About the Fort Mill High School Band

Fort Mill, SC opened its first public school in 1910 and its first separate high school in 1930. Instrumental music was added to the curriculum in 1949, and the Fort Mill High School Band was born.

Ben Stevenson, the band's first director (1949–53), helped establish the marching band as a fixture at football games, parades, and civic events. After 22 years of exhibition performances, the marching band started competing in 1972, with the arrival of John DeLoach as band director.

Under Mr. DeLoach's leadership the band earned its first superior rating at concert festival and its first state marching championship. Since that 1976 title, the band has won 23 more state championships across three classes. The school grew from 500 students to over 2,000 until a second high school opened in 2007; the campus has moved and the band has changed directors seven times since 1972, but the program has stayed stable and successful at the highest level of competition.

The Fort Mill High School Band has been a source of community pride for over 75 years. Whether at a home football game, a college stadium, or a world-famous parade, we are committed to excellence in music, marching, and personal conduct. We build the program on seven core values —selflessness, integrity, respect, peace, loyalty, unity, maturity — and believe this system helps shape our students into strong leaders.