Just two weeks ago, Melisan Sullivan was a Troy University student and band member, but on May 2 she was hired as the new Red Level High School band director.

“I’m very excited,” Sullivan said of her new job. “(Red Level) seems like a really great school and a really great town. I feel like this is going to be a great first job for me.”

Sullivan attended Alma Bryant High School in the Mobile area and during her summers at Troy she coached at summer band camps.

According to Sullivan, she is used to the small town environment and thinks the band program is – and should always be – a huge part of a small town.

“I think it’s essential to these small communities, just like sports, as an after-school program,” she said. “It also helps the kids learn important social skills like leadership.

“I grew up in a small community and the band did parades for the community, and we even played at the opening of stores and restaurants. It brings us together as a community which is really important.”

Sullivan said that she wants to keep the current traditions at Red Level in place while also bringing her own style to the program.

“My goal for the upcoming year is to keep the old traditions in place and to also see where the band is at right now and where I fit in with that,” she said. “I haven’t really developed my own teaching style yet, as this is my first job, but I’m really excited to see how they play and march and how we develop together.”

Along with directing the band, Sullivan will also be teaching beginners band, elementary music and an art survey class at the high school.

The Red Level community’s first opportunity to meet their new band director will be this Thursday at a special meet and greet in the Red Level High School Band Room at 7 p.m.

“I’m so excited to see the kids and parents and I just can’t wait to see how excited they are,” she said. “I’m looking forward to teaching music and sharing music with all of these kids and working with their parents.

“I know the community is great and they’re going to be supportive of the program and the students,” she said.