T.J. Shank
director of bands
T.J. Shank is the Director of Bands at Cane Bay High School, where he directs the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and Percussion Ensemble.
Prior to joining the faculty at Cane Bay, Mr. Shank was Director of Bands at AC Flora High School for eight years and Hilton Head Island High School for three years, where his bands received consistent superior and excellent ratings. While at AC Flora High School, the school received its first superior ratings in concert band in over twenty years, and the jazz band received its first superior ratings in school history. AC Flora saw its first students selected to the All State Jazz Band in school history, placed several students in to the All State Band, and the band nearly doubled in size. The AC Flora High School band also performed at the State Teacher of the Year Banquet and performed a joint concert with the University of South Carolina Left Bank Big Band.
While at Hilton Head Island High School, the band doubled in size, had students in the All State Band for the first time in over a decade, and Mr. Shank was named Rookie Teacher of the Year. The Hilton Head Island High School band also performed at the Concours d’Elegance Motoring Festival, the Savannah Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, and hosted joint concerts with the Florida State University Jazz Combo and the Armstrong Atlantic State University Percussion Ensemble.
Maintaining an active schedule as a trumpet player, Mr. Shank has performed with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and the Palmetto Concert Band, with several groups at the Jazz Corner on Hilton Head, and performed in five Broadway shows at the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina.
Mr. Shank received his Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in education from the University of South Carolina in 2007. While at USC, Mr. Shank was a member of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Trumpet Ensemble, and the Left Bank Big Band. He studied trumpet under Dr. Keith Amstutz and Mr. Tony Roebuck.
Mr. Shank’s professional affiliations include the South Carolina Band Director’s Association, National Association for Music Education, South Carolina Music Educators Association, the Jazz Education Network, the International Trumpet Guild, the National Band Association, and the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
He currently resides in Summerville, South Carolina with his wife Stephanie, a visual art teacher at Summerville High School, and their dog Ella.
Monica Overstreet
assistant director of bands
Monica E. Overstreet, from Graniteville, South Carolina is the current Director of Bands at Cane Bay Middle School and the Assistant Director of Bands at Cane Bay High School in Summerville, South Carolina. Under her direction, the Bands at Cane Bay Middle School have grown exponentially and are establishing a tradition of excellence in SCBDA sanctioned events.
Prior to her appointment at Cane Bay Middle School, Ms. Overstreet attended the University of South Carolina at Aiken, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Instrumental Music Education. During her time at the University of South Carolina at Aiken, she studied flute under Teri Forscher-Milter and Tammy Evans Yonce, performed as a member of the Wind Ensemble, Athletic Band, and Aiken Concert Band. Ms. Overstreet also served as the assistant to the Director of Bands and Director of Choral Activities.
Ms. Overstreet’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, The National Band Association, Women Band Directors International, South Carolina Music Educators Association, The South Carolina Bands Directors Association, Kappa Delta Pi, and the South Carolina Flute Society.
She currently resides in Summerville, South Carolina with her Morkiepoo named Mindie.
Brian Trauger
assistant director of bands
Mr. Trauger is the Director of Bands and Related Arts Department Chair at Sangaree Middle School in Ladson, SC. Prior to this appointment he was Director of Bands at North Charleston High School in North Charleston, SC for four years. While working at North Charleston High School Mr. Trauger also served as an associate conductor for The Youth Orchestra of the Lowcountry, Fine Arts Department Chair and as a High Schools That Work Group Leader. Under his direction, the Sangaree Middle School Band has earned numerous superior ratings at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment and the Carowinds Festival of Music. Students in the SRM Bands have earned numerous chairs in county and region honor bands and consistently earn superior ratings at Solo and Ensemble Festival.
Mr. Trauger was selected as “Rookie Teacher of the Year” for North Charleston High School in 2008 and was named “Teacher of the Year” in 2010.
Mr. Trauger studied jazz performance at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA before transferring to the University of South Carolina where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Education. Mr. Trauger recently earned a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Leadership from Charleston Southern University and is currently working toward a doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from The University of South Carolina. He is an active freelance performer and clinician in the Charleston area. Mr. Trauger’s professional affiliations include The National Association for Music Education, The South Carolina Band Director’s Association, The National Band Association, The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the American School Band Directors Association.