Mr. Brian Sterling

Brian Sterling, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, attended Southern University in pursuit of a degree of Secondary Education and eventually concluded at Capella University in Minneapolis, Minnesota as he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice. Currently, Mr. Sterling is on track to obtaining his Master of Liberal Arts degree with an emphasis on music from Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi.

 

He has garnered the title of Professional Percussionist through performing in numerous stage plays and concerts from private houses and small nightclubs, dedicated concert halls, amphitheaters and parks, to large arenas and stadiums. Mr. Sterling has performed around the country as a percussionist behind artists such as RL of the group Next, Kenny Neal, Calvin Richardson, Chester D.T. Baldwin. He currently plays for world renowned jazz violinists, Michael and Shaun Ward, Elan Artists, and a multitude of second line brass bands. 

 

Over time as a Percussion Instructor, Mr. Sterling has led the drum sections of Washington-Marion High School (Lake Charles, La.), The Silver and Gold Regiment (Moreno Valley, Ca.), and Northwest High School (Opelousas, La.). He also worked with The Baton Rouge All-Stars Marching Band (Baton Rouge, La.), The Heritage Community Band (Lafayette, La.), The Louisiana Leadership Institute All-Star Marching Band (Baton Rouge, La.), and the 337 All-Star Marching Band (Lafayette, La.). 

 

In the summer of 2006, Mr. Sterling proudly accepted the request to bring his talents and percussive wisdom to St. Martinville Senior High School in St. Martinville, La under the directorship of Dr. Everson Martin where the positions of Percussion Instructor and Assistant Band Director was held. Between the time of 2006 and 2012, he guided young minds and molded the percussion section to earn various awards for best percussion section and was invited several times to have his section to be featured at a multitude of Ballers’ Classics held around the state of Louisiana.  

 

The fall of 2012 is when Prof. Sterling was given the opportunity to consult for the Alcorn State University Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Band Program located in Lorman, Ms. Soon after, he became the Percussion Instructor, and now currently serves as the Assistant Director for Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Band Program. Since 2012, Mr. Sterling has assisted while the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite has participated in Mardi Gras in New Orleans, La. since 2015, the Honda Battle of the Bands in Atlanta Ga. (2014, 2016, and 2017), The New Orleans Saints’ halftime performances (2015, 2017, 2022), The Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Al. (2019), HBCU at Disney in Orlando, Fl. (2022), and a grand performance with the percussion section at the New Orleans Pelicans’ game (2023). As Assistant Director for the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Band Program, Mr. Sterling handles all the band’s logistics, writes drills, and assists Dr. Martin (Director of University Bands) with the administration of the program. 

 

In addition to the aforementioned responsibilities, Prof. Sterling is an overachieving recruiter for the Sounds of Dyn-O-Mite Program, supervisor of the Dyn-O-Mite Media team, and recently has become a highly sought after clinician in Pyware Drill & Design and The Ultimate Drill Book application having done presentations and clinics including The HBCU Band Directors’ Consortium in Atlanta, Ga. He has been a featured Percussion Clinician for many schools including Jeanerette High School (Jeanerette La.); General Trass High School (Lake Providence, La.); Edgewood Middle and High Schools (Baltimore, Md).

 

Mr. Sterling is an active participant of the Mississippi Band Masters Association, The HBCU National Band Directors Consortium and a proud member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity.

 

Brian’s pride and joy is his only child, Specialist J’Len Sterling, who is stationed at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek-si, South Korea.