A look into the life of Mr. Gulledge and Ms. Loftis
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About Mr. Gulledge
Joe Gulledge a native of Lilesville, NC holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, and a Master of Conducting Degree from the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon from Sam Houston State University. In 2003 he earned his National Board Certification in Music. Mr. Gulledge currently serves as President-Elect of the South Carolina Music Educators Association and is an active adjudicator, clinician and performer across the Southeast including, North & South Carolina, Georgia & Florida. Mr. Gulledge is currently the Director of Bands at Clover High School and previously served as Director of Bands for Rock Hill High School for 18 years. Bands under his direction have consistently earned superior ratings on and off the field. Concert ensembles under Mr. Gulledge’s direction have received numerous superiors at the South Carolina Concert Festival including overall superior ratings in Grades V & VI for the past 14 years. Under Mr. Gulledge’s direction, students have been named to the South Carolina Regional Honor Band, the All-State Jazz Band and All State Honors Bands over 250 times. Mr. Gulledge marching bands have been named finalists for the SCBDA Marching Band Championships 24 consecutive years including 3rd place in 2003, 2007, 2009 & 2011 and 2nd place in 2008 & 2010 winning the “High Music Caption” both years. Bands under his direction have been finalists at Bands of America Regional or Super Regional events 8 times, most recently placing 9th at the Winston Salem Regional in 2014. Band programs under his direction have also received the South Carolina Band Director Associations Outstanding Performance Award, the state’s highest award, for the past 22 consecutive years. His professional affiliations include the South Carolina Band Directors Association, South Carolina Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Educators, American School Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Mu, the National Band Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Gulledge resides in Rock Hill, SC and is married to Suzanne Gulledge, guidance counselor at Catwaba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, SC. They have 2 children, Daniel, band director at Indian Land Middle School, Indian Land, SC and Katie an Art teacher at Orchard Park Elementary School, Fort Mill SC. Email: [email protected] Office: 803-810-8234
About Mrs. Loftis
Courtney Wyatt Loftis is the Assistant Band Director at Clover High School. A native of Clover, Courtney rejoined the program in 2014 after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Winthrop University and has now taught at Clover High School for four years.
While at Winthrop, Courtney sat principal trumpet and performed in numerous ensembles including the Winthrop Wind Symphony, WU Jazz Ensemble, and the Winthrop Brass Quintet. In addition to her studies at Winthrop, Courtney maintained a large private trumpet studio where her students’ accolades include the regional, state and national level. Outside of teaching, Courtney spends much of her time performing throughout the Charlotte area and is currently the Principal Trumpet of the Carolinas Wind Orchestra and an active member of the CWO Board of Directors. She is also actively involved in the South Carolina Band Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.
As the Assistant Director at Clover High School, Courtney leads the Clover Jazz Ensemble, CHS Brass Quintet, and Clover High School Symphonic Band. Under her direction, the Clover High School Symphonic Band has received superior ratings and was awarded Superior with Distinction in grade IV literature for two consecutive years. Courtney also assists with the Clover High School Marching Band and actively teaches at both Clover and Oakridge Middle School.
Courtney resides in Rock Hill with her two dogs, Rylee and Nova, and cat, Coda.