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Director of Bands

Dr. Ollie Liddell

liddello@scsk12.org

Dr. Liddell received his Bachelor of Science degree from Jackson State University and his Master of Music Degree and his PhD in Music Education from the University of Mississippi.

After stints teaching in Mississippi and at East High School in Memphis, TN, Dr. Liddell took over the responsibilities of Director of Bands at Memphis Central High School. At Central, Dr. Liddell has transformed the band program including recognitions such as being featured on the 2018 fall season of the Lifetime Network series “Bring It;” being a four-time finalist at the Savannah Swing Central Jazz National High School Jazz Band Competition-winning 1st place and the Faircloth Award in 2019; winning the designation of Grand National Champion at the 2017 and 2018 National High Stepping Show Band Competition; selected as performer for the Tennessee Music Educators Conference in 2022, named  finalist for the 2020 and 2021 Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Competition in New York, NY; dozens of students named to the All-West Tennessee Band and Tennessee All-State Band; and consistently receiving Superior Ratings in Concert Band, Wind Ensembles, Jazz Festivals, and Marching Contests. 

His individual recognitions include being a Teacher Effectiveness Measure (SCS TEM) Level 5 Educator for 8 consecutive years, being selected as the 2021 Foster Project Community Development winner, National Band Association Jazz Educator Award, one-time GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Semifinalist, a two-time GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Quarterfinalist, 2022-2023 Country Music Association (CMA) Music Teacher of Excellence, a 2022 Award of Excellence in Jazz Education fro DownBeat Magazine, and a Minority Scholar Fellowship recipient at the University of Mississippi.

In addition to the contributions Dr. Liddell is making in the classroom for students, he is also very active in service to the music education profession, serving on the Shelby County Schools Fine Arts Leadership Council, serving as the President of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, TMEA State Jazz Policy Chair, and a Peer Reviewer for the Tennessee Department of Education Student Growth Measures System for Teacher Evaluation. Dr. Liddell has presented at in-service training, the Mid-West Clinic, Jazz Education Network, Conn-Selmer, Jackson State, Florida State, as well as several other symposiums, and conferences across the country. His research article, “High School Bands in Jackson, Mississippi, Before and After Integration,” was published in the April, 2022 issue of the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education.

Dr. Liddell is a member of the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Gamma Beta Phi Graduate Honors Societies. He is currently serving as past president of the West Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association (WTSBOA) and is the State Band Chair for the Tennessee Music Education Association (TMEA). Liddell is also active member of the Tennessee Bandmaster’s Association, National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Jazz Education Network (JEN), Phi Beta Mu, International Bandmasters' Fraternity, and the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA). He is also an active member of the Pi Alpha Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Dr. Liddell is an active musician (Trombone), arranger, adjudicator, and clinician for music education and serves as a mentor to young band directors in Memphis/Shelby County. Liddell is married to Tori and has two children Jasmine and Ollie, II.