Band Program Directors
Shelly Strauss
ILHS Head Band Director
Ms. Strauss has been pivotal to the success of the program while serving as the Associate Band Director. She brings a vast amount of school band knowledge and experience to lead our Warrior Program and is passionate about being a student focused leader.
Ms. Strauss is committed to doing what is best for the students, school, and community to make the Indian Land High School Band a premier program! We are very proud to have her leading the program!
Noah Willians
Associate Director of Bands
A native of Bessemer City, North Carolina, Mr. Williams is an accomplished educator, performer, arranger, and producer with a strong background in music education and performance.
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Before joining Indian Land, Mr. Williams served as Director of Bands and Choir at Highland School of Technology, where he led significant program growth and student achievement.
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Mr. Williams earned his undergraduate degree in Commercial Music and Audio Production from Western Carolina University. Earned a Master of Music in Percussion Performance at The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where he served as Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Percussion Studio. While teaching at Highland School of Technology, he also pursued a second master’s degree in Music Education at Lenoir-Rhyne University.
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In addition to his work in education, Mr. Williams remains active throughout the region as a drumset performer, percussion arranger, and consultant for school music programs across North Carolina. Throughout his career, Mr. Williams has studied under respected educators and performers including Abraham Lawrence, Dillon Ingle, Mario Gaetano, Diana Loomer, Adam Groh, Keith Brown, and Andy Bliss.
Lyndsay Bonk
Color Guard Director
’Mrs. Bonk has lived in Indian Land for 15 years with my husband, our two daughters, and our two huskies—so there’s never a dull moment! I’ve also lived in four different states and enjoy running, having completed two marathons and countless half marathons.
Color guard has been a huge part of my life, from performing in high school and independent groups to marching with Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps and Corona World. I later moved into teaching, where I loved helping students build confidence, skills, and a love for performance.
After stepping away to focus on my family, I’m so excited to be back doing what I love—supporting and inspiring the next generation of performers.
Micheal Skellett
ILMS Band Director
Graduate of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, where he graduated Suma cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education-Instrumental degree and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance.
Mr. Skellett is currently in his 23rd year as a Band Director and 3rd year at Indian Land MS, serving over 150 students in grades 7-8. The Indian Land MS band has enjoyed great success in a short time seating multiple kids in county, region, and all-state bands, earned Superior ratings at CPA and was awarded consecutive Outstanding Performance Awards for the first time in school history.
Prior to his employment at Indian Land, Mr. Skellett taught at Rawlinson Road MS and Rock Hill HS. Mr. Skellett is also an active performer, private teacher, arranger, and adjudicator in North and South Carolina. He currently resides in Fort Mill with his wife, daughter, son, and three doggies.
Savannah Gavigan
ILMS Band Director
Mrs. Gavigan grew up in Fort Mill, SC and has lived in South Carolina her entire life! She attended Furman University (Go Paladins!) in Greenville, SC and received her Bachelor of Music degree in Instrumental Music Education.
Mrs. Gavigan lived in Beaufort, SC and taught in Beaufort County School District for 7 years. She is excited to return closer to home and continue her career as an Indian Land Warrior.
Mrs. Gavigan is primarily a clarinet player and still plays professionally, along with teaching. Through participating in band, she has had the opportunity to perform in places such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in NYC, Carnegie Hall in NYC, Honor Bands of America in Indiana, and even the opportunity to live and perform in Arezzo, Italy. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two dogs (Callie and Lilo), reading, or having fun with her crazy family.
Mrs. Gavigan is also one of the biggest Disney fans you will ever meet, so if you can't find her in the classroom, she is most likely at Disney World!
Meleah Riddle
ILIS Band Director
Graduate of the University of South Carolina where she obtained a degree in Instrument Music Education in May of 2020. She was also a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, a co-ed music fraternity that strives to support bands and music through leadership, servitude, and fervor.
Ms. Riddle is currently in her 6th year of teaching band and in her 3rd year at Indian Land Intermediate School, serving 325 students ranging from 5th - 6th grade. Prior to coming to Indian Land, Ms. Riddle taught 6th - 8th grade band at Chester Middle School in Chester, SC.
Ms. Riddle has also played with ensembles all over South Carolina such as the SC Youth Philharmonic, Palmetto Concert Band, Catawba River Winds, and was an All-State clarinetist from 8th grade through her senior year of high school. She enjoys spending time with her boyfriend, Zach, her two cats, Bella and Daphne, and her dog, Waylon.