Clover High School Band Alumni

03/04/2026

02/26/2026

Please help share the word with families about both of these opportunities that have children in band programs in Clover. Next year is a big year in the life of band for Clover School District!

02/14/2026

The South Carolina Band Directors Association has posted the classifications for bands for the next two years. Clover will compete in Class 4A and Lake Wylie will compete in Class 3A. The next chapter in Clover’s band history starts this summer!

01/31/2026

Check out this information on the upcoming Bands of Clover Golf Tournament!

01/07/2026

🎺🌹 What a week in California for the Pride of Clover! 🌹🎺

Last week, the Clover High School Band proudly represented our school and community on a national stage, culminating in an unforgettable performance in the Rose Parade in Pasadena. Marching down Colorado Boulevard on New Year’s Day was the experience of a lifetime, and our students performed with excellence, pride, and heart.

The celebration didn’t stop there! Throughout the week, the band shared their music in additional performances, including marching through Disneyland’s Main Street, U.S.A., bringing smiles to guests from around the world. From preview performances to iconic California moments, every day was filled with music, memories, and meaningful experiences.

Thank you to our students, directors, staff, families, and supporters who made this incredible journey possible. Clover will remember this week forever! 💙🎶

12/25/2025

On New Year’s Day, The Pride of Clover Marching Band will march down Colorado Boulevard — and you can watch it all unfold live from home.

🗓 January 1, 2026
⏰ 11 AM ET | 8 AM PT

📺 Watch on TV:
ABC, NBC, FOX, Great American Family, CNN, Telemundo & Univision

📱 Streaming options:
Pluto TV, Samsung TV Plus, Fubo, GFam+ and more (some free, some subscription)

🎷 Band families — this is the important part:
KTLA (a Los Angeles station) typically offers a commercial-free “Band Cam” during the Rose Parade. This live stream focuses only on marching bands .

👉 Watch via the KTLA website or the KTLA+ app
⏰ Streams live during the parade, starting at 11 AM ET

From Clover to Pasadena, this moment has been years in the making.

Thank you for cheering our students on every step of the way. ❤️

Set the reminder. Tell your people.
The Band flies out on Sunday!

We’ll see you New Year’s morning. 🌹🎺

12/24/2025

12/15/2025

10/30/2025

In the new decade of the 2020s, the Bands of Clover have seen continued success. Nick Gibson and Zack McCarter joined the staff leading programs at Clover Middle and Oakridge Middle respectively as well supporting the high school groups. Like many programs in the country, the decade would start with keeping students involved in the band program through the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spring of 2022, under the direction of Mr. Ryan Hall and Mrs. Anne Turner, the Clover Indoor Drumline traveled back to Dayton, Ohio for the Winter Guard International World Championships for the first time since 2018. With their production, “Medusa,” the Indoor Drumline won prelims, semis, and concluded Friday night with the second highest finals score for Scholastic A in WGI's 45 year history, becoming the first Scholastic A ensemble from the state of South Carolina to win the World Championship. Rick Langdale joined the staff as director in the summer of 2022. Later that year, in the fall of 2022, the Pride of Clover would become a Bands of America Finalist for the first time and class champions at the Johnson City, TN competition with their show “Spark.” The Pride of Clover also placed in the top 5 at the SC 5A State Championships, meaning that CHS marching bands had now placed in the top 5 in class 3A, 4A and 5A at the state level.

In the Spring of 2023, the Clover Indoor Drumline traveled back to Dayton, Ohio to defend their championship at the Winter Guard International World Championships. However, they were competing a class higher in Open Class with their production “Nevermore.” The indoor drumline once again won prelims, semis, and finals and received the second highest score for Open Class in WGI’s history. Clover would become the first group in over 20 years to win World Championships in the WGI percussion circuit for back-to-back years and move up classifications. The winterguard would also return to the Winter Guard International circuit in 2023 and place as a finalist with their show, “Vienna.”

Mr. Rod Ruth, the principal of Clover High School, was named the Administrator of the Year by the South Carolina Music Educators Association. Mrs. Anne Turner joined the staff in the summer of 2023 as an assistant director after many years of working with the percussion program at CHS.

In the fall of 2023, the Pride of Clover would have its highest placement in Class 5A at the SCBDA State Marching Band Championships, placing third with it’s show “The Luckiest.” The Pride of Clover was also once again a finalist at a Bands of America Regional, this time at Coastal Carolina University. Clover’s Indoor Percussion Ensemble competed for the first time in WGI Concert World with their production “Cathedral Sketches” and were the silver medalist in Dayton at the WGI World Championship. The band also marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin in March of 2024 and represented the town of Clover in it’s sister city of Larne in Northern Ireland. Mr. Aaron Milner, an alumni of CHS, joined the program in the summer of 2024.

During the 2024-25 school year, the program celebrates its 75th anniversary. In the fall, the Pride of Clover placed third in the first-ever SCBDA 6A State Marching Band Championship with their show entitled “To Shiver the Sky” and was a regional finalist at the East Tennessee Bands of America Regional. The program was selected to participate in the 2026 Tournament of Roses Parade to only become the 7th band from South Carolina to be selected for this honor and the first one in 20 years to march in the parade. The Pride of Clover also made its first-ever appearance in the Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana in November. The winter indoor season was successful with one of the Winterguard groups participating in WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. The Indoor Percussion Ensemble competed in Scholastic World Class for the first time and was the gold medalist at the CWEA Championship.

10/29/2025

Entering the new millennium, the band would place 3rd at Upper State in 2000 for the first time in several years and would continue to place in the top 5 at the Upper State Championships throughout this decade, in both Class AAA and AAAA. The band traveled to the Caribbean in 2001 and performed in the harbor for tourists. During the 2002 season, the band earned the silver medal at the state marching contest performing their show “Elements.” During the 2003-04 school year, Chad Turner was named the interim director of bands and served with Danny Lenard and CHS Principal, Ron Wright.

In the spring of 2004, Eric Wells was named as the director of bands at CHS. Under Mr. Wells, the Clover High School Marching Band became known for its powerful symphonic sound on the field. The concert band continued a string of superior ratings at grade 6 Concert Festival and OPA awards. Shelley Strauss joined the staff in 2005. During the last season competing in Class AAA, Clover was the silver medalist at the state marching contest with their show entitled “Signs.” During the 2006-07 school year, Clover moved into Class AAAA.

By the 2007-2008 school year, 25 years had passed since the 1982 championship. Facing stiff competition at an early Boiling Springs Contest, the band played and marched a difficult show entitled “Antithesis” of serious art music featuring senior oboist Liz Honeyman playing music by Leonard Bernstein. Clover surprised the competing high schools when they placed first. Clover then competed at the prestigious Western Carolina Tournament of Champions, placing second overall. When they competed at the SC Upper-State 4A Championships, the band marched to first place. The band continued to improve during championship week, and as Clover fans held hands and held their breath during the 2007 South Carolina AAAA State Marching Band Championships, Clover was named the winner.

"In third place: Fort Mill High School," the announcer called. "In second place..... York Comprehensive High School!" Pandemonium broke out from everyone but the 110 very classy students who stood proudly at attention. "The.... Clover High School Marching Band!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

That February brought a special honor when the concert band was selected to perform at the state Music Educators Convention. Mr. Wells directed the band through an energetic program to a standing ovation. At the same convention, CHS Principal Ron Wright, was recognized for his support of music education at Clover High School as he was named the SC Principal of the Year by the SCMEA. The band concluded the 2007-2008 year with another slate of straight superiors at grade six Concert Festival and another SCBDA OPA award. Jonathan Rudd joined the staff in 2008.

During the 2010s, Clover would be a consistent state finalist in both Class AAAA and AAAAA. During the 2014-15 school year, Clover moved into Class AAAAA. Courtney Wyatt joined the staff that year as well and became the second alumni of the program to come back to teach at Clover High School. In 2012, the Clover Indoor Percussion Ensemble under the direction of Danny Lenard would become a World Finalist at WGI for the first time with their show “No Regrets.” Two years later, they would do it once again with their show, “Pop,” and also be named Fan Favorite. In 2014, the indoor winterguard would become a WGI Finalist with their show “Our World” and would continue to be a WGI finalist for the rest of the decade.

In the spring of 2015, Joe Gulledge was named as the director of bands at CHS. Under Mr. Gulledge, the Clover High School re-branded the marching band the "Pride of Clover" and in 3 years increased the band size to over 180. The Pride of Clover attended its first ever Bands of America Regional Competition finishing with an overall superior rating and 12th place out of 30 bands with their show “Redemption: Wings of Hope.” The Symphonic Band & Wind Ensemble continue to earn Superior ratings at Concert Performance Assessment and the Clover Band program earned the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award for the 20th Consecutive time in 2018. The Clover Indoor Percussion Ensemble would place 5th at WGI World Championships with their show entitled “Beyond the Thorns.” Ryan Hall joined the staff in the summer of 2018.

10/28/2025

The 1980s were a decade full of many successes for the program. In 1981, the marching band placed fifth overall for AAA bands. The Disney trips became a biennial tradition during this time. On November 2, 1982, at 9 p.m., drum major Janet Moore, took the podium at Spring Valley High School for the AAA State Championships with her CHS marching band on the field before her. They were 142 strong with over 40 seniors, and they had performed at the World's Fair in Knoxville earlier that fall. Susie Shields set the opening mood with a trumpet solo to Duke Ellington’s "Embraceable You". Britt Elliott on trombone and Mark Black on saxophone performed energetic solos from Stan Kenton’s "Malaga". Midway through the patriotic closer, the band rotated into a huge power front and brought the crowd to their feet with "Battle Hymn of the Republic". Twenty minutes later, Clover was the 1982 South Carolina AAA State Marching Band Champion.

From 1983-1986, the marching band was a top three finisher at the state championships. Glenda Santos joined the staff as a second assistant. Mr. Wright was active in the state association and in 1986, the state marching committee, under his chairmanship, developed the current selection format for upper and lower state champions, and continued state finals. The first upper state championship for AAA bands, held at Fort Mill High School in 1986, saw drum Major Richie Brandon lead a rain-soaked Clover band to their first SC Upper State Championship.

Joe Shively became the band director in 1987 when Mr. Wright was promoted to school administration. He directed the band for two years and then returned to college to pursue a doctorate degree. In 1989, during Mr. Shively's tenure, the booster club started the fish fry fund raising event. Danny Lenard, a Clover Band Alumni, became an assistant director in 1987. When Mr. Shively returned to college in 1989, David Yandle became the director, and Matt Hopper joined the staff as an assistant director.

During the 1990s, the band continued the biennial performances at Disney World, and in 1991, the band performed an American heritage show on the flight deck of the USS Yorktown at Patriot's Point in Charleston. The marching band received Superior ratings and competed at AAA Upper State Championships and AAA State Championships. In 1997, David Yandle moved to a new position administrating the Clover Auditorium, and Mike Santiago became the new band director. During the 1998-99 school year, Clover would receive its first SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award (OPA), starting a long tradition of the program receiving this top honor for excellence across all aspects of the band program in the state of South Carolina. Clover was a state finalist and placed 4th in Class AAA in 1999 with their show, “On A Latin Canvas: The Music of Chuck Mangione.” This was the highest state placement for the band in the 1990s. One of the pieces from this show, Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor, was previously performed by the Clover band in 1984. Clover performed outside of the United States with a trip to Canada. The concert bands received Superior ratings at the SCBDA State Concert Festival. The Symphonic Band moved into playing grade 6 level music during this time as well. Jeremy Cohen joined the staff in 1999.