High Brass Group Leader

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High Brass Group Leader

SFC Homer W. Ellis

Homer W. Ellis, a native of Sunbright, Tennessee, graduated from Kathleen High School in Lakeland, Florida in 1967. He received his Associate in Arts degree in music from Polk Junior College, in Winter Haven, Florida in 1969. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music education from Saint Leo College, in Saint Leo, Florida in 1971. He completed his Masters of Business Administration from Webster University, Greenville Metropolitan campus, Greenville, SC in July 2000.

Mr. Ellis spent three years as a trumpet player in the 80th Army Band (1971-1974). He taught general music, K-8; chorus, 7-12; band 5-12 at Tryon City Schools, in Tryon, North Carolina (1974-1976). In the fall of 1976 Mr. Ellis began his tenure at D. R. Hill Middle School and at James F. Byrnes High School. He has now retired after twenty-eight years of teaching band at D. R. Hill Middle School and as an assistant for the James F. Byrnes High School Rebel Regiment in May of 2004. He is now in his first year as Technology Coordinator at D. R. hill Middle School.

The D. R. Hill Middle School Band program had been the recipient of the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award fourteen times. The concert bands have earned 19 Excellent and 15 Superior ratings at SCBDA Concert Festivals. The D. R. Hill Middle School band has performed at the South Carolina Music Educators In-Service Conference in 1999 and the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival in 2001.

Mr. Ellis has been a clinician in Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina and an adjudicator in Georgia.

Mr. Ellis joined the 246th Army National Guard Band in 1979 as a trumpet and French horn player. The band is now based in Columbia, SC. Mr. Ellis is high brass group leader, and holds the rank of Sergeant First Class. He performs in the Converse Wind Ensemble a combined college and community group in Spartanburg, SC. He is a member of SCBDA, MENC, ASBDA, NBA, and IAJE.

Mr. Ellis and his wife, Jan, have four children: Kim Cansler, Matthew Ellis, Kevin Bowers, and Dorothy Ellis.