From the Corridor of Shame to a Symphony of Hope

The Power of Tri-M^®

By Kevin McLellan, Music Honor Society Advisory Council Southern Division Representative

Every school has a story. Every community has a story. And sometimes, the most powerful stories are the ones that are rewritten by its children.

Dillon, South Carolina, is one of those communities.

Years ago, our community became known through the painful story of the “Corridor of Shame.” J.V. Martin Junior High became a symbol of the challenges facing students in rural South Carolina.

But even during those difficult years, music was helping write a different story.

In 2008, Batesburg-Leesville High School band students and their Band Boosters stepped forward through Music RePlay, collecting used instruments that were refurbished and brought to J.V. Martin. Under the leadership of band director Chaz Paxton, students and boosters helped place instruments into the hands of Dillon students who simply wanted the opportunity to make music. More than 80 instruments were presented.

That moment has never left me.

Because sometimes, one instrument is more than an instrument.

It is an opportunity.

It is a child’s first chance to discover a talent.

It is a reminder that someone believes in you.

And years later, I am still teaching music in Dillon—but now inside a very different building.

After Dillon student Ty’Sheoma Bethea brought national attention to the condition of her school, the Obama administration helped support funding that made new school construction possible. In 2012, Dillon Middle School opened its doors.

Today, those doors open to possibility.

And inside those walls, Tri-M® Music Honor Society is helping our students continue the work that Music RePlay began.

Tri-M® teaches students that music is not simply something we perform.

Music is something we give.

Through service, leadership, community outreach, and initiatives such as Music RePlay, our students learn that their musical gifts can make someone else’s life better.

Our students have learned to serve nursing homes, encourage their peers, give back to their community, and use their voices and talents to create positive change.

That is the heart of Tri-M.

Our chapter has been fortunate to receive tremendous recognition, including being named National Junior Division Chapter of the Year for two consecutive years (2025–26 and 2024–25). But the greatest accomplishment isn’t a trophy.

The greatest accomplishment is the student.

It is the student who finds confidence.

The student who discovers leadership.

The student who realizes that their circumstances do not have to define their future.

And perhaps that is the most beautiful part of Dillon’s story.

We cannot change where our story began, but we can choose what we write next.

Music RePlay helped put instruments into the hands of Dillon students when they needed them.

A new school gave those students a place to grow.

And Tri-M is helping give them something even greater:

A voice, a purpose, and a heart for service.

Once, Dillon was known for what its schools lacked.

Today, our students are showing the world what they have.

They have talent.

They have purpose.

They have a voice.

And they have music.

From the Corridor of Shame to a Symphony of Hope, our students aren’t just making music.

They are changing the story, one note, one act of service, and one young leader at a time.

That is the power of Tri-M.

Further Reading

“Why Your School Should Start a Tri-M® Music Honor Society Chapter”

About the Author

NAfME member Kevin L. McLellan is an accomplished music educator, band director, clinician, and professional keyboardist with more than twenty years of experience in music education, performance, and program leadership. He currently serves as Director of Bands at Dillon Middle School in Dillon, South Carolina, where he leads a thriving, comprehensive band program serving more than 130 students. Under his leadership, the program has earned consistent Superior and Excellent ratings, nine consecutive Outstanding Performance Awards from the South Carolina Band Directors Association since the school opened in 2012, and multiple historic first-time performances at regional and national festivals.

McLellan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Claflin University, graduating with academic and performance honors. He is an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA), South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and the National Band Association (NBA). He also serves as the Southern Division Representative for the NAfME Music Honor Society Advisory Council, and the South Carolina Chair for the Tri-M® Music Honor Society, where he provides statewide leadership and advocacy for student musicians and music education programs.

---

Did this blog spur new ideas for your music program? Share them on Connect! Interested in reprinting this article? Please review the reprint guidelines.

The National Association for Music Education (NAfME) provides a number of forums for the sharing of information and opinion, including blogs and postings on our website, articles and columns in our magazines and journals, and postings to our Connect member portal. Unless specifically noted, the views expressed in these media do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the Association, its officers, or its employees.