Mr. Christian G. Scott

cgscott@greenville.k12.sc.us

864-355-6155

Mr. Scott has served as the director of bands at Hillcrest Middle School since 2018. Upon his arrival, the program has more than doubled in size growing to around 350 members annually. In 2019, Mr. Scott founded the Wildcat Winds and led Hillcrest Middle to its first Superior with Distinction rating in school history at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment. The school was also awarded its first SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award in 2022. Mr. Scott was selected as Hillcrest Middle School's Teacher of the Year for the 2021-2022 school year and was also recognized as the First Runner Up for Greenville County School District's Teacher of the Year. Since 2022, Mr. Scott and Mr. Jason Ray have co-directed the bands of Hillcrest Middle earning straight Superior ratings in all state and regional contests/festivals as well as earning the Outstanding Performance Award each year from the South Carolina Band Directors Association. 

Prior to 2018, Mr. Scott served as the director of bands at Tanglewood Middle School (2010–2018), where he expanded the program to approximately 200 members. Under his leadership, Tanglewood bands earned numerous distinctions, including the program’s first Superior rating at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment in 2015 and its first Superior with Distinction rating in 2016. Mr. Scott was honored with a Citation of Excellence in Music Education by Greenville County Schools in 2013 and named Teacher of the Year at Tanglewood Middle for the 2015–2016 school year.

Mr. Scott holds both a Bachelor’s (2007) and Master’s (2009) degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina, where he was an active member of the Mighty Sound of the Southeast, the USC Concert Band, University Choir, and various athletic pep bands. During graduate school, he served on staff with the Congaree New Horizons Band and founded the Crescent Moon Jazz Band, a beginning jazz ensemble for senior adults. He is an active member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA), South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu - international bandmaster’s fraternity, and an alumni member of Kappa Kappa Psi, national honorary fraternity for college band members.

Mr. Scott currently serves on the SCBDA Executive Board as the State Chairman for the Solo and Ensemble Committee and as Site Chairman for the Spartanburg Solo and Ensemble site. He also performs as a baritone saxophonist with the Poinsett Wind Symphony (Greenville, SC). Now in his 17th year of teaching, he is supported by his wife Rebekah and their five year old son Graham. In his limited free time, he enjoys family activities, collecting Funko Pops and action figures, hiking, running, and supporting/enduring Gamecock athletics. His favorite Star Wars character is Darth Vader. 

Mr. Jason Ray

jrray@greenville.k12.sc.us

864-355-6175

Jason Ray joined the Hillcrest Middle School Band program in 2022, serving as co-director of bands with Mr. Christian Scott. Since that time, the bands have continued to earn straight Superiors in all local and regional contests as well as earning the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award each year. Mr. Ray has also founded various percussion ensembles at Hillcrest Middle since his arrival, including grade level groups and an honors group that meets outside of regular school hours. He was recently named the Hillcrest Middle School 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year.

Prior to his appointment at Hillcrest, Mr. Ray served as Director of Bands at Beck Academy in Greenville, SC (2018–2022). During his tenure at Beck, he doubled the size of the sixth-grade band in his first year, founded the Symphonic Band, and led the ensemble to a Superior with Distinction rating in Grade III literature.

Before his work in Greenville, Mr. Ray was Director of Bands at Seneca Middle School (2015–2018), where he directed both the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. Under his leadership, the program earned consistent Superior with Distinction ratings at state and regional contests and received the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award each year of his tenure. Mr. Ray began his professional career as Assistant Band Director at Dutch Fork Middle School (Irmo, SC) in 2012 with Alyssa Haley, where their ensembles achieved numerous accolades, including multiple Superior ratings at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment.

Mr. Ray earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Furman University in 2012 and completed his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, also from Furman, in 2023. While at Furman, he was an active member of The Paladin Regiment, the Furman Wind Ensemble, and the Furman University Jazz Band. He is a member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA) and the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and currently serves SCBDA as Site Chairman for the Greenville CPA Site. In addition, he performs as a trumpet player with the Poinsett Wind Symphony in Greenville.

Now in his 15th year of teaching, Mr. Ray is supported by his wife, Alex, and their daughter, Rosalyn. Outside of teaching and performing, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing video games. His favorite Star Wars character is Obi-Wan Kenobi.