Mr. Neville E. Curtis, a native of Burlington, North Carolina, began his undergraduate study at Elon College, now Elon University. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Instrumental Music Education from East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, and a Masters of Science Degree in Arts and Letters from Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Oregon.

 

Mr. Curtis has taught at James Island since the fall of 1995. Under his direction, the JICHS "Pride of the Island" Band has received over 140 awards. For the last fifteen years the marching band has competed in the South Carolina Marching Championships earning numerous superior ratings. The marching band has been a State Finalist ten times 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009. The Concert Band has earned numerous superior ratings at the South Carolina Concert Band Festival and other regional festivals. The band program has won the South Carolina Outstanding Performance Award, the states highest honor, six times. The band boasts numerous students in All County, All Region, and All State Bands.

 

Before coming to James Island, Mr. Curtis was Director of Bands at Loris High School, Loris, SC where he was named teacher of the year in 1995. During his tenure there, he was also Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Coastal Carolina
University.

 

Mr. Curtis is an active clinician for other band programs and a festival adjudicator throughout the Carolinas. He maintains professional memberships with the Charleston County Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Music Educators National Conference, South Carolina Music Educators Association, South Carolina Band Directors Association, and the American School Band Directors Association. Outside of school, Mr. Curtis is a free-lance percussionist and vocalist who performs for numerous weddings and private functions in Charleston and surrounding areas. Mr. Curtis brings over 28 years of professional playing experience to the stage performing with the groups Souled Out and Class Act. The extensive list of artists he has performed with include bassist Perry Richardson formerly of Firehouse now with Country SingerCraig Morgan, Jackie Gore formerly of The Embers, The Gatlin Brothers, The Four Aces, Shari Lewis & Lambchop, and The North Carolina Symphony. Mr. Curtis serves on the JICHS Board of Directors and is a member of Solomon's Lodge, No. 1, A. F. M.