Pearl “Pirate”Band Pearl High School 500 Pirate Cove | Pearl, MS 39208 601-932-7939 / 601-932-7940 Amye Henry Colorguard Instructor ahenry@pearl.k12.ms.us Amye Henry is in her fourth year of teaching at Pearl High School. Originally from Philadelphia, MS, she graduated from Philadelphia High School in 2003. Ms. Henry graduated from Mississippi State University in 2007 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Special Education and completed her Master’s degree in 2008 in Special Education with an emphasis in Mild/Moderate disabilities. While at MSU, she was a member of the Famous Maroon Band colorguard for 4 years, 3 of those years holding the position of captain. While in Graduate school, Ms. Henry served as the Colorguard coordinator and choreographer for the Famous Maroon Band.  Ms. Henry currently resides in Brandon, MS and has a Miniature Schnauzer named Maddie.  In her spare time Ms. Henry enjoys running, exercising, fishing, hunting, and spending time with my friends, family & dog. Colorguard experience: 2004-2006: Unity Winterguard, Philadelphia, MS (IA) 2006: Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corp, colorguard 2008: Capella Winterguard, Memphis, TN (IA)(received Bronze medal at WGI) Teaching/Choreography experience: Philadelphia High School Starkville Academy Ethel High School Louisville High School Union High School Kosciusko High School & Winterguard Northwest Rankin High School Pearl High School Music City Drum and Bugle Corp, Nashville, TN Jason Harrell Assistant Band Director - Junior High jharrell@pearl.k12.ms.us 601-932-7960 Jason Harrell is in his ninth year of teaching and has been on staff with the Pearl Pirate Band since 2005. He is a 1998 graduate of Scott Central High School and was a two-year member of the Mississippi Lion’s All-State Band. He graduated from Delta State University in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. He has held positions at Forest Hill High School in Jackson and Brandon High School in Brandon, where his concert band received Superior ratings at festival. Mr. Harrell teaches junior high low brass classes, has served as eighth grade band director, and also performs administrative duties for the junior high band program. Mr. Harrell is the director of the Pearl High School Varsity Band, which has received Superior ratings in concert and sight reading at the MBA State Band Festival. Mr. Harrell has served as a clinician and is a freelance tubist in Central Mississippi. He has studied tuba with Dr. Ed Bahr and Mr. Wade Rackley and he teaches low brass lessons locally. He is a tubist with the Mississippi Wind Symphony and he serves as the coordinator of TubaChristmas in Mississippi which performs for the public each holiday season. Jason resides in Pearl with his wife, Belinda, and their daughter, Emma. He is an active member of McLaurin Heights Baptist Church. Matt Little Assistant Band Director - Percussion mlittle@pearl.k12.ms.us 601-932-7940 Two-thousand and eleven marks the beginning of Matt Little’s fifth year of teaching in the Pearl Public School District. His current duties include coordinating all aspects of percussion for the entire district. Since the fall of 2007, Mr. Little has assisted the percussion section in achieving a 4A State Championship in Marching Band and Percussion in 2007. In 2008, the Indoor Percussion Ensemble achieved a fourth place finish in Class A at the Mississippi Indoor Association (MIA) Championships. The percussion section of the Pearl Marching Band finished in third place in their caption in the same year. After competing in the 2009 Winter Guard International (WGI) Pensacola Percussion Regional, the Indoor Percussion Ensemble took their first-ever Gold Medal at the MIA Championships in Class A. In the fall of 2009, the percussion section assisted the Marching Band in achieving their second state championship in three seasons – this time in Class 5A - as well as a second-place finish in percussion. In the spring of 2010, the Indoor Percussion Ensemble competed at the WGI Nashville Percussion Regional, finished third at the MIA Championships, and finished the season by competing at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio for the first time in the group’s history. Mr. Little remains active in the drum and bugle corps activity, after having marched in the Southwind, Bluecoats, and Crossmen drum and bugle corps. He has taught with the Troopers of Casper, Wyoming (2000-2001, 2008) and the (Seattle) Cascades (2002, 2004-2006, 2009-2010). The Seattle Cascades made Finals in Drum Corps International’s Division One in 2002. Mr. Little earned his Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2001. During his time at USM, he taught and arranged percussion for the University of Southern Mississippi Marching Band.     In his spare time, Mr. Little enjoys spending time with wife Sarah, and is a staunch supporter of the six-time World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the twenty-seven time World Champion New York Yankees, the 1998 Eastern Conference Champion Washington Capitals, the seventeen-time World Champion Boston Celtics, and the four-time National Champion Washington Huskies football team. Aimee Sudduth Assistant Band Director / Colorguard asudduth@pearl.k12.ms.us 601-932-7960 Aimee Sudduth is in her eleventh year of teaching and her fourth year at Pearl High School.  After graduating from Quitman High School in 1996, Mrs. Sudduth went to Jones County Junior College for two years, where she was a member of the color guard in the Maroon Typhoon and played clarinet in the Symphonic Band.  While she was at JCJC, Mrs. Sudduth had the opportunity to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  She then went on to the University of Southern Mississippi and was a member of the color guard and symphonic winds.  In 2001 Mrs. Sudduth earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from USM. Prior to coming to Pearl, Mrs. Sudduth worked for six years in the Waynesboro School District.  At Wayne County she taught junior high students 6^th through 8^th grade, was color guard instructor, taught woodwind sectionals, and private lessons.  In the fall of 2007, Mrs. Sudduth accepted a position in the Pearl Public School District.  She teaches all of the woodwinds from 6^th  grade through 8^th grade and she directs the 6th grade band.  At the high school she over sees the fall color guard and winter guard. The fall guard received 3^rd place at state championships in 2007 and 2008.  In 2009 the fall guard received 1^st place.  The winter guard received 2^nd place in 2008 and 3^rd place in 2010.  Mrs. Sudduth has served as a junior high clinician for different band clinics and she continues to write color guard choreography for many schools.  Mrs. Sudduth has been selected to serve on the staff of the 2011 Mississippi Lion’s All-State Band. Mrs. Sudduth resides in Brandon with her husband Jacob and two daughters Rebekah and Elizabeth.  She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and shopping. Matt Rowan Associate Director of Bands mrowan@pearl.k12.ms.us 601-932-7940 Matt Rowan is currently in his eleventh year of teaching and serves as Associate Director of Bands at Pearl High School. Prior to coming to Pearl Mr. Rowan served in the Oxford School District as Director of Bands and Asst. Director of Bands for nine years. After graduating from Pearl High School in 1996, Mr. Rowan received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Mississippi in May of 2000, and Master of Music in August of 2001 from the same institution. While earning his degrees, Mr. Rowan participated in the University Band and served that group in several different positions, including Drum Major for two years, and Graduate Assistant for one year.  Mr. Rowan also received several high honors at the University of Mississippi. These include a receiving a Taylor Medal, which is the highest academic honor given by the University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and being inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He was also named Most Outstanding Undergraduate Instrumentalist, Most Outstanding Music Education Student, and Most Outstanding Graduate Instrumentalist during his time at the University. Mr. Rowan is a member of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, and has served as President of the I-55 Band Directors Association and Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association. Mr. Rowan is the 2006 recipient of the A.E. McLain Outstanding Young Band Directors Award given by the Mississippi Bandmasters Association. In 2007 Mr. Rowan became a National Board Certified Teacher. Mr. Rowan was also fortunate to serve on the staff of the Mississippi Lions All State Band in 2009 as Assistant Concert Director. Mr. Rowan’s bands have consistently earned superior ratings on both the state and national level. Mr. Rowan currently resides in Pearl, MS and In his spare time enjoys playing golf and spending time with his dog, Sam. Jeff Cannon Director of Bands jcannon@pearl.k12.ms.us 601-932-7939 Jeff Cannon is a native Mississippian having graduated from Pearl High School in 1974. He received the Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Delta State University in 1980 and received the Master of Music Degree from Mississippi College in 1995. Jeff has taught in the public schools of Mississippi for 31 years. He began his teaching career in Madison, Mississippi where he taught for eight years, first as assistant band director, then Director of Bands.  For the past 22 years he has taught in Pearl, Mississippi where he currently serves as Director of Bands for Pearl Public Schools. While serving on the staff at Pearl the "Pirate" Band has consistently rated superior in all performance areas in state, regional, and national competitions and frequent class champions in all performance areas.  In 1995 the band won the National Cherry Blossom Parade and in 1997 won the Mississippi Marching Championships.  In addition, they have performed for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Today Show, and President George W. Bush's inaugural parade in 2001.  The "Pirate" Marching Band was the 2007 and 2009 Class 4A State Marching Champions. Jeff has served on the staff of the Mississippi Lion's All-State Band 17 times and in the summer of 2006 was appointed Director/Manager. The Mississippi Lions Band has won the International championship twenty seven times and is the current defending International Champions. In 2003 Jeff was selected as the Delta State University Outstanding Alumnus and was inducted into DSU Hall of Fame. Also, in 2003 he was selected as the Phi Beta Mu outstanding band director of the year for the state of Mississippi. During the 2004-2005 school year, Jeff was recognized as the outstanding Music Educator of Mississippi by the National Federation of High Schools. In 2007 and 2009 he received the Citation of Merit for Excellence from the National Band Directors Association. In addition, the "Pirate" Band has been awarded Senate and House Resolutions for Excellence 5 times in the last 23 years. Jeff is a member Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu Honorary Music Fraternity, and is also Past President of the Mississippi Bandmaster's Association. In 2010 Mr. Cannon was named the Music Representative for the Southeastern United States to the National Federation of High School Music Committee. Mr. Cannon has also served for eleven years as the Minister of Music for First Baptist Church Terry, MS. Jeff and his wife Dian have five children ages 36, 35, 34, 29 and 21. They are also the proud grandparents of four grandchildren, Abigail, Simon, Austin and Alaina!