VALDOSTA — There’s a new band director in town.

Travis Kimber, an award-winning band director from Martin Luther King Junior High School in DeKalb County, has been approved by the Valdosta Board of Education to take the position as Valdosta High School band director.

The approved personnel recommendation comes on the heels of Michael Thomas’ resignation from the position, which he served in for 13 years and also won awards. Thomas was recently approved to move to Lowndes High School as the assistant band director. 

Even though Kimber hasn’t signed any contract with city schools yet, he traveled three hours to South Georgia to tour his likely new home and its several campuses. 

The band director also sat down with The Valdosta Daily Times to discuss his experience, passions and direction he plans to take the City Schools band in.

The Valdosta Daily Times: How did you get into doing band education? 

Travis Kimber: “It has been a lifelong passion. I started playing the saxophone at church and in elementary school. I just never stopped.”

VDT: Where did you go to school? 

Kimber: “I started at Southwest Dekalb High School. From there, I went to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and then did some graduate work. Now, I’m teaching at MLK High School.”

VDT: How long did you teach at MLK High?

Kimber: “I’ve been there since 2001 — the first and only band director. The high school opened its doors in 2001.”

VDT: And in that time, you won some awards. 

Kimber: “I work hard. I won the Georgia Music Educators Association Exemplary Performance award. That’s the highest honor that GMEA gives out to high school bands in the state. We got that for 2017-18.”

VDT: This has got to be a bittersweet move for you, considering it sounds like you built that program. 

Kimber: “Actually, it is, but you’ve got to go to grow. I’m very familiar with the Valdosta legacy, especially with athletics, but even more so with the music program. Being a former student from a Georgia school, I was always familiar with Valdosta and its football rivalry, but I always respected the music history here.”

VDT: A band program and football program can go hand in hand. How are you going to use your band program to highlight the football? 

Kimber: “Wherever the football goes, if you bring the band, it’s like taking home field advantage. That spirit, the drive and energy that should accompany your athletic program, it will be right there exhibited on full display with the band program.”

VDT: How are you preparing for the move? 

Kimber: “I think the biggest adjustment is going to be personal. I’m making sure I get my family down here. I’m married with two kids, so I need to make sure I get my family adjusted. Musically, I’m really not worried about it. As I told the principal and some of the other stakeholders, good music is good music, and that travels well. I don’t care what part of the country you go to. My ultimate goal is to build great students, and the music will take care of itself.”

VDT: Do you have any big plans for the program? 

Kimber: “For the upcoming year, we just want to make sure we put on a great show for our fans here each and every week. From there, we’ll see where it goes. The expectations are super high, and the sky is the limit. This program can go to the moon and back, so hopefully we can make that happen.”

VDT: How exciting is it that your job is doing something you love as well as experiencing an energy every Friday night that transfers to a whole crowd? 

Kimber: “It goes back to my youth. Being in the band was one of those things where it was the cool thing to do. It has always been the cool thing to do for me from my high school days, college days and my days at MLK High. I want to bring that same energy to Valdosta High. Being in band is the cool thing to do.”

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.