Adrian L. Wright is currently the band director at Dillon High School. He has served in this capacity for over twenty-four years. Mr. Wright received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education as a 1999 cum lade graduate of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina. While at South Carolina State University, he participated in the Marching “101” Band, Pep Band, Concert Band, and Jazz Band. He received a Master of Music Education Degree from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro in August 2005, and also studied at Boston University.
Ensembles under Mr. Wright’s direction at Dillon High School include the Dillon High School Marching Wildcat Band, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, and Concert Band. Under his direction the marching band has performed throughout North and South Carolina and Georgia and has received several superior and excellent ratings at various events. The concert band program continues to make yearly improvements and has received ratings of Excellence and Superior at the SCBDA’s Concert Performance Assessment. Individual student musicianship continues to remain high with the selection of students to participate in various honor bands across the state including Regional and All-State Honor Bands. The Jazz Ensemble performs locally, and has performed for former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford. The group has also been featured on Educational Television’s Road Show documentary of South Carolina.
Mr. Wright is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the South Carolina Band Director’s Association, the South Carolina Music Educator’s Association, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Phi Mu Beta International Bandmasters Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America. Mr. Wright was also named 2024 a 2025 Dillon High School Teacher of the Year. Aside from working with student musicians, Mr. Wright enjoys cycling and gardening. Mr. Wright resides in Dillon, South Carolina with his beautiful wife Kadra.
“My high school band director, Mr. Willie E. Lyles, inspired me to become an educator and make a difference in the lives of others. Like him, I enjoy providing opportunities for students to express themselves, learn about leadership and build social skills. And we like to sprinkle a little bit of fun in the mix. There’s nothing like the rewarding feeling of seeing kids get excited when they see a new city for the first time, accomplish a goal they’ve been working on, or earn a scholarship to further their education in college. We should all strive to have a positive impact in the lives of others no matter how big or how small. When you teach, you also learn. When you demonstrate compassion for others, you continue to nurture love for yourself. When you help others , not only do you help make a stronger community in the process, but you pay the deposit on the help you may need one day. As the old saying goes, ‘United we stand, divided we fall,'” he said.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH DIFFERENCE MAKER: Adrian Wright–Inspiring Students and Broadening Their Horizons Through Band
