Martin Dickey
A native of Bristol, Virginia, and a graduate of East Tennesee State University in Johnson City, Mr. Dickey is currently in his twentieth year as Director of Bands in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He earned a Master’s degree from South Oregon University through the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon, and a Master’s Degree in School Administration from Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is a National Board Certified teacher.
Mr. Dickey taught at David Crockett High School in Jonesborough, Tennessee for nine years, and Fort Mill High School for thirteen years. In the fall of 2007, he became the Director of Bands at the new Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill. Bands under his direction have received numerous state, regional, and national awards at marching and concert events, including the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence and Certificate of Merit.
In 2011, the Nation Ford Band performed in the prestigious Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. For the past twenty-five years, bands under Mr. Dickey’s leadership have performed at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Georgia, the Hula Bowl and First Night Celebration in Honolulu, Hawaii, the Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Day Parade in Pasadena, California, and for the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers.
Mr. Dickey is active as an adjudicator, clinician, drill designer, and consultant, in the United States and Europe, and is certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. He is a past-President of the South Carolina Band Directors Association and has served on the staff of the US Army All-American High School Marching Band and the Bands of America Tournament of Roses Parade Honor Band. Mr. Dickey’s professional affiliations include the South Carolina Band Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society.
Scott Rush
Scott Rush is the former Director of Bands at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and the current Director of Fine Arts for the 24,000 student Dorchester School District II. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, where he received a Master of Music degree in French Horn Performance and studied with Boston Symphony principal hornist Charles Kavalovski. While at NEC, Mr. Rush studied conducting under Frank Battisti and Pascal Verrot. He was a Concerto Competition winner and a member of the Boston Philharmonic under Benjamin Zander. Mr. Rush received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Carolina where he studied under Robert Pruzin and was the recipient of the Arthur Fraser Award for the Oustanding Graduation Senior in Music.
In his fourteen years as Director of Bands at Wando High School, Mr. Rush’s bands received consistent Superior ratings in the areas of concert and marching band. The Wando Symphonic Band performed at the 2007 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and were the 2007 recipients of the Sudler Flag of Honor, administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The Wando marching band was named a finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championship in 2009 and 2011.
Mr. Rush is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. He has presented clinics at major conferences in thirteen states, including the 2006 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and has presented workshops at several universities and school districts. He is the author of two highly touted books, “Habits of a Successful Band Director,” and “The Evolution of a Successful Band Director,” for GIA Publications, and has co-authored new method books for band entitled: “Habits of a Successful Musician,” and “Habits of a Successful Middle School Band Director.” He has been the recipient of the National Band ASsociation’s Citation of Excellence on five occasions and was named to the Bandworld Legion of Honor administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association, and also serves on the as vice-president of the South Carolina Band Directors Association. Other professional affiliations include WASBE, Phi Beta Mu, and Phi Mu Alpha.