Band Directors
Bobby Cotter - Coordinator of District 7 Band Activities, Director of Bands at SHS
Bobby Cotter grew up in a family of band directors and musicians. His father, Bob, and mother, Donna, both taught here in South Carolina as well as Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. His little brother teaches in Spartanburg District 5 and his older brothers have taught all over South Carolina. Mr. Cotter graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Music Performance then attended Louisiana State University where he earned a M.M. in music performance. While working on a D.M.A. at LSU, Mr. Cotter also played with the Louisiana Philharmonic and began teaching at Southeast Louisiana University. In 2009 he joined the U.S. Army as a 42R Bandsman. Five years later he went back to school at Furman University to get an Education Certificate and began teaching.
Mr. Cotter's main instrument is horn and he tries to maintain an active playing career outside of teaching. Prior to becoming a teacher he held positions with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Augusta Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Fayetteville Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic. He also loves gardening and cooking. He lives in the Spartanburg area with his wife, Patricia Taylor, who teaches elementary music and his two dogs, Samson and Arthur.
Mr. Cotter's main instrument is horn and he tries to maintain an active playing career outside of teaching. Prior to becoming a teacher he held positions with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Augusta Symphony, Baton Rouge Symphony, Fayetteville Symphony, and the Louisiana Philharmonic. He also loves gardening and cooking. He lives in the Spartanburg area with his wife, Patricia Taylor, who teaches elementary music and his two dogs, Samson and Arthur.
Jeff Key - Assistant Director at SHS
Jeff Key grew up in Pickens, SC and began learning about music at an early age. Both of his parents were local performing musicians. Dr. Key spent much of his childhood in a band room tagging along with his father who was a high school band director. His father also owned and operated a small recording company that produced recordings for many local bands, Furman University, and state performance events sponsored by the SCBDA.
Dr. Key earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina where he studied tuba and music education. During his time in undergrad, he performed with the UofSC Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Left Bank Jazz Band, and USC Brass. During the summer months of undergrad education, Dr. Key was a member of The Cadet's Drum and Bugle Corps. As a member of The Cadets, Dr. Key served as a section leader, won a world championship, and earned the Distinguished Member Award for 2005. Dr. Key began teaching in Union County in 2011. He spent seven years there and served as Director of Bands from 2015-2018. Dr. Key has a Master of Music Education degree from North Greenville University and a Doctorate in Professional Leadership from Converse. Jeff Key is excited to be a part of the Viking band program!
Dr. Key earned his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina where he studied tuba and music education. During his time in undergrad, he performed with the UofSC Marching Band, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Left Bank Jazz Band, and USC Brass. During the summer months of undergrad education, Dr. Key was a member of The Cadet's Drum and Bugle Corps. As a member of The Cadets, Dr. Key served as a section leader, won a world championship, and earned the Distinguished Member Award for 2005. Dr. Key began teaching in Union County in 2011. He spent seven years there and served as Director of Bands from 2015-2018. Dr. Key has a Master of Music Education degree from North Greenville University and a Doctorate in Professional Leadership from Converse. Jeff Key is excited to be a part of the Viking band program!
Matt McDaniel - Drayton Mills Elementary, Jesse Boyd Elementary, Pine Street Elementary
Matthew B. McDaniel has served as the Elementary Band Coordinator for Spartanburg District 7 since 2006. Mr. McDaniel currently teaches band at McCracken Middle School as well as Boyd and Pine Street Elementary Schools. He is proud to be the director of the Spartanburg High School Percussion Ensemble.Raised in Conyers, Georgia, Matt graduated from Georgia State University in 1997 having student taught at Cobb County's Mabry Middle School. While earning his degree he was fortunate to have worked with some of the finest high schools and independent percussion programs in the Atlanta area. In 2004, he graduated with a Master of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and received National Board Certification in 2011. Matt considers himself blessed with having studied with many of the finest music education and percussion professors, including Dr. Thomas Goolsby, Dr. Thomas Wubbenhorst, Mr. Jack Bell, Mr. John Lawless, Dr. Thomas Fraschillo, Dr. John Wooton, Dr.Jennifer Shank, and Dr. Charles Elliott.As a percussionist, Matt was a member of the 1993 Spirit of Georgia and 1994 Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps, and a player instructor of the 1995 Atlanta Rhythm Machine - the WGI Independent World Class Indoor Drum Line Champion. He was honored to be selected as a featured marimba soloist for the Evenlyn Glennie master class during the 1994 Percussive Arts Society International Clinic in Atlanta. In 1998, Matt was one of the 164 marimbists in the Marimba Festival Orchestra in West Point, conducted by Frederick Fennell.He is a member of many professional music associations: the National Association for Music Educators, the South Carolina Music Educators Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association, and the Percussive Arts Society.Matt and his wonderful wife Adena perform as the co-Principal Percussionists for the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra; and they have two wonderful sons, Killian and Finnigan.
Sharon Atherton - Cleveland Elementary, EP Todd Elementary, Mary H. Wright Elementary
Sharon Atherton is a native of Charleston, SC. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and received a Masters in Flute Performance from Converse College. Mrs. Atherton has been a member of the District Seven band staff since 2010. Prior to teaching in District 7, Mrs. Atherton served as Director of Bands at Oakbrook Preparatory School, Pacolet Junior High School, and as an assistant at Broome High School. Additional teaching responsibilities have included numerous theatrical productions, general music, and high school chorus. Bands under Mrs. Atherton's baton have received Superior ratings at state and regional festivals and the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award. Her students have earned positions annually in Region and All-state bands and many have gone on to careers in music. She has performed with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Carolina Wind Orchestra, the Spartanburg Community Band, and numerous church orchestras in the Spartanburg area. From 2003-2010, Mrs. Atherton served as Director of Personnel and Operations with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Mrs. Atherton's professional affiliations include the National Band Association, NAfME, SCBDA, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. Mrs. Atherton is married to David Atherton and has three children, Greg, Steven, and Kelly, who have all participated in the Spartanburg High School band program.
Janet Kuntz - McCracken Middle School
Janet Kuntz has been teaching public school music for 35 years. With experience teaching high school and middle school band, chorus, jazz band, and orchestra, Mrs. Kuntz brings much diversity to the podium. She is a graduate of Furman University, earned the Master of Music Performance degree (flute) from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL, and is a National Board Certified Music Teacher.
A native of Largo, Florida, Mrs. Kuntz has taught music in Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina. She has performed locally with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra and is a member of the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg. Additionally, Mrs. Kuntz conducted the orchestra for the Spartanburg Repertory Company’s 2002 production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” and conducted the SCBDA Region 3 Junior Concert Band in 2007. Janet was named 2008 “Teacher Of The Year” at Ewing Middle School in Gaffney, and has been nominated to “Who’s Who Among American Women” and “Who’s Who Among American Teachers.” Mrs. Kuntz recently served as an adjudicator for the Florida Flute Association Young Artist Competition, and is a member of NAfME, SCMEA, SCBDA, and Phi Beta Mu. She is married to fellow musician and conductor of the Spartanburg High School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Jeff Kuntz. Mrs. Kuntz has a 16 year-old-son, John who is a Sophomore at SHS, and 2 Turkish Angora fur babies, DC and Fine’.
A native of Largo, Florida, Mrs. Kuntz has taught music in Mississippi, Florida, and South Carolina. She has performed locally with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra and is a member of the Chancel Choir at First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg. Additionally, Mrs. Kuntz conducted the orchestra for the Spartanburg Repertory Company’s 2002 production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro,” and conducted the SCBDA Region 3 Junior Concert Band in 2007. Janet was named 2008 “Teacher Of The Year” at Ewing Middle School in Gaffney, and has been nominated to “Who’s Who Among American Women” and “Who’s Who Among American Teachers.” Mrs. Kuntz recently served as an adjudicator for the Florida Flute Association Young Artist Competition, and is a member of NAfME, SCMEA, SCBDA, and Phi Beta Mu. She is married to fellow musician and conductor of the Spartanburg High School Symphony and Chamber Orchestras, Jeff Kuntz. Mrs. Kuntz has a 16 year-old-son, John who is a Sophomore at SHS, and 2 Turkish Angora fur babies, DC and Fine’.
Akeem Downs - Carver Middle School
Akeem J. Downs is a native of Duncan, South Carolina. He attended James F. Byrnes High School and was a member of the Byrnes Bands under the direction of C. Philip McIntyre. Mr. Downs holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Winthrop University and a Masters of Education from Southern Wesleyan University. At Winthrop, Mr. Downs studied conducting with Dr. William Malambri and Dr. Lorrie Crochet, and percussion with Dr. B. Michael Williams and Dr. Jason Nicholson. At Winthrop, Mr. Downs performed in the Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Olde English Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, the Association of Ebonites Gospel Choir and sang in the Winthrop Chorale.
Mr. Downs has previously served as Director of Bands at Chesnee High School, Chapman High School, Lake View Middle/High School, Newberry High School, and served as Director of Bands at Gray Court-Owings Middle School, Hickory Tavern Middle School, as well as Assistant Band Director at Laurens District 55 High School, where his bands were state marching band finalist and ensembles under his direction received excellent and superior ratings. Mr. Downs is a member of the South Carolina Band Director's Association (SCBDA), South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Outside of band, Mr. Downs serves at the Senior Pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. Mr. Downs is married to Mrs. Latoya Downs and has three daughters.
You can hear Mr. Downs on "The Horsemen Band Podcast" on your favorite streaming platform and on Buzzsprout.
Mr. Downs has previously served as Director of Bands at Chesnee High School, Chapman High School, Lake View Middle/High School, Newberry High School, and served as Director of Bands at Gray Court-Owings Middle School, Hickory Tavern Middle School, as well as Assistant Band Director at Laurens District 55 High School, where his bands were state marching band finalist and ensembles under his direction received excellent and superior ratings. Mr. Downs is a member of the South Carolina Band Director's Association (SCBDA), South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Outside of band, Mr. Downs serves at the Senior Pastor at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Spartanburg, SC. Mr. Downs is married to Mrs. Latoya Downs and has three daughters.
You can hear Mr. Downs on "The Horsemen Band Podcast" on your favorite streaming platform and on Buzzsprout.