The USC Summer Drum Major Clinic and Leadership Academy provides high school leaders
with two tracks: Drum Major and Leadership. The Drum Major track will focus on conducting
fundamentals, technique, and musicality while the Leadership Track will include sessions
on motivation, conflict resolution, and music and marching instruction. While both
groups receive group instruction on basic conducting and leadership skills, small
breakout sessions allow the tracks to delve into intensive training equipping students
to successfully lead their high school marching bands. The clinic culminates in an
exhibition for which families and friends are invited.
2019 Drum Major Clinic Dates
Thursday, June 20 – Saturday, June 22
Location: Copenhaver Band Hall, 326 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208
Lodging: Lodging is available at area hotels. Contact the USC Band Office for recommendations.
For more information: uscbands@mozart.sc.edu, 803-777-4278.
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser, Guest Leadership Clinician
Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser’s career involves 10 years of successful college band directing
at Northern Michigan University, the University of Missouri and New Mexico State University.
Dr. Tim has a long tradition at USC summer camps and is the industry’s leading motivational
speaker, focusing on the area of positive attitude and effective leadership training.
Clinic Instructional Staff
Cormac Cannon
Cormac Cannon is associate director of bands and director of athletic bands at the
University of South Carolina, where he guides all aspects of the athletic band program
including directing the 350-member “Mighty Sound of the Southeast” USC Marching Band.
He also conducts the Symphonic Winds and teaches undergraduate conducting. Cannon
joins the USC faculty following six years on the music faculty at Michigan State University,
where he was Associate Director of Athletic Bands, conducted the Concert Band and
Spartan Youth Wind Symphony, and taught courses in conducting and music education.
Tonya Mitchell
Tonya Mitchell is the assistant director of bands and assistant director of athletic
bands at the University of South Carolina where she assists with the Carolina Band,
directs the women’s basketball band, and conducts the University Bands. Mitchell also
teaches classes in the music education department. Prior to her appointment at USC,
Mitchell served as interim Director of Athletic Bands at Valdosta State University
in Valdosta, GA, where she directed the Blazin’ Brigade marching band, men’s and women’s
basketball band, and conducted the concert band.
Ben Pouncey
Ben Pouncey is director of bands at Dubose Middle School, Summerville, SC. He graduated
Magna Cum Laude from the University of South Carolina in December 2012, with a bachelor’s
degree in music with an emphasis in music education. While attending the University
of South Carolina, he was a member of the USC Wind Ensemble, the Left Bank Big Band,
and served as a trumpet section leader as well as a senior assistant with the University
of South Carolina Marching Band. An alumnus of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, Pouncey
served as the corps’ drum major from 2009-2011 after having been a member of the trumpet
section from 2007-2008. He was the recipient of the 2011 Jim Jones Leadership Award
presented by Drum Corps International and is currently a member of The Cadets’ instructional
staff. He also has served as a clinician for the Drum Corps International Drum Major
Leadership Seminar held each year for DCI drum majors from across the nation. A native
of Columbia, SC, Pouncey has held instructional positions at the middle school and
high school levels, teaching instrumental master classes and conducting drum major
leadership clinics with students across South Carolina, as well as Georgia, North
Carolina, Virginia and Maryland.
