Jonathan Valentine, a native of Bristol, Tennessee, is in his fifth year as Director of Bands at Elizabethton High School in Elizabethton, Tennessee. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina, where he also earned a Performance Certificate in Saxophone under the instruction of Clifford Leaman, and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Florida.
Since his appointment at Elizabethton High School, Mr. Valentine has led the “Betsy Band” to sustained competitive and artistic excellence. Under his direction, the program has earned four Division II Tennessee State Championships and has consistently been named a finalist at prestigious regional events, including Bands of America and Western Carolina University’s Tournament of Champions. In 2024, the band captured its first Class 2A Bands of America Regional Championship since 1997. During his tenure, the program has also established a WGI Super Regional Medalist Winter Guard, earned the Tennessee Bandmasters Association Sweepstakes Award, and received the ASBDA Award of Distinction for excellence in concert performance.
Prior to his appointment at Elizabethton, Mr. Valentine served as Assistant Director at James F. Byrnes High School and T.L. Hanna High School, and as Director of Bands at Berry Shoals Intermediate School. At Berry Shoals, his ensembles were consistent recipients of the South Carolina Band Directors Association Outstanding Performance Award, were selected as a featured performing ensemble at the 2014 South Carolina Music Educators Association Conference, and were named the 2019 Division III High Scorer at the National Adjudicators Invitational held in Atlanta Symphony Hall. During his tenure at James F. Byrnes High School, the band program achieved Bands of America National Semi-Finalist status and earned two South Carolina 5A State Championships.
Mr. Valentine also served on the brass instructional staff of Music City Drum Corps, a World Class ensemble within Drum Corps International, from 2015 through 2021.
An active clinician for middle and high school programs in both marching and concert settings, Mr. Valentine maintains professional memberships in East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Association, the Tennessee Music Education Association, and the Tennessee Bandmasters Association. He resides in Johnson City, Tennessee, with his wife, Shawnna, and their daughter, Sarah Beth.