Leadership + Band
Single Hero
Band Director
Mr. Clayton M. Griffin Jr. is the current Henderson Collegiate High School Band Director. He is a trumpet player born and raised in Elizabeth City, NC. At the young age of 4 years old, he began having an interest in music. He was a member of both his middle and high school band programs. He was truly opened to the world of music and all of its capabilities after building a strong connection with his high school band director. Mr. Griffin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. While studying music, he had a concentration in trumpet studies under the professorship of Mr. Thomas G. Warner Jr.
Once he began his collegiate career, he soon began to show his love for jazz. He became a trumpet player for the University Jazz Ensemble "Friends of Jazz". He studied jazz under Professor Mondre Moffett. Mr. Griffin has also had appearances with the Blue and Gold Marching Machine of NC A&T. He is a fervent advocate for music education. He believes that music should be available to students of all backgrounds, ethnic groups, and races in schools all over the world. With that, he thinks that every student should have the opportunity to learn just how propitious music can be through everyday living. He loves working with students to help them find their passion for music. Formerly, Mr. Griffin was a middle school band director before assuming the role of High School Band Director at HCHS.
Mr. Griffin has served as the High School Band Director since the 2019-2020 school year.
Auxiliary Director
Ms. Toni Spence is the current Auxiliary Instructor for the "Pride of Sound". She also serves her primary role at Henderson Collegiate as a School Counselor. Although a native of Chesapeake, VA, Ms. Spence spent most of her childhood in Elizabeth City, NC. It was there that she quickly developed a passion for performing arts. Ms. Spence was strongly into cheer all throughout her youth. It wasn't until her 8th grade year she was exposed to majorette-style dancing. Her older sister was a part of the local High School Marching Band. With her sister being in band, she found herself often tagged into the world of band which created a passion she never knew she would have.
The summer going into her freshman year of high school, Ms. Spence decided to audition for the High School Marching Band's Color Guard Team. From there Ms. Spence truly found a strong love for band and color guard specifically. During her time in the marching band, Ms. Spence earned leadership roles that helped her further her talents in dance and color guard.
Ms. Spence holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Education from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Master of School Counseling degree from Salem College.
Ms. Spence has served as the first-ever and sole Pride of Sound Auxiliary Director since the 2021-2022 school year.
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2024-2025 Student Leadership
Heavenly Allen
Drum Major
The Pride of Sound is super excited to introduce our 2024-2025 Drum Major, Heavenly Allen of the Pride of 2025. When asked about leaving high school band and heading into college, this was her response: "After I graduate from high school, I plan to attend Davidson College to major in animal science or biology so that I can achieve my dream of becoming a veterinarian. I have been a part of the Pride of Sound for three years now, and it was honestly the best decision I ever made. Band made me feel like I had a second home—a place where I could be unapologetically myself and express my talents in music. Because of that, I will always be grateful for the opportunity to be in the Pride of Sound.
Band has taught me how to persevere, smile, and show leadership during the toughest times in my life. I hope to continue to do these exact same things in my future career in veterinary medicine, making the lives of animals better.
A message that I would leave behind to future Pride of Sound members and drum majors is this: you are capable of the impossible. I never thought that I would become drum major, but it was something I continued to strive for and work toward during my time in the band. There will be challenging music or just hard things in life that make you feel like giving up, but remember—even if the struggle is real, so is God. Everyone is capable of anything they set their mind to, and I believe that wholeheartedly. You just have to believe in yourself first."
Brandon Dukes
Drumline Captain
Zariah Foster
Winds Captain
Indya Hamrick
Winds Captain
Jaylen Jefferson
Drumline Captain
Tranique Kearney
Auxiliary Captain
Kelbi Peace
Auxiliary Captain
Christina Winston
Auxiliary Captain
Student Leadership Team
Winds
Drumline
Auxiliary
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