Jenei Peterson is a fourth-year band director. Mr. Peterson graduated from the Illustrious Claflin University, receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. He is working on his Master of Music Education from North Greenville University. Mr. Peterson is responsible for all the bands at Southside, including the newly formed Grizzly Ensemble (the Jazz Band). Mr. Peterson also serves as the Assistant Director for the South Florence High School Band program, where he works with Mr. Michael Lloyd. Mr. Peterson strives to make students better people through music education.  Outside of teaching, he enjoys spending time with his girlfriend Zahria and daughter Ziyah!

Mr. Kevin McCormick is a native of Rock Hill, SC. He attended Coker College where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance. He was eventually hired as the director of the Coker Men’s Vocal Ensemble. Interested in advanced training, Mr. McCormick attended Messiah University in Pennsylvania where he received a Master of Music degree in choral conducting. He is in his second year as the assistant director of the Florence Masterworks Choir. He is excited for his first year at Southside.

The student should be able to complete the following tasks:

• March to a steady beat.
• Echo clap with accuracy.
• Determine if a pitch is higher or lower.
• Sing the National Anthem (in whatever key is comfortable for you).
• Vocalize on “Loo” to determine vocal range.
• Sight read a very simple melodic pattern on Solfege.  
• Sight read a very simple rhythmic pattern on Ta-ka-di-mi.

Contact Mr. McCormick at kmccormick@fsd1.org if you have any questions.

Click here for the rubric grading scale for your discipline area. 

Mr. Sarmiento was born in Manila, Philippines and raised in Florence, SC. He is an artist who creates pieces about the intersection between art and technology. He hopes to inspire the next generation of artists to become critical thinkers. With the rise of AI, it’s important to be aware of how to use tools, whether physical or digital, for understanding the human condition. Mr. Sarmiento spends his weekends at Acline Studios in Lake City, SC as part of ArtFields year-round program. He exhibited at the Florence County Museum and Gately Gallery. His favorite video game is Kingdom Hearts II. He also enjoys the webcore (early internet) aesthetic. 

Education

He attended the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Greenville, SC in 2017. He later completed a Bachelors of Fine Arts at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art in New York City in 2022.

The portfolio (in Google Slides) will include:

1. A composition of black and white shapes made with Google Drawing - saved as a PNG image
2. Concrete poetry, a collage of text on paper (take a picture of the work on a flat surface with nice lighting)
3. Free media piece: video (2 min. max), animation (2 min. max), digital drawing or painting on the subject of machine-made vs hand-made
4. A description of the free media piece describing your concept and process: 5 sentences min.

Click here for the rubric grading scale for your discipline area. 

Contact lsarmiento@fsd1.org for more information.

Ruth Gray started playing in Orchestra in the 6th grade on the viola, by the time she was in the 9th grade, she knew she wanted to be an orchestra teacher like her teacher at the time. In middle and high school she learned how to play the clarinet, bass clarinet, mallet percussion, and trombone. She participated in the local youth orchestra in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and also participated in the pit orchestra at her school’s yearly musicals. After high school, Ms. Gray attended Carthage College in Kenosha, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a double emphasis in Instrumental Education and Instrumental Performance on Viola. During her time in Carthage, she also learned how to play the violin, cello, and double bass. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Ms. Gray worked as a substitute teacher in a middle school in Kenosha, where she fell in love with teaching middle school. In 2022, Ms. Gray moved to Tallahassee, Florida to attend Florida State University’s masters program where she obtained her Master’s in Music Education, with a focus on string education. During this time, she co-taught orchestra at two local schools in Tallahassee and also taught private lessons. While Ms. Gray is here at Southside, she hopes to provide students with some of the same opportunities she had growing up such as: playing in a full orchestra, traveling for competitions, and doing side-by-side with high school, college, and professional musicians in Florence.

Placement will be based on the applicant's level of understanding, skill, and interest level. 

The (experienced) student will be asked to:

• Perform an unaccompanied solo demonstrating a high level of ability from Suzuki book 2 or  3. Students will need to bring two (2) copies of their sheet music for Ms. Gray. If you would like to substitute a different solo, please e-mail Ruth Gray (rgray@fsd1.org) for clearance.
  • Violin/Viola: Suzuki Bk 2 - #10 Gavotte or #11 Minuet in G. Suzuki Bk 3 - #4 Humoresque or #5 Gavotte
  • Cello: Suzuki Bk 2 - #7 Musette from English Suite No. 3 or #9 Theme from Witches' Dance. Suzuki Bk 3 - #2  Gavotte or #4 Scherzo
  • Bass: Suzuki Bk 2 - #2 French Folk Song or #6 Etude.
• Perform a major and minor two octave scale. D, G, or C major scale and B, E, or A minor scale. *1 octave scale for Double Basses. 
  • Students auditioning for Orchestra could possibly be placed in the Orchestra II class depending on level of musical skills. 
• Students should prepare all six scales and one will be selected at the audition. 
• Perform a short sight-reading example after being given a short time to quietly review it.
• Take a music theory quiz to show understanding of basic musical symbols, vocabulary, and reading skills. 
• Answer questions about his/her musical experience in an interview with Ms. Gray.

Prior experience in strings/orchestra is encouraged but not required for Orchestra I. 

The beginner student will be asked to:

• Choose an orchestral instrument: violin, viola, cello, bass
• Explain why he/she wants to learn to play that instrument
• Describe how being part of a musical ensemble is like being on any other team (responsibility and dependency on others) and how he/she can be a good team member
• Take a beginner-level music theory quiz to show what is remembered from elementary music classes
• Explain why he/she wants to be a part of the Academy at Southside Middle School
• Describe any meaningful music experiences (school-related or not)

Click here for the rubric grading scale for your discipline area. 

This is Ms. Voss' 26th year teaching with degrees in Journalism and English Literature. She teaches Fine Arts Academy Photography classes as well as Introduction to Photography Classes.

Students should submit:

• three (3) photographs either electronically in a Google Slide document, or printed in a 5x7 format and mounted on cardstock.
• Photos should be of the following: 1) Portrait, 2) Landscape, 3) Free form (student chooses).
• Photos can be taken with either camera or high resolution cell phone.
• Students will  be provided with a camera for the course, or may use their own approved SLR digital camera for use.
• Elements of Writing will be incorporated into the course.
• Prior photography courses are not required; however, interest and basic knowledge are a plus. Contact Robin Voss at rvoss@fsd1.org if you have questions.

Click here for the rubric grading scale for your discipline area. *visual art rubric*

Ruth Gray started playing in Orchestra in the 6th grade on the viola, by the time she was in the 9th grade, she knew she wanted to be an orchestra teacher like her teacher at the time. In middle and high school she learned how to play the clarinet, bass clarinet, mallet percussion, and trombone. She participated in the local youth orchestra in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and also participated in the pit orchestra at her school’s yearly musicals. After high school, Ms. Gray attended Carthage College in Kenosha, and obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with a double emphasis in Instrumental Education and Instrumental Performance on Viola. During her time in Carthage, she also learned how to play the violin, cello, and double bass. After completing her bachelor’s degree, Ms. Gray worked as a substitute teacher in a middle school in Kenosha, where she fell in love with teaching middle school. In 2022, Ms. Gray moved to Tallahassee, Florida to attend Florida State University’s masters program where she obtained her Master’s in Music Education, with a focus on string education. During this time, she co-taught orchestra at two local schools in Tallahassee and also taught private lessons. While Ms. Gray is here at Southside, she hopes to provide students with some of the same opportunities she had growing up such as: playing in a full orchestra, traveling for competitions, and doing side-by-side with high school, college, and professional musicians in Florence.

Adrien McClintock is a 24-year-old passionate new middle school teacher with a diverse background in music performance and education. He plays bass, guitar, and piano, showcasing his versatility as a musician. Adrien had the honor of singing at Carnegie Hall with the Francis Marion University Chorus opened for "King George" marking a high point in his performance career. Adrien also plays bass at Trinity Missionary Baptist Church in Sumter, SC.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Industry Performance from Francis Marion University in Fall 2023. Adrien is also a dedicated member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he upholds values of leadership, scholarship, and service.

As an educator, Adrien aims to inspire the next generation of musicians and foster a love for the arts in his students, drawing on his own experiences in both performance and music industry studies.

Students auditioning for Piano could possibly be placed in the Piano II class depending on their level of musical skills.  

Placement will be based on the applicant's level of understanding, skill, and interest level. 

Students with experience on the piano will be asked to:

Play a solo song/piece they would like to play

Perform a short sight-reading example after being given a short time to review it

Answer Questions about his/her experience with music

The beginner student will be asked to:

Explain why he/she wants to learn to play piano

Take a beginner-level music theory quiz to show what is remembered from elementary music classes

Explain why he/she wants to be a part of the Academy at Southside Middle School

Describe any meaningful music experiences (school-related or not)

Click here for the rubric grading scale for your discipline area. 

Jayla Frieson graduated from Francis Marion University with a major in theater design and a minor in African and African American Studies. During her time in college, she was actively involved in various organizations, serving as the executive chair of the Campus Activities Board, a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, FMU Diplomats, and the NAACP. Ms. Frieson has a deep passion for theater and the arts. Her favorite role was Armelia McQueen in Ain’t Misbehavin. Be sure to catch her onstage in "Cats the Musical" at Florence Little Theatre. 

The student will perform a monologue provided by the Drama Department.

• There are two choices for female monologue and two for male monologue (at the bottom of the page). The student should choose the monologue they feel most comfortable performing. The monologues and scoring rubric may be downloaded from below.
• The student should provide a brief creative introduction that includes the author, title, and theme of the piece.
• The monologue should be memorized. No makeup or costumes are permitted.
• A chair and a small table will be provided but students must provide their own hand props.
• An interview with the judges will follow the performance. Contact Jayla Frieson (jfrieson@fsd1.org) if you have questions.

Click here for the rubric grading scale for your discipline area. 

Female Monologue 1: Stepsister

Female Monologue 2: Ellen

Male Monologue 1: Genie

Male Monologue 2: Wolf

Emily Viering is a Florence County native and product of Florence One Schools, graduating from South Florence High School in 2018. She received her Bachelors of Science in Art Education from Francis Marion University in 2022. In December of 2023, she received her Masters of Education in Learning Disabilities from Francis Marion University. Emily is primarily a 3D artist with a special interest in ceramics. She also serves as the Fine Arts department chair on the school leadership team. Emily’s main goal is to bring a well-rounded visual art education to her students and inspire them to become lifelong learners and problem solvers who follow their passions. 

Interview and prepared portfolio:

• Total of four (4) works created within the past year.
• Artwork must consist of one landscape, one portrait, one still life, and one student choice.
• Works must represent a minimum of two (2) art mediums. Samples of multimedia artwork could include pencil, pen, ink, acrylic, oil, watercolor, crayon, pastel, sculpture, ceramics, carving, or a photograph of any 3-D work. 
• No copyright images can be included, for example, Walt Disney or anime characters may not be used.
• Artwork can be brought in a portfolio or large folder that will hold all of the work. 
• Contact Emily Viering eviering@fsd1.org. 

Click here for the rubric grading scale for your discipline area.