AAA Band
Aiken Area Akademie Band
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Dr. Todd Jenkins, Director
Dr. Todd Jenkins, a native of North Augusta, was educated at the University of South Carolina (BM), Ithaca College (MM) and Liberty University (Doctor of Music Education), with additional studies at Messiah University, Shenandoah Conservatory and the University of Georgia. Dr. Jenkins currently serves as Director of Instrumental Studies at the University of South Carolina Aiken, where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and Pacer Pulse Pep Band, and teaches courses in conducting and brass methods.
Todd assumed the role of Director of the AAA Homeschool Band (from founders Barb and Roger Rollins) in the Fall of 2026, and brings a wealth of experience working with students of all ages and abilities. A proponent of music for all ages, Todd maintains a private trumpet studio made up of students aged 12 to 78, conducts the CSRA New Horizons Band and the Aiken Concert Band for adult musicians, and serves as a clinician for Sight Reading Factory. Todd also serves on the music staff of Kiokee Baptist Church in Appling, GA, and performs as a member of the trumpet sections of the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and the North Charleston Pops! Todd lives in North Augusta with his wife, Kate (a professional trombonist), their son, Will (a hornist and pianist), and numerous pets.
Kate Jenkins, Administrator
Kate Jenkins received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, and her Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Georgia. She maintains an active low brass studio teaching trombone, euphonium, and tuba, in addition to playing trombone professionally. Kate has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the Augusta Symphony Orchestra, the South Carolina Philharmonic, and has been a member of the King’s Brass, Eurobrass, Crescent Brass, and the Garden City Bones. For six years, Kate was the director of the Augusta University Music Conservatory Program before deciding to be home with her son Will who is homeschooled. When not playing or teaching music, Kate enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, and biking.
Sara Whittenborn, Student Director
The AAA Homeschool Band will be partnering with the Department of Music at USC Aiken to provide an opportunity for Music Education majors to work with the students and ensembles of the AAA Band. This partnership will provide additional resources to the AAA students and provide valuable mentoring opportunities to USCA students preparing to enter the teaching profession. This year, our Student Director will be Sara Wittenborn. Sara is a Senior Music Education major from Aiken, SC. She was a member of the AAA Band for four years and marched as a member of the South Aiken High School Band. She participated in Region Band and USCA Band Clinic Honor Band while in high school and is a student leader in the USCA Wind Ensemble and Pacer Pulse Pep Band. She is excited to return to AAA as an instructor this year, where she will be teaching private lessons, and assisting with group rehearsals and sectionals.
AAA Private Music Lessons
The AAA Band requires regular private instruction and recommends private teachers who are experienced with our mission and curriculum (see list below). Student families are encouraged to contact these teachers first for private instruction.
Students are required to attend regular weekly private lessons. The number of private lessons should be at least equal to the number of scheduled full rehearsals (31 rehearsals during the 2026 – 2027 school year). Students are encouraged to continue lessons throughout the year.
If the teacher(s) listed below are unavailable, the lesson location is not workable, or if family and teacher schedules do not align, please contact Dr. Jenkins for other local teacher suggestions.
Private lessons typically run about $25 per weekly half hour session. Some teachers may have rates slightly higher or lower.
Payment for private lessons will go directly to the private instructor. Payment schedule will be worked out with private instructor.
Make-up lessons and lesson attendance policy will be worked out with private instructor.
For cases of financial need, please contact Dr. Jenkins; there are options for helping to lower the cost of private lessons (group lessons or alternate teachers), which can be addressed on a case-by-case basis.
Private Lesson Faculty
FLUTE
Mallory Williamson
lberley@acpsd.net
Mallory Williamson earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Winthrop University. She served as the Band Director at New Ellenton Middle School for seven years, where her students consistently earned seats in the SCBDA Region 2 Band and All-State Band. They also participated in the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment and Solo & Ensemble Festival, earning Excellent and Superior ratings in both events. Mrs. Williamson performs regularly with the Aiken Concert Band and enjoys camping with her husband and one-eyed dog named Iris!
CLARINET
Zachary Bond
Dr. Zachary Bond serves as Lecturer of Music at the University of South Carolina Aiken, providing instruction in Applied Woodwinds, chamber music, and music humanities courses. Holding degrees from the University of South Carolina Columbia and Newberry College, Dr. Bond performs as a member of the Aiken Symphony Orchestra, the Aiken Civic Orchestra, as Faculty Artist at USC Aiken and as a soloist. He is a sought-after adjudicator and clinician for the ENKOR Competition and the Palmetto Clarinet and Saxophone Festival, the latter of which he is a co-founder. Dr. Bond is also a published educator via his doctoral dissertation on the clarinet music of Dr. Austin Jaquith and serves on webinar and publication projects as a member of the College Music Society Council on Music in General Studies and Online Excursions Committee.
SAXOPHONE
Sara Wittenborn
Sara Wittenborn is a senior music education major at USCA. She played in the AAA homeschool band and marched with South Aiken High School. She now plays in the USCA Jazz band, Wind Ensemble, Aiken Concert Band, and is a leader in the USCA Pep band.
DOUBLE REEDS
Stephanie Threlkeld
Stephanie Threlkeld has a Bachelor of Music Education from Newberry College with K-12 certification and a band focus. For over 25 years, she has taught students of all ages covering a large range of musical topics. Stephanie currently teaches music appreciation classes for all ages at Grace Presbyterian Homeschool Co-op once a week. She can be found assisting with both the Aiken High School Band and the AAA Homeschool Band. She also enjoys teaching private lessons on a variety of wind instruments. More information can be found at www.threlkeldmusic.com.
TRUMPET, FRENCH HORN AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS
Barb Rollins
Trumpet player,1956 to present.University of Illinois graduate: 1969 Bachelor’s in Instrumental Music Education; Masters 1972. 1974 co-founder with husband, Roger, and director of the Aiken Community Band. 1994 co-founder with husband, and director of the AAA Homeschool Band. 2014 founder and director of the South Aiken Baptist Christian School Band.1996 to present private music instructor.
LOW BRASS (TROMBONE/EUPHONIUM/TUBA)
Kate Jenkins
Kate Jenkins received her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Ithaca College in Ithaca, NY, and her Master of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Georgia. She maintains an active low brass studio teaching trombone, euphonium, and tuba, in addition to playing trombone professionally. Kate has performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the Augusta Symphony Orchestra, the South Carolina Philharmonic, and has been a member of the King’s Brass, Eurobrass, Crescent Brass, and the Garden City Bones.
PERCUSSION
Kent Hannibal
Percussionist, Kent Hannibal is an active freelance musician in the CSRA. He is the Principal Timpanist with the Aiken Civic Orchestra, and Principal Percussionist with the Brandywine Brass Ensemble. In addition to performing, he maintains a private teaching studio and is the Percussion Instructor at both Saluda and Fox Creek High Schools. His students consistently receive superior marks at SCBDA Solo and Ensemble Festivals and audition successfully for membership in SCBDA Honor Bands.
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