Dan Ellis

Dan A. Ellis has been a friend and supporter of South Carolina music educators and of the SCBDA since he became the band director at Furman University four decades ago. His contributions to the school band movement in South Carolina are countless.

At Furman, he was instrumental in building the bands and instrumental music program into one of the most outstanding in the state. Mr. Ellis organized and hosted the first South Carolina Marching Championships in 1959. Through his efforts, Furman University has been the host of the All-State Bands for many years. 

Mr. Ellis has also been active and held offices in music organizations at the national level. His name is well known throughout the country as a judge and clinician. He is a charter member of Phi Beta Mu for which he was President. Mr. Ellis was awarded the Theta Chapter Outstanding Band Master Award in 1978 as well as the Outstanding Contributor Award in 1987.

Lorraine Paris

Lorraine Paris has been a beacon of leadership and encouragement to the thousands of her students during her 47 years as the band director at Newberry High School. Through her pioneer spirit and dedication, she shaped and maintained one of the outstanding band programs in our state.

As a model teacher, Miss Paris inspired many students to follow in her footsteps and inspired other band directors to follow her example. She has made countless contributions to the SCBDA and counts among her leadership roles - president, executive secretary and treasurer. 

Miss Paris is a member of Phi Beta Mu, the American School Band Directors Association, and the National Women's Band Director's Association. Among her many awards and honors is her induction into the South Carolina Music Educators Association's Hall of Fame, the 1982 Theta Chapter Outstanding Band Master Award as well as the 1991 Outstanding Contributor Award.

W. Patrick Wylie

W. Patrick Wylie received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Furman University in 1963, and the Master of Music Education Degree from the University of South Carolina in 1970. Mr. Wylie has served as Band Director at R.H. Fulmer Junior High School and Airport High School in West Columbia and as Associate Director of Bands at the University of South Carolina. He retired in 1997 after 25 years as Band Director at Camden Middle School in Camden, SC. 

Mr. Wylie has maintained his affiliation with the University of South Carolina, serving as the "voice" of the Carolina Band. He retired in 1998 after serving 25 years as "Dean of Students" for the annual USC Summer Music Camp but continues to serve as Director of Residence Life for the USC Concert Clinic and Conductors Symposium held in February of each year. 

He holds membership in the SCBDA, SCMEA, MENC, NBA, ASBDA, and Phi Beta Mu, is a chapter honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and a lifetime member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. A past president of the SCBDA, Mr. Wylie has served in several positions with the Executive Board of the SCMEA. He has served on the Board of Directors of the NBA as both Elementary-Middle-Junior High School Representative and as Community- Military-Professional Representative. 

Mr. Wylie was awarded the NBA Citation of Excellence in 1981, 1984 and 1998 and was a 1984 recipient of the Citizenship Award by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He received the Outstanding Band Master Award from the Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in 1990. In 1997, Mr. Wylie was presented the Outstanding Contributor Award by Phi Beta Mu for his contributions to the development of bands in South Carolina and was, at the same time, inducted into the SC Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster's Hall of Fame. In 1998, he was inducted into the South Carolina Band Directors Association's Hall of Fame.

He is active as a clinician and adjudicator in the Southeastern United States. Mr. Wylie is married to the former Nancy Carlton of Spartanburg, South Carolina. Their family includes son Carl and daughter and son-in-law Beth and Charlie Poag. Nancy and Pat reside in Camden where Pat continues to conduct the Camden Community Concert Band which he organized in 1980. He is presently employed by Pecknel Music Company, serving as Assistant to the Manager of the Columbia store.