Director of Band

David Allison earned a Master of Music degree from the University of South Carolina in 1982, after undergraduate studies at Ithaca College and at the Eastman School of Music. As a trumpet player, he maintains a busy freelance schedule in both the classical and commercial fields performing in shows, recording sessions, clinics and teaching. He has performed with many orchestras in New York, Kansa, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Georgia. Currently he is in his nineteenth season as the principal trumpet with the South Carolina Philharmonic. He is a founding member and solo trumpet of the Palmetto Brass and performs with the Dick Goodwin Big Band and the Palmetto Concert Band. A prize winning soloist, Mr. Allison has appeared as guest soloist with the Savannah Symphony, the South Carolina Philharmonic, the University of South Carolina Symphony, and the S.C. Chamber Orchestra. His commercial credits include engagements with such groups as the Glenn Miller Orchestra, the Temptations, Natalie Cole, Henry Mancini, Rich Little, Doc Severinsen, Dizzy Gillespie, Chuck Mangione, The Four Tops, The Drifters, Bob Hope, and Paul Anka.

Mr. Allison has taught in public schools, privately, and at the college level. Currently he is in his thirteenth year as the Director of Bands at Summit Parkway Middle School, and his second year as Director of Bands at Spring Valley High School. Mr. Allison has conducted numerous band and orchestra clinics and is on the faculty of the Governor's School for the Arts. Under his direction, the Summit Parkway Bands have received numerous superior ratings at both state and regional concert festivals and have been awarded the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award for nine consecutive years. In 2000, 2002 and 2005 both seventh and eighth grade bands earned superior ratings at The Grand National Adjudicators Invitational, and won the Top Honor Band title in 2002. Under the direction of Mr. Allison, the Summit Parkway Middle School 8th Grade Honor Band has performed at the South Carolina Music Educators Association in 2000, the National Music Educators National Conference in 2001, and the 56th Midwest Clinic, An International Conference in December of 2002. Mr. Allison was named the 1998-99 Summit Parkway Teacher of the Year, and honored in Who's Who Among America's Teachers in both 1998, 2000, 2002 and 2004.

Mr. Allison maintains professional affiliations with the SCBDA, MENC, NBA, IAJE, ITG and Phi Beta Mu. The Getzen Company has named Mr. Allison an Artist/Clinician for Getzen trumpets. Mr. Allison has earned National Board Certification in Early Adolescence through Young Adulthood / Music.

faculty