Matt Rowan is currently in his 23rd year of teaching and is in his fourteenth year at Pearl. He serves as Director of Bands at Pearl High School. Prior to coming to Pearl Dr. Rowan served in the Oxford School District (MS) as Director of Bands and Asst. Director of Bands for nine years. A graduate of Pearl High School, Dr. Rowan received his Bachelor and Masters degree in Music from the University of Mississippi. While earning his degrees, Dr. Rowan participated in the University Band and served that group in several different positions, including Drum Major and Graduate Assistant. Dr. Rowan also received several high honors at the University of Mississippi. These include a receiving a Taylor Medal, the highest academic honor given by the University, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and being inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He was named Most Outstanding Undergraduate Instrumentalist, Most Outstanding Music Education Student, and Most Outstanding Graduate Instrumentalist during his time at the University. 

Dr. Rowan holds a Specialist and Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from William Carey University and is a certified administrator in the State of Mississippi. He had the pleasure of serving as the Section 3 representative on the National Federation of High Schools Music Committee from 2018-2022. Dr. Rowan was named Star Teacher at Pearl High School in 2019. Dr. Rowan is a member of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, is serving on the Executive Board of the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, is a Past President of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, I-55 Band Directors Association and Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association. Dr. Rowan is the 2006 recipient of the A.E. McLain Outstanding Young Band Director Award given by the Mississippi Bandmasters Association and was named Band Director of the Year for 2021-2022 by the East Central Mississippi Band Directors Association. In 2007 Dr. Rowan became a National Board Certified Teacher. Dr. Rowan has been fortunate to serve on the staff of the Mississippi Lions All State Band in 2009, 2013, and 2014. In 2014 Dr. Rowan served as the Head Marching Director for the Mississippi Lions All State Band and guided that group to their 30th International Parade Championship at the International Lions Convention in Toronto, Canada. 

Dr. Rowan’s bands have consistently earned superior ratings on both the state and national level. Dr. Rowan is married to the lovely Mrs. Amye Rowan and they have three daughters, Emily, Katherine, and Miriam. Dr. Rowan currently resides in Pearl, MS, attends McLaurin Heights Baptist Church, and in his spare time enjoys fishing, playing golf and spending time with his wife, daughters, and the various animals his wife has coerced him into allowing into their home.

Nicole Allen is in her 20th year of teaching. Prior to coming to Pearl in 2019, Dr. Allen served ten years as Director of Bands at Purvis High School and four years as an Assistant Director at Brandon High School. While at Purvis her band consistently received superior ratings at State Evaluations and participated in MHSAA Marching Band Championships earning many top Five finishes in class 4A. In 2016 the Purvis Band won the Bronze Medal in Class 4A. Dr. Allen graduated from Pearl High School in 2000. She received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Mississippi in 2005, her Master’s in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2008, and a Doctor of Arts in Music from William Carey University in 2024. In 2015 she earned National Board Certified. Dr. Allen is a past president of the Southeast Mississippi Band Directors' Association, the Mississippi Women Band Directors' Association, and the Mississippi Bandmasters Association. She also served on the SEMBDA board as Executive Secretary from 2017-2019 and as the Mississippi ASBDA Middle School All-State Chair from 2016-2023. She was named SEMBDA High School Band Director of the year for the 2015-2016 school year and was also the Mississippi recipient of School Band and Orchestra Magazine's 2015 "50 Directors Who Make a Difference" award. In 2021 Dr. Allen was named the Outstanding Bandmaster for the State of Mississippi by the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Mu.

Dr. Allen has been fortunate to serve on the the staff of the Mississippi Lions All-State Band in 2008 and from 2014 - present. Over the years she has traveled with the band across the United States as well as to Japan, Italy, Canada, and Australia. In 2021 Dr. Allen received the Gary Cook Outstanding Staff member award for the Mississippi Lions All-State Band. She is a member of the American School Band Directors Association and Phi Beta Mu. Dr. Allen resides in Pearl. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family and traveling.

Aimee Sudduth is in her 24th year of teaching and her eighteenth year at Pearl. After graduating from Quitman High School in 1996, Mrs. Sudduth went to Jones County Junior College for two years, where she was a member of the color guard in the Maroon Typhoon and played clarinet in the Symphonic Band. While she was at JCJC, Mrs. Sudduth had the opportunity to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She then went on to the University of Southern Mississippi and was a member of the color guard and symphonic winds. In 2001 Mrs. Sudduth earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from USM. Mrs. Sudduth also holds a Masters and Specialist in Educational Leadership from William Carey University. Mrs. Sudduth was also selected as Teacher of the Year for Pearl Junior High School in 2014-2015. Prior to coming to Pearl, Mrs. Sudduth worked for six years in the Waynesboro School District. At Wayne County she taught junior high students 6th through 8th grade, was color guard instructor, taught woodwind sectionals, and private lessons. 

In the fall of 2007, Mrs. Sudduth accepted a position in the Pearl Public School District. She teaches all of the woodwinds from 6th grade through 8th grade and she directs the 6th grade band. At the high school she over sees the designs and budget for the fall color guard. The fall guard received 3rd place at state championships in 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the fall guard received 1st place. The winter guard received 2nd place in 2008 and 3rd place in 2010. Mrs. Sudduth has served as a junior high clinician for different band clinics. She is a member of Phi Beta Mu Delta Chapter. Mrs. Sudduth also served on the staff of the 2011 Mississippi Lion’s All-State Band. Mrs. Sudduth is a member of Crossgates Baptist Church where she plays in the orchestra and teaches 2nd grade King Singers. Mrs. Sudduth resides in Pearl with her husband Jacob and two daughters Rebekah and Elizabeth. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and shopping.

Two-thousand and twenty-four marks the beginning of Matt Little’s 18th year of teaching in the Pearl Public School District. His current duties include coordinating all aspects of percussion for the entire district. Since the fall of 2007, Mr. Little has assisted with the teaching of the Pearl Marching Band through preparation of the marching percussion section. Since 2008, Pearl Indoor Percussion has finished lower than third place only twice in the Mississippi Indoor Association, including gold medal finishes in 2009 and 2012 - 2016. This group has competed at the Winter Guard International Percussion World Championships ten times since 2010, making Finals in PSA in 2015, 2017 (winning the Music caption), 2018, and 2022. Pearl Indoor Percussion is a regular finalist at WGI Percussion Regional events. 

Mr. Little has been active in the drum and bugle corps activity, having marched in the Southwind, Bluecoats, and Crossmen drum and bugle corps. He taught with the Troopers of Casper, Wyoming (2000-2001, 2008, 2012) and the (Seattle) Cascades (2002, 2004-2006, 2009-2010). The Seattle Cascades made Finals in Drum Corps International’s Division One in 2002. 

Additionally, he was a snare drum performer with the Bluecoats Alumni Corps in 2022, and will participate in the Crossmen Alumni Corps as a snare drum performer in 2024. Mr. Little earned his Bachelor of Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi in 2001. During his time at USM, he taught and arranged percussion for the University of Southern Mississippi Marching Band. Mr. Little is a supporter of the six-time World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the twenty-seven time World Champion New York Yankees, the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals, the seventeen-time World Champion Boston Celtics, and the four-time National Champion Washington Huskies football team. In his spare time, Mr. Little enjoys spending time with his first wife Sarah and their daughters, Isobel and Carolyn. Mr. Little and his family are members of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson, Mississippi. 

Kragen Lewis is in her first year of teaching. From Moselle, MS, Ms. Lewis is a recent graduate from William Carey University, where she obtained her Master of Music Education Degree. She earned her Bachelor of Music Education Degree from The University of Southern Mississippi, where she was an active member of the Southern Miss Wind Ensemble, Flute Studio, and several non-musical organizations on campus. Ms. Lewis graduated from South Jones High School in 2019. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. 

Dakota Kelso (b. December 21, 1998 in Senatobia, Mississippi) is beginning his first year of teaching at Pearl Public School District and recently received his Master’s of Music in Euphonium performance at the University of Central Arkansas. Before this, he graduated from the University of Mississippi, where he completed a Bachelor’s of Music Education. He also graduated from Northwest Community College, where he received an Associate of Arts degree.

During Mr. Kelso’s time at the University of Central Arkansas, he served as a graduate assistant of the band program and tuba/euphonium studio. During his studies, he was named a semi-finalist for the Leonard Falcone International Tuba and Euphonium Festival in the Solo Artist Division and a semi-finalist for the International Tuba Euphonium Conference in the Small Ensemble Competition.

While at the University of Central Arkansas, Mr. Kelso served as an adjunct brass staff member of Olive Branch High School. During this time, the Olive Branch High School Band were awarded Silver Medalist in Class 6A State Marching Band Championships and obtained superior ratings at State Evaluations. Also, Mr. Kelso helped start the inaugural indoor winds group at Olive Branch High School and was fortunate to be awarded Silver Medalist in Scholastic A Class of the Mississippi Indoor Association Championships.

His professional affiliations include ITEA (International Tuba & Euphonium Association), and IWBC (International Women’s Brass Conference). He is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda Honor Society.

Mr. Kelso and his wife, Elyse Kelso just welcomed their first baby boy Aemon and love to play with their corgis, Kora and Winston. In his free time, Mr. Kelso enjoys playing golf, basketball and is an avid supporter of the two time National Champions Georgia Bulldogs and the Oklahoma City Thunder.