Board of Directors

Charlton Singleton

A native of Awendaw, SC, Charlton Singleton began his musical studies at the age of three on the piano. He would then go on to study the organ, violin, cello, and the trumpet throughout elementary, middle and high school. In 1994, he received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Performance from South Carolina State University. Since that time, he has taught music at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as being an adjunct faculty member at the College of Charleston. In 2008 he co-founded and became the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Charleston Jazz Orchestra; an 18 piece jazz ensemble of some of the finest professional musicians in the Southeast and the resident big band in Charleston, SC. Mr. Singleton is also the organist and choir director at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Charleston, SC. In November of 2016 he was named the inaugural Artist in Residence at the recently renovated Gaillard Center in downtown Charleston. He remained in this position until July 2019; at that point he was named Artist in Residence Emeritus. In this position he continues to lead the Summer Youth Jazz Orchestra Camp as well as lead the “Jazz Through the Ages” assembly, which attracts a capacity crowd of students at the Gaillard Center.

As a performer, Charlton leads his own ensembles that vary in size and style. He has performed in France, Great Britain, Scotland, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Norway, The Netherlands, as well as many great cities throughout the United States. He is a member of a new ensemble called Ranky Tanky. The group is a quintet that interprets the sounds of Gullah from the Southeast Coast of the United States. In 2018 Ranky Tanky reached the top of the Billboard, iTunes, and Amazon Contemporary Jazz charts with their self-titled debut recording. In 2019 they accomplished the same feat with the release of their sophomore effort, “Good Time” [Music Video]. 

In addition to performing, he is in demand as a speaker, composer, and arranger. He has also shared the stage with and/or worked with some of most talented entertainers in the world, including Bobby McFerrin, Jimmy Heath, Slide Hampton, Houston Person, Darius Rucker, Fred Wesley, and Cyrus Chestnut to name a few. Outside of music and entertainment, he and his wife, MaryJo, are the proud parents of Shalamar and D’Marcus, as well as their pets…Sassy, Jango, Mojo, Kota Bear, Pumpkin, and Ginger.

 


Dr. Wanda Robinson Brockington

Dr. Wanda Robinson Brockington, the proud daughter of Warren and Lillian Robinson, is a native of Charleston, South Carolina where she attended Burke High School and played clarinet and saxophone while also singing on the choir and stage band. She, subsequently, matriculated at South Carolina State College. As a South Carolina State College student, she was in the Honors Program and majored in English Education. While in college, Dr. Brockington played clarinet on the Marching 101, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, and the Pep Band.   As an undergraduate member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, she held the positions of Historian, Assistant Treasurer, and President. She later became the Advisor for the organization under the leadership of Mr. Ronald J. Sarjeant, the dynamic Director of Bands at South Carolina State University. After graduation, Dr. Brockington continued to work with the band for 13 more years on the band staff. During that time, she was the Pep Band Coordinator for 5 years and the dance routine coordinator for the Marching 101 Band for the whole 13 years.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education, she began her teaching career in Orangeburg School District #5, now Orangeburg County School District, where she has been a teacher, administrator, and an Assistant Principal of Curriculum. For the last 11 years along with teaching, she has also been Assistant Band Director at Bethune-Bowman Middle/High School. 

She holds a Masters of Education Degree in English Education, an Educational Specialist’s Degree in Educational Administration, and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Administration all from South Carolina State University. In addition to those degrees, she has been National Board Certified in English since 2003. Not only has Dr. Brockington held diverse roles in organizational leadership, she has participated on various district committees and leadership teams, provided school and district professional development, and established many student activities and organizations.  Previously, Dr. Brockington has been an English teacher and administrator at Orangeburg Consolidated School District #5’s Technology Center. She has been the administrator overseeing curriculum, scheduling, grade level discipline, the School Improvement Council, Fine Arts Department, and Exceptional Services at William J. Clark Middle School. While at Robert E. Howard Middle School as Assistant Principal of Curriculum and briefly as Acting Principal in the principal’s brief absence, she drove instruction and professional development in Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).  Over the course of several years, she was the school chairperson for the school’s Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) Accreditation process, spearheading strategic transformation and accreditation at Brookdale Middle School, William J. Clark Middle School, and Robert E. Howard Middle School. Additionally, Dr. Brockington has been an adjunct instructor at Claflin University and South Carolina State University. 

Currently, as a middle school ELA teacher, high school Honors and College Preparatory English Teacher, middle school team leader, and English/Language Arts Department Chair for the last 8 or more years, Dr. Brockington is an inspirational leader who inspires action, helps others extend their thinking, and drives student programming and engagement in extracurricular activity. Respected as a credible voice in decision making, Dr. Wanda Robinson Brockington is leveraging 29 years of service to education.  While she has served her educational community in various capacities, she has also been the advisor and/or co-advisor for numerous student organizations. Dr. Brockington’s vision is to create opportunities for students to develop character, skills, and decision-making prowess to, in turn, be positive influences on other people, their schools, and their community. She believes that, through school programming such as healthy school music programs, students can develop commitment, an appreciation for music, effective communication, teamwork, leadership, and a support system that will benefit them in their future endeavors and in every aspect of their lives.  She is passionate about music and its impact on people as well as increasing the focus on improving music programs in schools.  With a balanced perspective, strategic outlook, diverse responsibilities, and established professional boundaries, Dr. Brockington is a valuable asset wherever she serves. 

Wanda Robinson Brockington is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated where she is the Vice President for the 2018-2020 year term and has been the Chapter Chairperson for Program Planning and Development for about 10 years. She has been happily married to Dr. Daryl Brockington for 22 years and has five wonderful children–Ashley, Paige, Benjamin, Lauren, and Aiden. 


Erin S. Sarjeant

Orangeburg, South Carolina native Erin S. Sarjeant, is an experienced and innovative leader, musician and arts advocate. She is a freelance photographer and owner of Erin Sarjeant Photography, which specializes in documentary photography, photojournalism, special events and portrait photography.  Additionally, she has 15 years of experience in Operations Management demonstrating skill in relationship building, training and development and process improvement. She has held diverse roles in organizational leadership, and prides herself on the ability to mesh vision and strategy to yield positive outcomes.  She has worked as a legislative aid and a page with the SC House of Representatives, and has experience working in the Magistrate and Probate Courts of Orangeburg County. She currently works as International Operations Supervisor for GIS, Hireright. 

Erin believes that music allows us a space in humanity that bridges social, economic and cultural gaps, as well as heightens academic success.  Although she is well versed in Business and Management, she attributes the majority of her personal growth and development to her life-long love affair with music. She was trained in piano beginning at age 4. By age 6 she added flute/piccolo and then later clarinet through private lessons with her father, Ronald J. Sarjeant.  Erin also began singing with multiple groups while in middle and high school. She has served as Choir President, Worship Committee Chair, worked with youth choirs, and currently sings with multiple groups that feature jazz, neo-soul and gospel styles. She is Co-founder of the Ronald J. Sarjeant Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit organization established to combat challenges faced in educational areas that promote the arts. 

Erin is a member of the National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses, the American Business Women’s Association, and the Orangeburg Branch of the NAACP.  She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, a Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts, and Master of Business Administration all from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina.


Joël C. Johnson

With 20 years of college teaching experience, hundreds of performances to his credit, Joël C. Johnson is a seasoned college educator and music artist. His professional focus is on music industry education and Jazz & popular performance styles. 

A native of Orlando, FL, Prof. Johnson is an Associate Professor of Music Industry, serving as the coordinator of Music Industry and Modern Guitar & Orchestral Strings Studies at Albany State University. He holds a B.S. in Music Industry from South Carolina State University (SC), M.M. in Music Theory & Composition from Norfolk State University (VA), and is presently a doctoral candidate PhDc (ABD) in Interdisciplinary Humanities (Higher Ed. Admin & Music Ed.) at Florida State University (FL). 

In addition to his appointment at Albany State University (GA), He held professorships at Norfolk State University, Hampton University (VA), SC State University, Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FL), North Florida Community College (FL).

As a professional artist (guitar), Prof. Johnson has performed in over 33 countries with world-renowned artists such as Dr. John, Fred Wesley & The New JB’s, The Drifters, Kirk Franklin, Cody ChesnuTT…et. Al. He has recorded and arranged on several internationally released albums such as:

Prof. Johnson has endorsements by Godin Guitars® and Lace Sensor Alumitone® Pickups. In addition to his various accomplishments, he is also a member of AAUP, MEIEA, and The National Academy of the Recording Arts & Sciences.