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 of the South Carolina Music Educators Association and is an active adjudicator, clinician, and performer across the Southeast.
Mr. Gulledge is currently in his seventh year as 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. Under Mr. Gulledge’s direction, Concert ensembles have received consistently superior ratings at the South Carolina CPA in Grades VI & VI Masterworks for the past twelve years. The Clover High School Wind Ensemble was a featured performing ensemble at the 2022 SCMEA Professional Development Conference in Columbia, South Carolina.
Mr. Gulledge’s marching bands have been named finalists for the SCBDA Marching Band Championships 27 times, including 3rdplace 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 Regionals or Super Regional events eight times. 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 25 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, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Gulledge resides in Rock Hill, SC, and is married to Suzanne Gulledge, a guidance counselor at Catawba Ridge High School in Fort Mill, SC. They have two children, Daniel, band director at Indian Land Middle School, and Katie, art teacher at Orchard Park Elementary School.