CCHS BAND

Carroll County High School Band

2025 National Wind Band Honors, Mark of Excellence State Level Winner

2025 KMEA State Concert Band Assessment- Distinguished Rating

Band at Carroll County High School

Carroll County High School offers a complete band program consisting of three band classes during the school day, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Ensemble, an extra curricular Marching Band, and a co-curricular pep band. Students participate in Kentucky Music Educators Association Large ensemble as well as solo and ensemble performance assessment events. Students also have the opportunity to audition for all-district, all-state, and college sponsored honor band opportunities throughout the school year. The Symphonic Band is the premier ensemble at CCHS, consisting of all sophomore, junior, and senior band members. The Concert Band is a class for all freshman band members where students focus on the fundamentals of musical development preparing them for future success in the band program. Upperclassman may also enroll in Concert Band in addition to Symphonic Band. Jazz Ensemble is available to any CCHS Band student in addition to their core band class of Concert or Symphonic Band. Students in both the Concert and Symphonic Band classes are assigned to one of our pep bands and perform at home and tournament basketball games. The Marching Band performs at all home football games and in local parades. This ensemble is available to any student enrolled in a band class, but is not required. Color guard is also offered as a part of the marching band.

Carroll County High School

1706 Highland Ave.

Carrollton, KY 41008

(502) 732-7075

Eric H. Allen, Band Director

eric.allen@carroll.kyschools.us

Elliott Hawks, Assistant Band Director

elliott.hawks@carroll.kyschools.us

Eric Allen is in his 2nd year as band director at Carroll County High School in Carrollton, KY. Throughout his 22-year teaching career, bands under his leadership have developed a reputation for excellence, consistently earning distinguished ratings at both Kentucky Music Educators Association (KMEA) and national events, as well as a wide array of individual student accomplishments. Prior to his current position, Eric was the band director at Western Middle School for the Arts (WMSA) in Louisville, KY for 14 years, he has also taught band in the Hardin County, Elizabethtown Independent, and Meade County schools. The WMSA Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the 2020 Music for All National Festival, one of the nation’s highest honors for band, and received the National Wind Band Honors Mark of Excellence in 2016, 2017, 2019, 2023. & 2025. His bands were also selected to be featured ensembles at the 2009, 2018, 2022, & 2024 KMEA Professional Development Conferences. Mr. Allen has served as the KMEA State Middle School Band chair and presented a session titled "Tone Quality and Intonation Development in Young Band" at the 2024 KMEA Conference. In his first year at CCHS, the band earned Distinguished ratings at both the KMEA District 5 and KMEA State Concert Band Assessments.

Eric has been awarded the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, been named KMEA fourth district teacher of the year, received the Excellence in Classroom and Educational Leadership award, and the Excellence in Middle School Teaching award. Eric was a quarter finalist for the 2018 and 2023 Grammy music educator awards. He is a graduate of Morehead State University where he earned both the Bachelor of Music Education, cum laude in 2003, and Master of Music in 2006. He also holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study in Music Education from Boston University, and is a graduate of the Army Music Program’s Senior and Advanced Leaders Courses. Eric has been a member of the 202nd Army Band of the Kentucky National Guard where he has performed as a saxophonist since 2000. He has also performed with Chamber Winds Louisville and was a founding member of the Heartland Winds. Professional affiliations include KMEA, the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha. Eric has also received numerous military awards for outstanding service and leadership.

Elliott Hawks holds an undergraduate bachelor's degree in Music Education from Morehead State University. A graduate masters degree in Music Education from Kent State University. He is currently in his 6th year teaching music. Mr. Hawks began his teaching career in Eastern Kentucky at South Floyd Middle and high school where he started and built an elite band and choir program at the schools. Currently he is in his third year teaching at Carroll County Middle School. While in eastern Kentucky he served as the Kentucky Music Educators Association district 9 middle school and general music chair. Bands under the direction of Mr. Hawks have received superior ratings at spring concert assessment. South Floyd High School qualified to perform at state assessment. Carroll County Middle School received the best in class performance at Music in the parks in 2024.