THE OFFICIAL HOME OF
THE CHESNEE BANDS
Band Staff
Drew McGee
Chesnee High School
Director of Bands
Drew McGee is the Director of Bands at Chesnee High School. He received his Bachelor's Degree from the University of South Carolina and is pursuing a Master's Degree from Liberty University. While at USC, Mr. McGee studied trumpet with James Ackley. He was a member of "The Mighty Sound of the Southeast" Marching Band, USC Wind Ensemble, USC Symphony Orchestra, the Left Bank Big Band, and was a two-time Semi-Finalist in the National Trumpet Competition. Mr. McGee has also performed with the Aiken Symphony Orchestra, Palmetto Concert Band, Foothills Brass Band, and Converse Wind Ensemble.
Mr. McGee has served as Director of Bands at Chesnee High School since 2025. Previously, Mr. McGee served as the Director of Bands at Union County High School where ensembles under his direction received excellent and superior ratings. Mr. McGee is a member of the South Carolina Band Director's Association (SCBDA), South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and National Association for Music Education (NAfME). In addition to his role as a band director, he is an active private lessons instructor and brass clinician in the Upstate of South Carolina. His students regularly earn spots in the SC Region and All-State Bands.
Mr. McGee is married to Lily McGee who teaches middle school band at Beech Springs Middle School. The two enjoy attending USC football games, live music, and exploring Spartanburg with their dog, Bailey.
​​
Julie Keeling
Chesnee Middle School
Director of Bands
Julie Tran Keeling is the Director of Bands at Chesnee Middle School and the Assistant Director at Chesnee High School. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at Converse College and a Master's in Music Education from Converse University. Mrs. Keeling is the 2021-2022 Teacher of the Year for Chesnee Middle School and Spartanburg School District Two Teacher of the Year!
While at Converse, she studied flute with Dr. Christopher Vanemen, piano under Dr. Douglas Weeks, and horn under Mr. George Wenger. She participated in the Converse Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and various small chamber ensembles. She performed solo works in multiple recitals, master classes, and with the symphony orchestra as the 2014 young artist competition winner. As a student, she had the opportunity travel to Germany, France, and Argentina for various music studies and performances. Prior to her work at Chesnee, she was the Director of Bands at Jonesville and Lockhart Schools in Union County for two years.
Mrs. Keeling’s professional affiliations include the South Carolina Band Director’s Association - where she serve as a member on the Solo and Ensemble Committee, the National Association for Music Educators, and Pi Kappa Lambda. She is currently the flute instructor at Lawson Academy of Converse College and continues performs regularly at her church, Jesus Our Risen Savior and with the Converse Wind Ensemble. She attended Boiling Springs High School and was a member of the Bulldog Marching Band under the direction of late Mr. Bryan Bone. She currently resides in Boiling Springs with her husband, Brad, son Theodore, and their three dogs.
Everett Hopper Jr.
Hendrix Elementary School
Director of Color Guard
Everett Hopper Jr. is a dynamic force in the marching arts, bringing over a decade of experience as both an elite performer and passionate educator. A proud product of the South Carolina marching community, Everett has dedicated his career to pushing performers beyond their limits while building programs rooted in excellence, discipline, and undeniable energy.
​
He began band at Gaffney high school in the 7th grade as a percussionist and did that all the way through high school, then in college be became apart of the historic limestone university march band and limestone independent winter guard in 2015, Then he began his instructional journey at Gaffney High School for (8 years) before expanding his impact at Wade Hampton High School, where he developed a reputation for strong technique training, innovative choreography, and powerful visual storytelling.
​
Now serving as the Director of Guards and Visuals at Chesnee High School, Everett leads with intensity and vision designing captivating performances and cultivating performers who move with confidence, precision, and purpose. His work emphasizes not just clean technique, but emotional connection and performance quality that demands attention.
​
As a performer, Everett has marched with world-class ensembles including Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2016, 2017) and Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps(2015), along with standout performances in District winter guard (2016) and Paramount Winterguard (2026). These elite experiences fuel his high-performance teaching style and commitment to competitive excellence.
​
Outside of the marching field, Everett resides in Boiling Springs, South Carolina, where he serves as a math interventionist at Hendrix Elementary School in Spartanburg School District 2 continuing his mission to inspire growth, confidence, and achievement in every student he teaches.
​
Driven, passionate, and relentless in pursuit of excellence, Everett Hopper Jr. is committed to elevating the next generation of performers and leaving a lasting impact on the colorguard community!
Adjunct Band Staff
Kalei Connors - Co-Director Color Guard
Jeremy Clark - Director of Percussion
Rebekah Rogers - Woodwinds
Miguel Quistian - Brass
Jude Swire-Clark - Brass​​