The mission of the DuBose Middle School Band is to foster the growth of independent, life – long musicians with an appreciation for the fine arts; and the development of self – discipline, teamwork, leadership, creativity, and personal accountability through music education. Members of the DuBose Bands are enrolled in a band class that meets everyday. All 6th Grade Beginning Band students spend their first year in a homogeneous class setting while 7th & 8th grade students are enrolled in one of two concert ensembles. The DuBose Band s also offers a 7th Grade Beginning Band class, 7th & 8th Grade Percussion Ensembles, and 8th Grade Jazz Band. To improve their individual skills, many students take advantage of the private lesson opportunities offered through the DuBose Band Private Les son Academy.
The DuBose Middle School Bands have earned consistent superior ratings with distinction at the South Carolina Band Directors’ Association (SCBDA) Concert Performance Assessment. DuBose Band students have been well represented at the South Ca rolina Solo & Ensemble Festival and have been selected as members of the South Carolina Junior All – State and Region Bands. The DuBose Middle School Band is a consistent recipient of the Outstanding Performance Award presented by the SCBDA. The DuBose Symp honic Band received superior ratings at 2017 Festival Disney. In 2016 the DuBose Symphonic Band and Concert Band received superior ratings in both class AAA and AA at Universal Studios’ OrlandoFest. The Symphonic Band was also named the 2016 OrlandoFest Grand National Champion.
Through the dedicated work of its students, directors, and administration, the DuBose Middle School Band has established a tradition of excellence within the school and community.
DuBose Middle School
Director
A native of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, Kindall N. Smith received her M.M. in Saxophone Performance from The Hartt School in West Hartford, Connecticut. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina with a B.M. in Music wi th an emphasis in Music Education and a Performance Certificate in Saxophone in May of 2009. Receiving both high musical and academic honors, she was the recipient of the distinguished Robert J. Vandoren Outstanding Senior in Music Education Award in 2009, the highest musical and academic honor for a graduating senior in music education.
As an active performer, Mrs. Smith has performed professionally with the Chelsea Symphony Orchestra (NYC), Philharmonia Orchestra of Yale, Manchester Symphony Orchestra, Arts Center of Coastal Carolina, Summerville Symphony Orchestra, Long Bay Symphony Orchestra, Hello Saxophone! Chamber Music Series, Charleston Wind Symphony and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra (2018). As a passionate music educator, she is currently a B and Director at DuBose Middle School and an Assistant Band Director at Summerville High School in Summerville, South Carolina. Under her leadership, the DuBose Middle School Band Program has consistently received Superior with Distinction Ratings at SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment and was the recipient of the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award from 2015 to 2017. She maintains an active private saxophone studio serving several schools throughout the Charleston area.
She holds professional affiliations with the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Women Band Director’s International (WBDI), South Carolina Music Educator’s Association (SCMEA) and the South Carolina Band Director’s Association (SCBDA) . She resides in Summerville, South Carolina with her husband Todd and their Olde English Bulldog Daphne.
DuBose Middle School
Director
Ben Pouncey graduated Magna Cum Laude in December of 2012 from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with a n emphasis in Music Education. While attending the University of South Carolina, he was a member of the USC Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Scott Weiss where he was a participant in the 2012 National Concert Tour in China as well as the 2011 reco rding project for the internationally acclaimed classical records label NAXOS, featuring the music of Leonard Bernstein.
An alumnus of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Ben served as the corps’ drum major from 2009 to 2011 after having been a member of the trumpet section in 2007 and 2008. The Cadets are 10 – time Drum Corps International (DCI) World Champions, having won their most recent title in 2011. Ben was also the recipient of the 2011 DCI Jim Jones Leadership Award, given each year to one drum major fr om both the World and Open Class. Ben has served as a member of The Cadets’ instructional staff and has been a clinician for the DCI Drum Major Leadership Seminar held each year for DCI drum majors from across the country. Ben has also been a part of the University of South Carolina Drum Major Clinic and the Western Carolina Summer Symposium Drum Major Track; during which, student leaders from band programs across the southeast region of the United States were in attendance to receive instruction, guidance , and training for their leadership roles within the band program.
A native of Columbia, SC, Ben Pouncey has been a band director at DuBose Middle School and an assistant to the Summerville High School Band since 2013. He also enjoys performing with the Charleston Wind Symphony and teaches private trumpet lessons to students in the Summerville, SC area. Ben holds memberships with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the South Carolina Music Educators’ Association (SCMEA), the South Carol ina Band Directors’ Association (SCBDA), and Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.