The Conductors

Mrs. Connie Grantham is a graduate from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor!s of Music Education Degree and an Associate Degree in Business. She recently retired after 34 years of teaching high school and middle school band. Her teaching career includes York School District #1 (York Comprehensive High School and York Junior High School), Spartanburg School District #7 (Spartanburg High School and McCracken Junior High School), and Fort Mill School District #4 (Fort Mill Middle School). While in Fort Mill School District, Mrs. Grantham worked with the band staff of Fort Mill High School (2001-2007) and Nation Ford High School (2007-2021).

Bands under Mrs. Grantham!s direction was twice a featured performing group at the South Carolina Music Educators Association In-service Conference, performed as a featured group at Coastal Carolina University Band Clinic, and performed at the South Carolina Middle School Conference that is held in Myrtle Beach. Mrs. Grantham’s bands have earned superior ratings at Dixie Classic Music Festivals, and have received numerous superior ratings at state and regional concert festivals. Ensembles under her direction have received the South Carolina Band Directors Association Outstanding Performance Award thirty times. Mrs. Grantham has also been honored by receiving the National Band Association!s “Citation of Excellence”, and the Women!s Band Director International “Scroll of Excellence”. She is a Past President of the South Carolina Band Directors Association, has served as the South Carolina State Chairman for the National Band Association, and is Past President of the Theta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu International Fraternity. She is also a member of Tau Beta Sigma and Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity. Mrs. Grantham was inducted into the South Carolina Band Directors Association Hall of Fame in 2016.

Mrs. Grantham enjoys serving as adjudicator, clinician, and consultant. Mrs. Grantham is a National Board Certified Teacher in Music Education.

Her professional affiliations include: National Association for Music Education (NAfME), South Carolina Music Educators Association, South Carolina Band Directors Association, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu International Music Fraternity, Women Band Directors International, and American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA).

Before entering the private sector to pursue a career in information technology, Ryan W. Tinker served as the Associate Director of Bands at Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, SC from 2014-2020. During his tenure at Northwestern, bands under his direction received consistent superior ratings and culminated in two appearances at the SCBDA State Concert Festival in 2016 and 2018. Mr. Tinker continues to serve as a part-time consultant and instructional instrumental coach for the program.

Prior to his appointment at Northwestern, Mr. Tinker served as the Director of Bands at Charlotte Catholic High School from 2012-2014 and as an Assistant Director of Bands at York Comprehensive High School from 2010-2012.  He received a Masters of Music in Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Florida where he served as a graduate assistant for the USF Bands.  At USF, Mr. Tinker studied conducting with Dr. John C. Carmichael and Dr. William Wiedrich – and trombone performance with Mr. Tom Brantley.

Mr. Tinker received his Bachelor of Music with Emphasis in Music Education and Trombone Performance from the University of South Carolina. While at USC, he studied trombone with Dr. Brad Edwards and conducting with Dr. Rebecca Phillips, Dr. Andrew Gowan, Dr. David O’Shields, and Mr. James Copenhaver. Mr. Tinker received the Robert Van Doren Award (2008) and the Cantey Award of Excellence (2007), the two highest and most prestigious awards given by the USC School of Music to an undergraduate with outstanding musical, academic, and leadership skills.  

Mr. Tinker was a member of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from 2005–2008, playing euphonium and serving as horn sergeant and section leader for the corps. His professional memberships include NAFME, Pi Kappa Lambda, Kappa Kappa Psi, The National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Tinker serves as information technology chair for both the South Carolina Band Directors Association and the South Carolina Music Educators Association. Mr. Tinker lives in Rock Hill, SC with his wife Katie, a math teacher at Northwestern High School, and their son, Callan.