Columbia Middle School Band

Mr. Luke Yelton, CMS Band Director

Mr. Yelton is a proud product of the Columbia County School District, being the Valedictorian of the Harlem High School Class of 2018. He was fortunate to have Alda Wilmoth, Stacey Wade, and Meredith Boyd as band directors in middle and high school. Mr. Yelton was an all-state trumpeter in high school, studying under Kathryn Cheney and Todd Jenkins.

Mr. Yelton pursued a Music Education degree at Augusta University, where he was the 2020 Concerto Competition winner, in addition to serving as the Vice President of the Undergraduate SGA in the 2020-2021 term. He completed his student teaching with Mr. Steve Whitaker and the Grovetown High School Band of Warriors. Mr. Yelton is currently pursuing the Master of Music Education degree through the University of Georgia. 

Mr. Yelton was previously a math teacher at CMS, during which time he was named the 2023 Columbia County Rookie Teacher of the Year.

In his free time, he enjoys serving in his church, training for marathons, and playing with his two Great Pyrenees dogs - Sugar and Winter.