Jonathan Valentine hails from Bristol, Tennessee and is in the 4th year as the Director of Bands at Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee. Valentine holds an Instrumental Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina where he also received a performance certificate in Saxophone Performance with Clifford Leaman, and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Florida. During his tenure as the Director of Elizabethton High School’s “Betsy Band”, the band has won three Division II State Championships and been a consistent Finalist of regional events such as Bands of America and Western Carolina University’s Tournament of Champions. In 2024, the band won it’s first class 2A BOA Regional championship since 1997. Since his arrival, the band has also established a CIPA Class A championship Winterguard, as well as won the Tennessee Bandmasters Sweepstakes award.
Prior to his acceptance at Elizabethton, he was an Assistant Director at James F. Byrnes, TL Hanna, and the Director of Bands at Berry Shoals Intermediate school. Under his leadership, the Berry Shoals 5th and 6th Grade Bands were a consistent winner of the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award, a featured performer at the 2014 SCMEA Conference, and a 2019 Division III, high scorer at the National Adjudicator Invitational, held in the Atlanta Symphony Hall. The James F. Byrnes High School rose to become a Bands of America National Semi-finalist and won two 5A State Championships during his tenure. Valentine also served on brass staff of DCI’s world class drum corps, Music City from 2015-2021.
Mr. Valentine is an active clinician for middle school and high school groups in the marching and concert band mediums. He hold professional memberships in NAfME, TMEA, and TBA. He currently lives in Johnson City with his wife Shawnna and his baby girl Sarah Beth.