Garrick Dante Rivers is a native of Atlanta, GA where his passion for music began at an early age. While studying from various musicians, mentors and directors around the country such as Mr. Anthony J. Maiello and Dr. Marvin Pryor, he went on to graduate from Stephenson High School under the Musical direction of Mr. Nelson L. Render.Upon graduation, Mr. Rivers went on to study Music Education at South Carolina State University.

 

While attending SCSU he Studied Tuba with Mr. Joseph Celmer, Conducting Methods with Mr. Eddie Ellis, Orchestration and Arranging with Mr. Benjamin McKnight and Band Pageantry with Mr. Eddie Ellis. Mr. Rivers was a very successful musician and student leader, participating in a number of musical ensembles and organizations such as Student Director and Arranger for the “Marching 101” Band, Brass Quintet, Principle Tuba in the SCSU Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, President of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity Inc., and President of Collegiate Music Educators National Conference (CMENC) SCSU Chapter.

 

Mr. Rivers began his teaching career in 2010 at Martin Luther King, Jr. High School in Lithonia, GA as the Assistant Director of Bands. He has also taught at Stone Mountain Middle and High School as the Director of Bands in the Dekalb County School District and currently serves at the Assistant Band Director at South Carolina State University. Mr. Rivers is currently enrolled in the Masters of Music Education Program at Anderson University in Anderson,

 

South Carolina.As the Band Director of the Charleston Marching Bulls it his personal goal to utilize a visionary approach with a dependable formula to help students succeed in all future endeavors. As an eager and creative educator, he believes that all students can learn, perform and thrive in a musical learning environment that are structured for growth, comforting to the ear and appropriate to their unique talents and abilities. Ultimately Mr. Rivers would like to serve as a positive male role model for students in the field of music, along with the community where he works.