Pictured left to right: Aaron Bailey, Sid McNeil, Jim Mayo, Varina Hopper, Sheri Mealer, Martha Strong, Marie Pokorski Milikin

Sid McNeil (Director of Bands)

Sid McNeil is currently in his seventh year as Band Director at Olive Branch High School.  Under his direction, the Olive Branch High School Band as received numerous superior ratings at MHSAA festivals, many best in class awards and grand championships, and his bands have grown tremendously in size. Most recently, the band was crowned top band at the Heritage Festivals in San Antonio, TX last May.  The band was the featured band in the Walt Disney World’s “Magic Music Days” parade down Main Street in Magic Kingdom in 2007.  Also, the Olive Branch Symphonic, Concert and Jazz bands all won 1^st place in their divisions at the “Music in the Parks” competition at Six Flags over Georgia in 2005.  The Symphonic Band was awarded Grand Champion of the band competition.  He is also the Director of Music at Boulevard Baptist Church in Southaven. Prior to coming to Olive Branch High School, Mr. McNeil taught five years at Cleveland High School where, under his direction, the band received all superior ratings in both marching and concert bands and doubled in size.  He was also the music director for Immanuel Baptist Church in Cleveland for five years.  Mr. McNeil grew up in Decatur, MS and attended high school at Decatur High School. He received his Associates degree from East Central Community College under the direction of Mr. Tom Carson.  He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Delta State University under the direction on Mr. Gary Cook.  He received his Master of Music Education degree from Delta State University under the direction of Mr. Ken Lewis.  He was the recipient of the A.E. McClain Outstanding Young Band Director’s Award presented by the Mississippi Bandmasters Association in 1999.  Mr. McNeil is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Theta Kappa, Music Educators National Conference, Pi Kappa Lambda, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, past president of the I-55 Band Association and the Hernando-Desoto Band Association.  Mr. McNeil has served as a clinician and adjudicator for various events throughout the Southern United States.  In 2008, he served as assistant concert director for the Mississippi Lion’s All-State Band – one of his life-long dreams.  He is married to a lovely wife, Andrea, who is an attorney at Baskin, McCarroll, McCaskill & Campbell in Southaven, and a father to a wonderful son, Lee, born January 28, 2008, and a wonderful dog, Petey.

Aaron Bailey (Assistant Director of Bands / Marching)

Aaron Bailey is currently in his fourth year a member of the Olive Branch staff, and second year as the director of Olive Branch Middle School Band. After graduation from Senatobia High School in 2001, he received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Mississippi under the direction of Mr. David Wilson where he was a member of the Pride of the South Marching Band, University Wind Ensemble, and The Mississippians Jazz Band. Mr. Bailey studied saxophone for six years with Dr. Wade Irvin, as well as clarinet and bassoon.

Jim Mayo (Assistant Director of Bands / Percussion)

Jim Mayo is in his tenth year with the Olive Branch Bands. A 1995 graduate of Olive Branch High School, Mr. Mayo is proud of the recent accomplishments of the program. After graduating, he attended Northwest Community College and later transferred to Delta State University. His student teaching experience was with the Southaven Bands of Southaven, MS. Other programs Mr. Mayo has worked with during summer band camps include McNairy Central (TN), Hernando(MS) and Cleveland(MS). He also attended the 1999 KOSA International Percussion Workshop at the Crane School of Music at SUNY in Potsdam, NY. Mr. Mayo has judged solo/ensemble and marching festivals in Mississippi, Arkansas and Tennessee. As a 2000 graduate of Delta State Univesity, he was active in Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia fraternity. To his credit, he has served as Vice-President and President for the Hernando Desoto Band Directors' Association and is currently serving as President of the I-55 Band Directors' Association. Mr. Mayo's percussion section has received consistent superior ratings at state festival in Tupelo, MS. The Mayos are active members of New Prosect Baptist Church in Lewisburg, MS. Mr. Mayo resides in Olive Branch with his wife of 8 years, Kathryn; their five year old son Drew and baby JC.
 

Marie Pokorski Milikin (Assistant Director of Bands/Brass)

Marie is a horn player from West Memphis, AR and is joining us for her first year as assistant band director at Olive Branch Middle School. She graduted in 2001 from Marion High School in Marion, AR and went on to the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR to begin her degree in Music Education. Marie served as drum major of the "Bear Marching Band" for four years. In 2006, Marie graduated and went to serve as middle school band director/asst. band director in Forrest City, AR. In 2007 she returned to UCA to finish her Masters degree in Wind Conducting and served as the graduate assistant of the "Bear Marching Band", as well as being a member of the Wind Ensemble and UCA Orchestra. Marie is on staff at the Frontlines Auxiliary Camp in Walnut Ridge, AR as drum major instructor, and has also been a member of Team SWAG at the Bands of America Summer Symposium in Bloomington, IL. She continues to adjudicate drum majors at contests throughout Arkansas and Tennessee. She is currently engaged and will be married to her fiance, Brian Millikin in November of this year. Marie is excited to join the OB Team and is looking forward to an awesome year!