Center Hill Bands

Len Killough is in his fourth year as Director of Bands at Center Hill Band Program. Mr. Killough was fortunate enough to be the founding band director of Center Hill High School in the fall of 2006. Under his direction, the band has grown from 40 to over 100 members. Center Hill High School band has received superior ratings in all aspects of performance. Mr. Killough is currently the Music Director of Gracewood Baptist Church in Southaven. Before becoming Director of Bands at Center Hill, Mr. Killough served as Junior High Band Director at Winona High School in Winona, Mississippi. While at Winona, Mr. Killough's bands received superior ratings at the state level. Mr. Killough holds bachelor degrees in instrumental and vocal music education from Delta State University. He holds a Master in Music Education degree from the University of Mississippi. Mr. Killough is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Theta Kappa, MENC, Pi Kappa Lambda, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, past president of the I-55 Band Association and Hernando-Desoto Band Association. Mr. Killough is active as an adjudicator and clinician throughout Mississippi. Mr. Killough is married to Allyson Killough, an administrator at Olive Branch High School.  The Killoughs have a son named Noah.

  Jim Jolley - Middle School bands

Jim Jolley is currently in his fourth year at Center Hill High School. Jim previously taught at Southaven High School, Manchester Academy, and Horn Lake High School before coming to Center Hill. Jim was an Honor Graduate from Horn Lake High School. He also holds an Associate of Arts from Northwest Community College, a Bachelors of Music from Mississippi State University, and a Masters of Music Education from The University of Mississippi. Jim is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, MENC, the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, past president of the I-55 Band Association and the Hernando Desoto Band Directors Association, and the Gideons International. In his spare time, Jim is a 1st degree Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and enjoys working with music technology. Jim is married to the former Janet McLarty, who is the County Agent for Marshall County. They have two sons, Blake (11) and Jonathan (7), 1 dog and a bunch of cats.

 Kerry Matthews has been employed with DeSoto County Schools for ten years and is currently the 5th grade science teacher at Center Hill Elementary School. She graduated from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee in 1991 and was a graduate from the Union High School band program in the late 80's. Kerry was guard captain during Union's famous 1987 "Mannequin" show which won the WGI Scholastic World Championship and is listed in the WGI Fan's Favorites Volume 1. She is married to Chandler Matthews and has two children, Gavin (15) and Becka (10).