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Alex Clark - Director of Bands
Alex Clark - Director of Bands
Alex Clark is the current Director of Bands at Chapin High School, a position he has held since 2023. Prior to his appointment at CHS, Mr. Clark was the Director of Bands at Strom Thurmond High School in Edgefield, SC from 2020 to 2023.
Mr. Clark received a Bachelor’s of Music Education from The University of South Carolina in 2020 and a Master’s of Music in Wind Conducting from The University of Nebraska Omaha in 2024. Bands under Mr. Clark’s direction have experienced great success including consistent superior ratings at Concert Performance Assessment, Jazz Performance Assessment, and Marching Band Championships, the 2024 4A Marching Lower State Champions and State Silver Medalists, as well as multiple community performances throughout the year.
Mr. Clark is also an avid composer, arranger, and performer. He currently arranges wind music for numerous marching bands in South Carolina, and performs in numerous ensembles around the midlands. He is a member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association, the National Association for Music Educations, the South Carolina Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and is an alumnus of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Outside of music, Mr. Clark loves to spend time with his wife, Lauren, his daughter, Ella, and his goldendoodle, Penny.
Rachel Shealy - CMS Director of Bands
Rachel Shealy - CMS Director of Bands
Rachel Shealy is originally from Little Mountain, South Carolina and graduated from Mid-Carolina High School. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Furman University where she studied under renowned educators such as Sue Samuels, Jay Bocook, Les Hicken, and Anneka Zuehlke-King. Ms. Shealy has worked with the Pride of the Midlands Marching Band for the past two years while teaching strings at Chapin Middle School. She previously taught middle school band in Aiken, SC. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Shealy remains active as a horn player in multiple ensembles in the midlands. She is passionate about fostering musicianship and teamwork through performance and education.
Kevin Smith - CIS Director of Bands
Kevin Smith - CIS Director of Bands
Mr. Smith is a native of nearby Camden, South Carolina and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Prior to coming to Chapin, Mr. Smith taught in Hampton, Kershaw, and Chester Counties. Most recently, he served as the director of the Palmetto Homeschool Band in Lugoff. Mr. Smith performs with the Wateree Jazz Band where he serves as trumpet section leader. Mr. Smith is an alumnus of the prestigious Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, having marched lead trumpet in 2000 and 2004. The 2025-2026 school year will be his 2nd year here at Chapin Intermediate.
Mr. Smith lives in nearby Prosperity with his wife, who teaches special education, and their Golden Retriever Blue. When not teaching, Mr. Smith enjoys photography, aviation, and travel. This is his 7th year teaching.
Jaime Watkins - Guard Director
Jaime is proud to serve as the Color Guard Director at Chapin High School, where her journey began as a student and performer. A 2016 graduate of Chapin, she brings not only a decade of experience but also a strong connection to the program and its legacy. Now in her 10th year of teaching, she is passionate about using the art of color guard to help students express themselves, develop strong work ethic, and build lifelong friendships.
Over the years, she has choreographed numerous award-winning routines and taken great pride in watching her students grow both as performers and individuals.
Outside of color guard, she enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her husband, Noah, and their son, Maverick.
Daniel Gazella - Percussion Director
Travis Benjamin - Wind/Visual Staff
Travis Benjamin has been on the band staff at Chapin since 2011, serving as both a music and visual technician. Prior to his current time at Chapin, he served on staff at Chapin High School (2000-2004), Irmo High School (2002-2005, 2010) and Gilbert High School (2009).
Mr. Benjamin is an alum of Irmo High School. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina in 2006. He served as the Director of Bands at Berkeley High School in Moncks Corner, SC from 2006-2009.
Mr. Benjamin is currently a member of the Carolina Wind Symphony. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and an Honorary Member of Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity. He is a past member of the Palmetto Concert Band and South Carolina Band Director’s Association.
Mr. Benjamin is currently a Facilitator I at the Walmart Academy in Laurens, SC, where he trains department managers and assistant managers Walmart stores in Upstate South Carolina and Northeast Georgia.
In his spare time, Mr. Benjamin serves as a whitewater river guide for the Nantahala Outdoor Center on the Nantahala, Pigeon, and French Broad Rivers.
Scarlett Maples - Percussion Instructor
Erin Owen - Guard Instructor
Erin has been apart of the Chapin Color Guard for 10 years. She was a student starting in 2016 and graduated in 2021 then started as a staff member in 2022. She has thoroughly enjoyed being apart of this program both student and staff and wouldn’t be where she is today without it. She is also a full time hairstylist, graduating from Paul Mitchell the school Columbia and certified since 2022.
Lexi Goff - Guard Instructor
Lexi is from Great Falls, SC, she graduated from Great Falls High School and is currently enrolled at The University of South Carolina. She has 7 years of experience in color guard and started teaching her junior year in high school. She was also in concert and pep band playing the clarinet for 6 years. Lexi currently lives in Irmo, SC with her boyfriend and two cats, Cheese Stick and Soots.
Hallie Woods - Guard Instructor/Movement Coordinator
Ron Thomas - Wind/Visual Staff
Brent Campbell - Percussion Instructor
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