Dr. Jay Jacobs has led the Mighty Sound of the Southeast since 2019. Originally from Morgantown, West Virginia, Dr. Jacobs is Associate Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of South Carolina, where he is the director of The Carolina Band, conducts the Symphonic Winds and teaches courses within the School of Music.  

Background:

He attended West Virginia University for his undergraduate degree, where he studied music education, trumpet and conducting. He served two years as a drum major for The Pride of West Virginia. Dr. Jacobs earned the Master of Music degree in Conducting and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Florida. 

Dr. Jacobs performed as a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton, Ohio and with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois.  

He has taught public education as a middle school and high school band director in Kirkland, Illinois, and later served as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at McNeese State University. Under his direction, the band program nearly doubled in size, and he was recognized as the faculty member of the year by the student government association. 

Dr. Jacobs is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, the national band service fraternity and sorority. He is also an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha.