clarinet Association, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He is happily married to Genny Nelson, orchestra director at River Bluff High School in Lexington. They have two daughters, Evangeline and Stella, and the proud owner of two cats (Grey and Pepper), a miniature dachshund (Jasper), and a rescued racing greyhound (Fifi).
He has served in a similar capacity as band director at South Rowan High School in China Grove, North Carolina and Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington, North Carolina. Bands under his direction have been praised for their style of programming and have consistently received excellent and superior ratings at festivals and competitions.
Prior to coming to South Aiken, he served as a senior staff member at Grace Notes Music Studio in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he taught clarinet lessons, served as conductor of the studio’s youth and children’s string orchestra classes, and assisted with the teaching of the adult string classes. In addition to his duties at the studio, he also served as Assistant Band Director at St. Jude the Apostle School in Baton Rouge and taught band classes at Children’s Charter Elementary School.
He holds a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Louisiana State University. During his time at LSU, he served as a graduate assistant to the music education department and taught undergraduate courses in instrumental techniques and supervised student teachers in addition to writing a Master’s thesis. He also pursued additional studies related to conducting under the guidance of Maestro Carlos Riazuelo. Undergraduate studies were completed at Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina where he was an active member of the ASU Wind Ensemble and Marching Mountaineers. He is also the recipient of a prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellowship.
As a clarinetist, he has performed with numerous university and community ensembles as a freelance musician. He is currently a performing clarinetist with the Palmetto Concert Band, a nationally recognized ensemble of professional and semi-professional musicians in the Columbia, South Carolina area. He has also been in demand as a private clarinet teacher, featuring students that have been honored with high placements at All-State and All-District events. He also serves at Director of Instrumental Ministries at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Irmo, South Carolina where he serves as conductor of the church orchestra and coordinates the handbell ministry.
His professional affiliations include NAfME: The National Association for Music Education, South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA), Aiken County Band Directors Association, International Clarinet Association, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
He is happily married to Genny Nelson, orchestra director at River Bluff High School in Lexington. They have two daughters, Evangeline and Stella, and the proud owner of two cats (Grey and Pepper), a miniature dachshund (Jasper), and a rescued racing greyhound (Fifi).