I am extremely excited about teaching at Providence High School. It has always been my goal to involve students in outstanding performances in their community as well as abroad. I know that as we work together, we will be able to continue the tradition of fantastic bands at Providence High. Here's some background information about me to help you get to know me.

My music education started in the third grade when I started playing piano and continued in the 5th grade when I began playing trombone. After graduating from Gilbert High School in Gilbert, SC I pursued my passion for band by marching three seasons (1989, 1990, & 1992) with The Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps in Bergenfield, NJ. Our accomplishments during these seasons included being named the 1990 World Champions. While marching with "The Cadets" I developed a strong desire to follow in the footsteps of our World Class Drill Designer, Mark Sylvester.

The University of South Carolina, Columbia was my home during the early 90's. Go Gamecocks! I received a performance certificate for piano after performing a senior recital in 1993 and graduated cum laude with my Bachelor's in Music Education in 1994.

I am currently completing my twelfth year of teaching. My teaching career began at Blenheim Elementary/Middle School in Marlboro County, SC. Next, I was Associate Director of Bands at Scotland High School. While at Scotland I began my experience as a marching band drill designer as well as a concert band director. My group (Concert Band) received Superior Ratings at Concert Band Festival in Grade IV. Our Marching Band, Winterguards, and Percussion Ensemble successfully competed at many local and regional contests. I also had the pleasure of guest conducting the Symphonic Band during their performance at The 1997 NCMEA In-Service Convention.

During the past six years I have been the Director of Bands at Forest Hills High School and East Union Middle School in Marshville, NC. The bands at both of these schools have received numerous Superiors and/or First Place Awards in Marching Band Contests, Middle School Concert Band Festivals (Grade II), High School Concert Band Festivals (Grade V & VI), and CIPA Percussion Competitions. I have continued to spend my summers developing my marching band drill design skills by writing drill for Forest Hills as well as at least one other marching band each year.

I annually travel to several national level band events like Drum Corps International Shows, Bands of America Grand National Championships in Indianapolis, IN, and Winterguard International Championships in Dayton, OH. These events give me exposure to the best designers and performers in the country. This exposure is one of the most important ways I experience continual growth in my designing and teaching abilities.

Over the past six years, while teaching at Forest Hills High School, I have resided in Matthews, NC. I look forward to living closer to my school. I believe the shorter commute will allow me to be a more effective teacher and leader. My hobbies in Matthews include a recently acquired love of yoga. You can regularly catch me at my studio of choice, Yoga South, enjoying a great workout.

I am Mr. Lealather Mayers, III, and I am very honored and excited to be the Assistant Band Director at Providence High School. I started participating in music at the age of 10 playing drums in middle school, and in church. I continued to expand my musical abilities, by teaching myself to play piano.

I attended Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School in Orangeburg, South Carolina where I began my journey as a percussionist and was Drum Major of the marching band. After graduating from Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School I attended the University of South Carolina-Columbia, where I participated in the USC Marching Band, USC Symphonic Band, percussion ensemble, Steel band, Jazz band, West-African drum ensemble, and the USC Orchestra. I graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with a performance certificate, then I instructed the University of South Carolina Drum line from 1996-1998

I was a member of the 1991-92 Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle corps, and it was there I started writing percussion music while studying under Gil Doggett, and Bill Register. Since then I have written for many band programs, and I have had many of my percussion works published and performed all over the United States.

I started my career in music education at East Elementary School in Monroe, NC. I have been percussion instructor at Forest Hills High School for 16 years, and I have worked with numerous percussion programs in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. I started Percussion Solutions in 2003, a percussion studio and retail music store in Marshville NC.

I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to study with great music educators over the years, and I use the lessons I have gained from them each and everyday of my professional life.

I am currently the adjunct percussion professor at Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, head of percussion for the Central Carolina Camp, a member of Percussive Arts Society, a member of the education team at Vic Firth drumsticks, the owner of Leathree Percussion, and co-founder of the Carolina's newest independent indoor percussion ensemble �COHESIVE�, and I participate in the Old English Wind Ensemble in Rock Hill, SC.

I currently live in Waxhaw, NC with my fiancee' Shay, and our two children Bryson 7, and Brynna 5.