Since Dillon Middle School opened its doors in 2012, the Music Department has been a consistent force of excellence, collecting awards and accolades year after year. The return of two local directors Mr. Joshua Fleetwood and Mr. Kevin McLellan has continued to be a tremendous blessing, shaping the lives of countless young musicians.
But 2025 stands out as a truly historic year for the department.
Under the direction of Mr. Joshua Fleetwood, the Chorus program achieved an impressive sweep of accolades:
Superior Rating at the SCMEA Festival in Columbia, SC
Excellent Rating at the Southern Star Festival in Atlanta, GA
Superior Rating at the Carowinds Festival of Music in Charlotte, NC
Excellent Rating at the Busch Gardens Festival of Music in Williamsburg,Va
Meanwhile, the Band program, led by Mr. Kevin McLellan, delivered outstanding performances across all ensembles:
Program Highlights:
• The 6th Grade Beginner Band earned a Superior rating at the Carowinds Festival of Music — an incredible achievement for our newest musicians.
• The Dillon Middle School Jazzy Cats received a Superior rating at the Jazz Performance Assessment.
• The Jazzy Cats also earned the Gold Star Award (equivalent to a Superior rating) at the Southern Star Music Festival in Atlanta, Georgia.
• The 7th Grade Concert Band achieved a Superior rating at the Concert Performance Assessment.
• The 8th Grade Concert Band earned an Excellent rating at the Concert Performance Assessment.
• The 7th and 8th Grade Combined Wind Ensemble received a Superior rating at the Carowinds Festival of Music.
• For the first time in Dillon Middle School history, 50 students auditioned for Eastern District Band and Region 5 Honor Band.
• Another historic first: All participating students earned Superior ratings at Solo and Ensemble, held at West Florence High School.
• The Dillon Middle School Tri-M Chapter 9021 was named National Tri-M Chapter of the Year.
• The band program was honored with the Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) the highest and most prestigious award a band program can receive.
Beyond performance, the Tri-M Music Honor Society composed of both band and chorus members made a powerful impact through community service. Their commitment was recognized on a national level, as Dillon Middle School’s chapter was awarded the National Tri-M Music Honor Society Chapter of the Year, the highest honor given to any chapter in the United States.
Without a doubt, 2025 has been an exceptional year for the Dillon Middle School Music Department a year that solidifies its place among the very best music programs in the country.
