ELLISVILLE – She’s the 25th Director of Bands for the Jones College band program, which was founded in October 1930, with the “Typhoon” making its first “formal” appearance on February 26, 1931. Making history as the first female and first African American to hold the esteemed position as leader of the band, Tamiko Bridges has been a music educator for 25 years in the private, elementary, middle, high school and collegiate sectors. Most recently, she has been the Director of Bands/Fine Arts & Electives Department Chair at Laurel School District from 2002-2010, and 2018 until now.
“This is an open door and a groundbreaking opportunity for this young lady from the country roads of Wayne County Mississippi,” shared Bridges before an audience of her family and friends from both Laurel and Jones College. “Thank you, Dr. Smith for seeing something in me that God is already a part of and honestly, I am humbled and honored to be a part of such a great team that inspires students.”
While she has spent the majority of her professional time teaching in Laurel, Bridges is also a church musician and the Instrumental Ensemble Director at Springhill Baptist Church in Ellisville and she has served as the Minister of Music at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Hattiesburg. Furthermore, she has taught various grade levels in Atlanta and was the Assistant Band Director at Southwest High School in Macon, Georgia. Bridges said she plans to inspire Jones College students to be the best at everything.
“I am truly encouraged to inspire you, and I will tell you my definition of inspire, influencing the next generation of students through positivity, intentionality, respect and excellence. Together we will build an ensemble of multiple genres that will both appeal and instruct,” shared Bridges. “This program at Jones has a rich history and a legacy of being the best band program and we want to continue doing what has already been established.”
Some of her accolades include being the 2023-2024 President of the Mississippi Bandmasters Association, nominated for the 2025 Mississippi Pinnacle Awards, a 2025 Grammy Music Educator Award Quarterfinalist, Southeast MS Band Directors Association Band Director of the Year in 2004, Star Teacher at Laurel High School 2021, Laurel High School Golden Apple Award recipient for 2023, 2024, and 2025, and her LHS band has earned Superior Ratings at the Large Group Marching Band Evaluations in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2024.
Bridges, who is a Mississippi State and William Carey University graduate will be joined by the newly announced Director of Brass, Kyle Matthees. He has been serving this last year as an adjunct instructor at Jones College while pursuing his doctorate of musical arts degree at the University of Southern Mississippi. He brings experience as an instructor at Middle Tennessee State University, Belmont University, and Lindsey Wilson University as well as performing professionally and publishing in professional journals.
“While working with the marching band last summer, I was completely impressed,” said Matthees. “So, to move into this new role as a full-time member here, it’s humbling and I’m very excited to be here. We’re hoping to add to our brass section, so we’ll be recruiting more students to get that big brass sound.”
For more information about the band program, email Tamiko Bridges at tamiko.bridges@jcjc.edu or click on the website, https://www.jcjc.edu/programs/finearts/ or Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/JCJCFineArts