Allen back at THS as new band director
By Arthur McLean Editor

Jerrel Allen

When the Thomasville Tiger band takes to the stands and the field Friday night at D.F. Anderson Field, it won't be unfamiliar territory for the new band director.

In fact, it will be more like a homecoming for Jerrel Allen. A native of Thomasville, Allen played in the THS band and was the drum major in 1998 when he graduated from high school.

After graduating, he went to the University of South Alabama and studied music, getting both his Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree from the school.

He took a business minor at the school joking, "I was a stubborn youth and didn't do music education as my minor despite what everyone said."

After graduating, Allen felt the pull towards teaching and decided to take the follow up courses necessary to get a teaching certificate at the University of West Alabama.

From there, he returned to the area, teaching at Sweet Water High School and becoming the music director at Thomasville Church of God in Christ.

"I was at Sweet Water for three years and they are great people and it's a great community," Allen said. "There's a lot of support there. It was a hard decision to leave."

But he felt the pull of his alma mater.

Allen said he was very close to Crist Sperling, the former band director at Thomasville. "He's been a good friend and a mentor to me. It was a decision to come back and be a positive contribution to the program and it was a good move for my family."

"It was wild coming back, I told the kids I needed a couple of weeks prior to band camp just to get over the shock," he said. "Ten years after being the drum major to come back and be driving the ship, is really something."

Allen said he has had a great reception back at the school and the transition has been smooth.

His goals are to restore the passion for playing in the band, improve discipline and get the kids serious about marching band again. "Talents not a problem here, we just need to instill some discipline and pride. I want a band we can all be proud of."

Allen has a wife, Kimesha, and the two have been married for six years. They are expecting their first child.

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