Mark Collins is currently serving in his 26th year as Director of Instrumental Programs at John S. Battle High School in Bristol, Virginia. His undergraduate degree in Music Education is from TN Tech University, a Master of Education/Music from Milligan College and an Education Specialist Degree from Lincoln Memorial University. While at Tennessee Tech, Mr. Collins studied percussion with the late Joseph Rasmussen and composition with Robert Jager. In addition, he has studied with Aaron Copland, Joe Morello and Morris “Arnie” Lang.
Mr. Collins has performed with the Symphony of the Mountains, Milligan Orchestra, The Brass Band of Appalachia and State Line Wind Symphony. In addition, he serves as the Vice-President for the Percussive Arts Society’s Virginia/DC Chapter. He was host for the 2005 Tri-Cities Day of Percussion with guest artist Brian Tinkel and Joe Morello with over 225 participants. He is the Co-Founder & Co-Conductor of the State Line Wind Symphony; an ensemble comprised of over 100 professional musicians and music enthusiast that perform free concerts for the enrichment of the community. He is in demand as an adjudicator, clinician and guest lecturer.
Mr. Collins has worked in public education for 31 years. In addition to his work in the public school setting, he served as adjunct percussion coordinator for the Vanderbilt University Marching Band and the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. He is a consultant to higher education institutions as a curriculum design specialist for music education programs. In addition, he is active in research in music education and presented his research findings at the Southern Regional Research Conference.
At John Battle High School, Mr. Collins' marching and concert bands have consistently received superior ratings and qualified as a Virginia Honor Band on multiple occasions. He consistently places over 60 students in the Virginia Band Association Regional Honor Band Events.
With his leadership, the band programs have established a national reputation of musical achievement and accomplishment. During the band's history, they have performed at the Virginia Music Educators Conference (2008), four concert tours of Hawaii with performances at the Arizona Memorial and USS Bowfin Memorial, the National Middle School Conference and the Virginia Middle School Conference. His students have earned coveted spots in the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band (2011, 2013, 2015), the John Philip Sousa International Concert Band and the Macy’s Great American Honor Marching Band – 2012-2015. In addition, his bands have performed in the United Nations Building Grand Hall in New York City, the Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Chicago Concert Band Invitational, and the Star Spangled Banner for the Baltimore Orioles and New Jersey Devils sporting events. Recently, the John Battle Percussion Ensemble competed at the 2014 & 2015 PASIC Concert Ensemble competition in Indianapolis. His concert
groups have performed with U.S. Navy Band (ret.) principal saxophonist, Dale Underwood and the Battle Percussion Ensemble has performed with Joe Morello and She-e Wu. His jazz ensemble has performed with Rick Simerly, Joseph Trivette, Brad Kerns and with Buffet artist Lauren Sevian at the Lincoln Center Jazz Center Workshop.
Prior to arriving at John S. Battle High School, he served as band director at Hillwood High School, Hume-Fogg Magnet High School and McGavock High School of the Metro-Nashville school system in Nashville, Tennessee. While in Nashville, Mr. Collins’ ensembles consistently received superior ratings in sight-reading and on stage performances at state concert festivals. On the marching field, his students achieved national recognition winning the Grand Championships at the Bands of America Southern Regional Competition and placing 10th at the BOA National Competition. While at McGavock, the marching band earned the title of Tennessee State Champions and Reserve Grand Champion at the prestigious Contest of Champions at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
He is an active member of Virginia Music Educators Association, Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, National Association for Music Educators, National Band Association and National Education Association. He was the award recipient of the Yale Distinguished Music Educator of Virginia Award (2013) and was a 2013 Grammy Nominated Educator. Recently he was named a Rotary Foundation Paul Harris Fellow which is the highest award presented by the Rotary in recognition of tangible and significant assistance given among peoples of the world. He has recognition multiple times in the WHO'S WHO AMONG AMERICA'S TEACHERS and once as a WHO’S WHO WORLDWIDE REGISTRY of BUSINESS LEADERS. He has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southeast.