Jerry Gatch - Director of Bands
jgatch@lexington1.net

Jerry Gatch is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A graduate of Lexington High School (South Carolina), he went on to complete the Bachelor of Music Education, Master of Music in Theory and Composition and Doctor of Musical Arts Degrees at the University of South Carolina. He studied horn with Robert Pruzin, composition with Dick Goodwin and Sam Douglas, and conducting with William J. Moody.

Dr. Gatch has led the bands to consistently receive Superiors at state, regional, and national festivals and contests including a State Marching Band Championship in 1993. Both the Lexington High School Symphonic Band and Concert Band have a reputation of superior performances at the State Concert Festivals. Dr. Gatch also conducts the Jazz Band, which performs yearly at the State Jazz Festival and at community functions. Prior to working at Lexington High School, Dr. Gatch taught at the middle school level for six years including two years of teaching orchestra.

Dr. Gatch is active as an adjudicator, clinician, arranger, and performer. He has been a guest conductor for many honor bands and orchestras across the country.  He is a free-lance performer on horn and bass and continues to arrange and compose for many different media. Dr. Gatch has been awarded the National Band Associations Citation of Excellence on numerous occasions. His other professional memberships include the Music Educators National Conference, the American School Band Directors Association, the Percussive Arts Society, the South Carolina Music Educators Association, and the South Carolina Band Directors Association. He has served SCBDA in many leadership capacities. He is also a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha, and Phi Beta Mu. Dr. Gatch is a Past-President of the Palmetto Concert Band, which performed at the prestigious Mid-West Clinic in 1999. Dr. Gatch and his wife, Sidney, have a daughter named Katie and a son, Alex.


Bruce Clark - Assistant Director
bclark@lexington1.net

Bruce Clark earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Commercial Music through studies at the University of Tennessee and the University of South Carolina.  He holds an additional BM in Music Education from USC.

Mr. Clark is active as a performer, conductor and clinician.  His professional appearances as a trombonist include the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, the Columbia Lyric Opera, the Augusta Opera, and The Palmetto Brass Quintet.  His commercial credits include appearances with Bob Hope, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Rich Little, Nancy Wilson, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Toni Tenille, The Platters, The O'Jays, The Spinners, The Four Tops and The Temptations. Jazz notables include Clark Terry, Lionel Hampton, Louie Bellson, Lew Tabakin, Marian McPartland, Marvin Stamm, Jon Faddis, Carl Fontana, Slide Hampton and the late Dizzy Gillespie.  He has played with the big bands of Cab Calloway, Nelson Riddle, Larry Elgart, Guy Lombardo, Harry Connick, Sr. and currently plays lead with the Dick Goodwin Big Band.

Conducting and clinic experiences include 10 years of Superior performances at the South Carolina Concert Band Festival, middle school level (grade III-IV) and high school level (grade IV-V). Mr. Clark was honored to be Guest Conductor for the Lexington High School Wind Ensemble performance at the National Band Association 2002 Metro Atlanta Conference.  Mr. Clark has also served as guest artist and clinician for Richland School District One’s Winter Band Camp, The Lexington County School District II Summer Band Clinic, The Tri-District Arts Consortium Summer Camp and The Columbia College All-Female Band Clinic.

Mr. Clark presently serves as adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Columbia College and teaches at Pleasant Hill Middle School.  Bruce and his wife Carol have three children, Michelle, Carly and Wes.


Charlie Polk - Assistant Director
cpolk@lexington1.net

Charlie Polk, a native South Carolinian, is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where he earned both the Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees.  Mr. Polk is the Director of Bands at Lexington Middle School in Lexington, SC where his bands have consistently earned Superior Ratings at festival and contests.  The Lexington Middle School Band has received the South Carolina Band Director's Association's Outstanding Performance Award every year since its inception in 1979.  Before coming to LMS in 1979 he was the Director of Bands at Battery Creek HS in Beaufort, SC.  Mr. Polk is a member of SCBDA, ASBDA, Phi Beta Mu, and MENC.

Mr. Polk is an active clinician as well as an active performer on trumpet.  He has performed at the Spoleto Festival in both the legit and jazz areas.  He is a member of the Dick Goodwin Big Band, South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, Darius Rucker Big Band, and has played lead trumpet with many performers including Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Mathis, Rich Little, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Andy Williams, Barbara Eden, Cab Calloway, Natalie Cole, Lou Rawls, Ray Charles, Nancy Wilson, Olivia Newton John, Sandy Duncan, Louie Bellson, Guy and Ralna, Aretha Franklin, Disney On Ice, and The Ringling Brothers.  Mr. Polk and his wife Lessie, have a daughter Hannah.

Deb Griffin - Assistant Director / Guard Coordinator
dgriffin@lexington1.net













Sarah Sprott - Color Guard