Beau Robinson
Director of Bands
Mr. Robinson is a native of Flowood, MS. He participated in the band program at Northwest Rankin High School under the instruction of Chuck Reynolds, Scott Presley, Matt McDonald, Jerry Pickering, and Dr. Ben Burge. Upon graduating, Mr. Robinson attended the University of Mississippi where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Music.
While at Ole Miss, he performed with The Pride of the South Marching Band, The University of Mississippi Symphonic Band, The Collegians Jazz Ensemble, The Lafayette-Oxford-University Symphony, as well as various brass quartets. During his studies at Ole Miss, Mr. Robinson had the pleasure of studying under Dr. John Schuesselin, Dr. Laurdella Foulkes-levy, and Mr. David Willson.
After Ole Miss, Mr. Robinson began his career as an Assistant Band Director at Kosciusko High School and Kosciusko Jr. High School. While at Kosciusko, he helped all bands receive all superior ratings, including a silver medal at MHSAA State Marching Championship.
In July of 2015, Mr. Robinson joined the staff at Florence High School as the Director of Bands. Since then, he has led the Big Red Band to earn multiple superior ratings as well as the prestigious SweepStakes Award (first in school history) and consecutive top 5 finishes at the MHSAA State Marching Championships.
Mr. Robinson resides in Flowood with his wife Madalyn, daughter, Macey, and dog, Willson.
Email: Edw201@rcsd.ms
Jordan Salvant
Assistant Band Director & Percussion Director
Mrs. Salvant is a native of Tennessee. Growing up, she lived in Nashville before moving to Delaware, then Michigan, before settling back down in Music City. She was part of the band program at Independence High School and received percussion instruction from Alan Rice, one of the founders of Music City Mystique, and Josh Nelson, the current director of that group. After graduation, Mrs. Salvant attended Mississippi College to earn a Bachelor’s degree in music education.
During her time at MC, Mrs. Salvant participated in the wind ensemble, jazz band, musical theater, and the MC Singers choir. She has taken instruction from Dr. Craig Young, Paul Heindl, and other members of the MS Symphony as well as Dr. Nabholz who directed the MC Singers and while in the group won an Emmy. Mrs. Salvant has also performed in several groups outside of school such as the Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, the MS Chorus, the MS Community Symphonic Band, and the Summer Wind Symphony.
After graduation, Mrs. Salvant got her first teaching position at Richland High School as the Assistant Band and Choir Director. The next year she moved up to the Head Band Director position and stayed until 2023 when she gave birth to her daughter. In her time at Richland, Mrs. Salvant brought the band to Superior and Excellent ratings and in that time received a STAR Teacher award. Most recently she was a member of the Terry High School band staff and held the title of Director of Percussion.
Mrs. Salvant resides in Clinton, with her husband Duval, daughter Magnolia, and two dogs Brahms and Clara.
Email: Jor503@rcsd.ms
Nick Papania
Assistant Band Director & Middle School Director
Mr. Papania is a native of Gulfport, MS and an alumni of Gulfport High School (2014). During his time with the GHS band, he was under the instruction of Zachary Harris, Wes Morehead, Dee Dee Pitts, Jennifer Sills, Jimi Brown and Robyn Ball. He was a member of the 2014 Mississippi Lions All-State Band on Baritone Saxophone and won both the John Phillip Sousa & Louis Armstrong Band Awards his senior year.
After graduating, Mr. Papania earned both his Bachelor’s (2019) and Master’s (2020) degrees in Music Education from William Carey University. While an undergraduate student at WCU, Mr. Papania majored in saxophone, studying under Wes Cameron. Along with his saxophone studies, Mr. Papania played multiple woodwinds in WCU’s Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, Tuscan Reeds, Spirit of Carey, Chorale Orchestra, Evidence Winds and several theater orchestras. He also played bassoon for WCU’s first ever symphony orchestra performance of Felix Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2 “Hymn of Praise”.
Mr. Papania student taught at Oak Grove Middle & High Schools under the instruction of Jerry Pickering. During this time, he received WCU’s 2019 Outstanding Student Teacher in Instrumental Music Education Award. After finishing his undergraduate, Mr. Papania began a Master’s program studying Instrumental Conducting under Dr. Wes Dykes.
After finishing his collegiate studies, Mr. Papania worked as an Educational Representative with Music & Arts in Flowood, MS. He began his teaching career at here in Florence in 2022 as an Assistant Director with the Big Red Band.
Mr. Papania resides in Brandon, MS with his wife Alex, daughter Ellie and their two cats, Thor and Storm.
Email: Nic510@rcsd.ms
Leslie Varner
Color Guard Instructor
Leslie Varner is a graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi where she received a degree in Instrumental Music Education (K-12). She has 2 cats, Snot and Jet. Leslie currently teaches 3rd-5th grade music at Florence Elementary School. Leslie began her color guard career at Madison Central High School where she performed with the marching band and Sapphire Winterguard. She was a member of The Pride of Mississippi color guard and was a co-captain for 2 years. Leslie spent her drum corps career with Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2014, and she was an inaugural member of Conversion Independent Winterguard where she marched from 2015-present. Leslie has been a color guard instructor for various schools including North Pike, Oak Grove, Richland, and currently Florence.
Email: Les500@rcsd.ms