About

Ashley Ridge High School was founded in 2008 when a new high school was needed in Summerville, South Carolina, due to the overpopulation of the two adjacent high schools in town.  The Ashley Ridge High School Band was formed under the direction of Sue Alexander.  Sue was a veteran teacher that previously taught as Director of Bands at Travelers Rest High School, Riverside High School, and Associate Director of Bands at Summerville High School.

In 2007, she was asked by Dorchester School District Two to utilize her great experience and start a band from scratch at the new high school.   In 2008, the newly formed high school band entered the 2A South Carolina classification but did not field a competitive marching band.  Instead, a small pep band was created that excited the football crowd with horn playing and trash can banging. The focus was on building community and spirit within the new high school.  It of course was a magical time and a huge success!

In 2009, the school fielded its first competitive marching band.  In this first year of competition, the band fielded 53 total students and made state finals in the 2A division.  This was also the year where winter percussion and winter guard were added to the list of band performance ensembles.  In their first year of competition, these two groups won the SCBDA (South Carolina Band Directors Association) state indoor championship.

In 2010, Sue Alexander retired from teaching and handed the reigns over to Joshua V. Hinkel. Chad Pence assumed the role of Director of Bands in 2014, later followed by Ben Pouncey in 2018. Today Meredith Melven leads this award-winning band.

In 2011, the marching band grew to over 100 members for the first time and is close to 150 today.  The total program has nearly 200 students.  In later years a jazz band, world music program and junior varsity winter guard were added to the list of performance ensembles, all of which, thrill audiences annually at school and community events.

In the past few years, Ashley Ridge High School has also grown to nearly 2500 total students. Due to this large number of students, the marching band is now classified in the 5A division (also known as Big 16).

In 2020 the band did not field a marching band due to the pandemic but ensured they brought a pep band to all the home football games to excite the crowds. The band program continued to thrive even during the pandemic offering music instruction through a hybrid and virtual band program highlighted with a year-end concert.

In 2021 Meredith Melven brings the marching band back to the competition field to excite the crowds and take the Ashley Ridge High School Band program to new heights!