Judy R. Arthur (chorus), Ph.D. is the Director of Choral Activities at Leon High School, where she coordinates the many activities of Leon’s seven curricular choirs. Dr. Arthur is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Music, receiving the B.M.E, 1978, M.M.E., 1992, and Ph.D, 2002, in choral music education. She began her teaching career in 1978 as Associate Director, under Raymond Kickliter, and has served as Director of Choral Activities since 1988. Leon’s choirs perform frequently in the Tallahassee area, throughout the state of Florida, and have performed at state ACDA events. For many decades Leon choirs have consistently received Superior ratings at District and State Festivals and many graduates have continued their music education at the university level. Currently Dr. Arthur directs the Leon Men, Opus (advanced women), Capital Singers, Madrigal Singers, and coordinates three after school ensembles. Dr. Arthur is active in the American Choral Director’s Association, serving as President of the Florida Chapter from 1999-2001, and a four year term as Treasurer. She has accompanied Honor Choirs at Southern Division and National Conference of ACDA and has served on Planning Committees for several Division Conferences. In 2004 the Florida Chapter of ACDA presented Dr. Arthur with the Wayne Hugoboom Award for Leadership and Excellence in Choral Music. Currently President of the Florida Vocal Association, Dr. Arthur is a frequent adjudicator, clinician, and accompanist for FVA, the Florida Music Educators Association, and has directed Honor Choirs around the state. In addition to teaching full-time at Leon, Dr. Arthur is the Music Resource Teacher for Leon County Schools, serves as accompanist for the Tallahassee Community Chorus, and is the Executive Director of the Leon Friends of Music, Inc. a non-profit that provides funding for Leon’s choral program.

Shawn Fassig (Keyboard and Steel Drum Adjunct Faculty) – Pic and bio coming soon!

Bryan Mitchell (Theatre Arts) from Miami, FL, is a graduate of Florida A&M University with a B.A. in Theatre Performance and a minor in Education. He has performed and directed all over the city and surrounding cities with the FAMU Essential Theatre, Theatre Tallahassee (formally known as TLT), Thomasville On Stage and Company (TOSAC), Quincy Music Theatre (QMT), and the Southside Arts Complex (SAC). He’s most recent productions were Dearly Departed (SAC), Hairspray (QMT) and The Color Purple (FAMU Essential Theatre). Bryan is the Director of theatre at the Southside Arts Complex and is a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

Tabitha Peck (Chorus, Director of Technical Theatre) is currently in her thirteenth year at Leon High School in Tallahassee, having received the B.M.E. and M.M.E. in Music Education from the Florida State University College of Music, where she studied voice with Janice Harsanyi (Undergraduate) and Roy Delp (Graduate). Mrs. Peck is a Tallahassee native, having attended James S. Rickards High School as a member of the Marching Redskins. She was a french horn player, and Drum Major of the band from 1995-1997. At Leon, Mrs. Peck teaches Freshman Girls Chorus, Concert Chorale, Melodears, as well as AP Music Theory, Musical Theatre, and Technical Theatre. Leon’s AP Music Theory has boasted an overall 95% passing rate over the last 12 years! In 2003, she founded the all a-cappella group “The Mane Event” which has competed nationally, twice winning runner-up at the international finals. In 2005, Mrs. Peck’s (then Miss Hall) musical arrangements won honors at the district, regional, and state levels. She frequently judges ICCA events at the state and regional levels. She is an active member of FMEA, FVA, and ACDA, serving as FVA District 3 Treasurer and Florida ACDA State Webmaster and Treasurer, and has been a member of the professional choir: The Festival Singers of Florida. She has presented sessions at the FMEA State Conference on AP Music Theory and on Pop A Cappella ensembles. She and her husband, Tim, are also musicians at the Open Bible Church, and have two beautiful daughters.

Brett Pikuritz (Director of Bands), (bio coming soon!)

Edward Prasse (Director of Guitar), holds the M.M.E. and the B.M.E. from the Florida State University College of Music. He heads the four-year guitar program at Leon High School in Tallahassee, Fla., which annually serves more than 165 students. He is chairman of the General Music Committee of the FMEA Executive Board, which has developed a series of guitar-focused events within Florida. Additionally, he is a partner, co-author and editor for the publishing company Class Guitar Resources Inc. and an active presenter and clinician. He and his wife Lisa are the proud parents of three children. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf, grilling great food, a bit of sleep, and playing guitar!

Millie Seckel (Theatre Arts, Director of Dance) is currently in her sixth year teaching curricular classes at Leon, however, she has been here since 1979, when she founded the Leon Dance Team. She co-teaches the Musical Theatre class, is the current choreographer for all of Leon Chorus, and is the Co-Sponsor of Leon Thespians. Mrs. Seckel has performed on Broadway and off-Broadway before settling down in Tallahassee to raise three beautiful children with her husband, Jack.

John Thayer (Director of Orchestras) began his music studies on the piano at age six. His discovery of the violin came three years later with the beginning of a string instrumental program at Olentangy public schools (Columbus, OH). After two years of showing enthusiasm and promise on the violin, John commenced taking private violin lessons at age eleven. His study of music became more serious throughout high school, joining groups including the Columbus (OH) Symphony Youth Orchestra (2002-2005) and Chamber Music Connection (2003-2006), and successfully auditioning for the OMEA All-State Orchestras (2004-2006) and the National High School Honors Orchestra (2005). Most notably, participation in the Chamber Music Connection initiated John’s fond love for chamber music; the peak of his high school music career is marked by quarterfinalist performances at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition as first violinist of the Matrka Quintett in 2006. John moved to the southeast in the fall of 2006 to begin a Bachelor’s degree in violin performance under the tutelage of Beth Newdome at Florida State University. At FSU, John was selected co-concertmaster of the University Philharmonia undergraduate orchestra from 2006-2008, and was chosen concertmaster of FSU’s University Symphony Orchestra in the fall of 2010, a position he held until spring of 2012. As a student of Corinne Stillwell, John completed his Master’s degree in music education at Florida State University in August of 2012. He is currently fulfilling his dream of teaching in the public schools, teaching at Leon High School and Raa Middle School in Tallahassee. John has spent summers at Brevard Music Center (2004), The Quartet Program (2007), the Aspen Music Festival and School (2008/2009), and since 2010 has been a member of the Lancaster (OH) Festival Orchestra. He has performed with many of the orchestras in Florida’s Panhandle, including Tallahassee Symphony, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. An active member of the music community in Tallahassee, John taught for the Tallahassee Youth Orchestra’s Symphony group from 2009-2011, is the current director of TYO’s Philharmonia group, and also teaches violin privately. Throughout high school, John balanced a growing love for violin with not only other musical endeavors (including piano lessons, church band, and school choir participation) but also with his passion for soccer. A lifelong hobby, John played year round soccer from 2002-2004 and was a thee-year varsity letter winner on his high school team. John also enjoys the outdoors — hiking, snowboarding, traveling and road trips — coffee, and Nintendo. Most notably, coffee.

Kendra Wendeln (Leon Band Drill Design and Visual Tech) has a wide range of experiences in both playing and teaching music. She was graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2004 with a Bachelor Degree of Music in Music Education with a Percussion concentration. She studied and played in several Western and World Percussion Ensembles under the direction of Dr. William Albin, Dr. Chris Tanner and Dr. Jason Koontz. In 2013 she received her Masters Degree in Music Education from Florida State University. She has over 10 years of experience writing and teaching marching band drill, visual technique and show design, as well as music arranging. She has taught percussion and brass sections of various bands in Ohio, Kentucky and Florida. From 2006-2008, she served as an assistant band director at Woodford County High School in Versailles, KY. From 2008-2009 she co-directed two middle school bands in Middletown City Schools in Ohio. Kendra is currently teaching band at Cobb Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida and is entering her 6th year on the Leon High School Marching Redcoats Band staff.

Mike Wendeln (Director of the “Lion Steel” Steelbands), is a percussionist, and has been a steel “pan” player for almost 15 years, and landed his dream job teaching his own pan program. This program strives to be a leader in steelband education in the state of Florida and throughout the country. Currently, he directs 6 student steelbands each day and helps facilitate 3 community groups as well!

Teaching experiences include 10+ years of High School drumline at various schools including state championship groups, 15+ years of private lessons with students as young as 6 and as old as 60, and as a graduate student, taught collegiate Percussion Ensemble, Steelband, and Drumline. In 2004, Mr. Wendeln earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he studied with Dr. William Albin and Dr. Chris Tanner. He performed in various ensembles including the nationally recognized Miami University Steel Band under Dr. Chris Tanner. In 2007, Wendeln graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, with a Masters degree in Percussion Performance while studying with Percussion Director, Jason Koontz.