Damon Barnes

Mr. Barnes is the Band Director at Southeast Lauderdale High School. He has served in this
capacity for 1 year. He also serves as the Band Director at Southeast Lauderdale Middle School. He has served in that position for 1 year, as well. He teaches the Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble at the high school.

Before Mr. Barnes came to SEHS, he served as an Assistant Band Director and Percussion Instructor at Meridian High School. He attended The University of West Alabama where he earned a bachelor’s degree. During his tenure at MHS, he went on to earn a master’s degree from Mississippi State University. Mr. Barnes is originally from Demopolis, AL, where he attended Demopolis High School. He played trumpet and percussion under William Barnes, Jr. at Demopolis High school. He is a member of the Mississippi Bandmaster’s Association, National Association for Music Educators, and the National Band Association. Mr. Barnes is currently serving as the President of the East Central Mississippi Band Directors Association (ECMBDA). Mr. Barnes has judged tryouts for many clinics. He has judged for the Mississippi State Band Clinic and been the head judge, ECMBDA District Clinic and been the head judge, and Lauderdale Co. Honor Band Clinic for several years. He has also served as Percussion Chairman at the Mississippi State Band Clinic, ECMBDA District Band Clinic, and Lauderdale Co. Honor Band Clinic.

While at Meridian High School, Mr. Barnes led his percussion groups to Superior ratings for every year while he was at Meridian. During his 1st year here at Southeast Lauderdale, he led the SEHS Band Program to All Superior Ratings in Marching, Concert, and Sight-Reading and the SEMS Band Program to All Excellent Ratings in Concert. Also, the SEHS band qualified and represented the Southeast Lauderdale community in the MHSAA Class 3A State Marching Band Championship held @ Germantown H.S.

He has also assisted many students to graduate and further pursue higher education at the collegiate level and receive degrees. Many of those students chose to go on to pursue a major in music. His love for music is shown in his enthusiasm for music and in the way he teaches young adolescents. He loves spending time with his family, traveling and enjoying outdoor sports activities.