Super Regional Championship at San Antonio November 3-4, 2017 The Alamodome San Antonio, TX
Adjudicator Biographies National Presenting Sponsor
MUSIC PANEL (alphabetical by last name) Marty Griffin, Toms River, NJ Marty Griffin received his undergraduate degree in music at William Paterson University, where he performed with the New Jersey Percussion Ensemble and the New Jersey New Music Ensemble. He also has a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Kean University. Marty has been a Band Director in New Jersey for 27 years, and he is currently the Director of Bands and Coordinator of Fine Arts at Monroe Township High School. His responsibilities include directing the Marching Band (16 years), Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Percussion Ensemble as well as teaching AP Music Theory. The MTHS Marching Band was selected to represent New Jersey at the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor in 2016. Marty performed for five seasons with the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps and he has been a percussion arranger for high school bands throughout New Jersey since 1987. Marty currently judges for numerous organizations including Winter Guard International (WGI), Bands of America (BOA), and Drum Corps International (DCI). In 2006, Marty was selected to judge for the Drum Corps Japan Championships held in Yokohama, Japan. He is currently the Percussion Caption Head for Drum Corps Associates, as well as judging coordinator for The Mid Atlantic Percussion Society.
Jay Kennedy, Holliston, MA Mr. S. Jay Kennedy’s career encompasses varied and successful experiences as a composer, arranger, producer, performer, educator, and administrative leader. He is Vice President for Academic Affairs/Vice Provost at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Kennedy received his Ph.D. from Boston College, and Master of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Northwestern University. Mr. Kennedy has composed, arranged, and produced music for hundreds of television and radio commercials, for which he has received numerous awards. His music has also been heard in feature films, including “Wayne’s World”, “Electric Horseman”, “Fast Break”, and “Lethal Weapon 2”, and in a variety of television series, including “One Tree Hill”, “Judging Amy”, and “Felicity”. A veteran of the recording industry, Mr. Kennedy has written and produced music for Sheryl Crow, Siedah Garrett, James Ingram, Patti Austin, Little Richard, Stanley Clarke, Brenda Russell, Dave Grusin, and Singers Unlimited. Mr. Kennedy was a Grammy Award finalist in 2002 for arrangements on the recording, “Virtuosi”, by Gary Burton and Makoto Ozone. His published compositions include works for concert band, percussion ensemble, and marching band. Mr. Kennedy has been an active adjudicator for marching band, drum corps, and indoor percussion competitions for over 30 years, and has written for several drum and bugle corps. He has also composed the themes for the Drum Corps International (DCI) championship broadcasts and DVDs. He was elected to the DCI Hall of Fame in 2007 for longtime contributions as an adjudicator, judge administrator, arranger, and composer.
Matt McCready, Tulsa, OK Matt McCready is in his 12th year with Union Public Schools and fourth as Director of Fine Arts, having previously served as Union’s Director of Bands. This year Union was named a “Best Community for Music Education” by the NAMM Foundation, having previously received the recognition in 2013. Under his leadership, over 90% of students in the district now participate in at least one Fine Arts Department activity. Under his direction, the band program saw exponential growth in student participation, while also receiving top rankings and ratings at numerous local, state, regional, and national events. During his tenure, The Renegade Regiment, Union’s marching band, was Bands of America (BOA) Grand Nationals Finalist’s twice, and also participated in the 2013 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. McCready is currently ABD working toward an Educational Leadership Doctoral Degree at Oklahoma State University in Tulsa. He is a graduate of the University of Kansas (KU) earning both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education. While attending KU, he was the assistant director of the men’s and women’s basketball bands during the 100th year of Kansas basketball, and was also selected to be in the Walt Disney World All-American College Band. McCready is a native of Kansas City and is an avid Jayhawks fan, as well as a die-hard Royals and Chiefs supporter. He also maintains an active schedule across the country as a musician, adjudicator, clinician, and conductor. Page 1 of 4 Paul McGarr, Brantford, ONT Paul McGarr is currently teaching in Toronto at the prestigious Upper Canada College where he has been the Director of Bands at the Preparatory School since 2007. He is also the Artistic Director for the Hamilton All Star Jazz Band. He has over 20 years of teaching experience throughout southern Ontario from the Director of Jazz Studies and Concert Bands at Toronto’s Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts, Director of the Jazz Program at Westdale Secondary School, and five years with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, to 15 years as musical director, composer, arranger, and consultant to many prominent Drum Corps throughout Ontario. His education consists of majoring in Jazz Performance studies (trumpet) with a minor in composition at the University of Toronto and an Honor’s Degree from Mohawk College’s Applied Music program, including the Gold Medal Award (Mohawk College’s highest accolade) and the Dr. Mitminger Award for combining Athletics and Academic Excellence. He is currently a member of the OBA and CBA. Paul is also in high demand as an adjudicator and clinician working all over North America for such sanctions as Drum Corps International (DCI), Bands of America (BOA), Fiesta-val, and Heritage music festivals, having the pleasure of adjudicating the DCI World Championships and the United States National Championships 21 times in recent years. He is also the former Judge Administrator for the Ontario Drum Corps Association. He, his wife, Jackie, with sons, Joshua, Mitchell and Andrew, and daughter, Jordyn, reside in Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
Stephen Meyer, Yspsilanti, MI Stephen Meyer is currently pursuing his doctor of musical arts degree in conducting from the University of Michigan. He recently served as interim assistant director of bands at the University of South Carolina and was previously director of bands at Clear Creek High School in League City, Texas. Under his direction, the Clear Creek Wind Ensemble was a featured performer at the 2013 Midwest Clinic, was named a National Winner in the National Wind Band Honors Project three times, a two-time national finalist for American Prize in Wind Ensemble Performance, and the Grand Champion of the 2013 Dallas Wind Symphony Invitational. Prior to Clear Creek, Stephen taught at Harrison High School in Cobb County, Georgia, where he assisted with performances at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, the Georgia Music Educators Association, and the University of Georgia January Festival. As co-director of the marching band, the band was a consistent Bands of America Regional and Super-Regional Finalist, a Bands of America Grand National Finalist in 2007, and a featured ensemble in the 2009 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Stephen is the author of Rehearsing the High School Band, published by Meredith Music/Hal Leonard. He graduated magna cum laude from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a bachelor of music education degree, and earned a master of music in music education degree from the University of Michigan.
Travis Moddison, Grants Pass, OR Mr. Travis Moddison is an optimist, a trumpet player, composer, and band director. His high school bands have received numerous concert, jazz, and marching awards including Northwest Association for Performing Arts Championships and Oregon School Activities Association District Champions and Bronze Medalists. Mr. Moddison has also taught The Cadets, Santa Clara Vanguard, and The Oregon Crusaders. Mr. Moddison has won World Championships in Winter Guard International (WGI) and Drum Corps International (DCI), as well as many regional accolades with his ensembles. Mr. Moddison has adjudicated for NWAPA, Marching Band Open Series, OSAA, and the Western Band Association. Mr. Moddison serves as the Director of Athletic Bands at Southern Oregon University, as well as Director of Bands at Ashland High School. Mr. Moddison also enjoys a career as an active arranger writer for bands in Oregon, Washington, California, Texas, and Minnesota, as well as for choir and chamber music. Mr. Moddison has two sons, Gabriel and Wynston, who enjoy playing brass instruments, as well as digging in the dirt and being kids.
Caleb Rothe, Fontana, CA Caleb Rothe is the Percussion Education Coordinator for Winter Guard International (WGI) Sport of the Arts. He has previously served as a program director, arranger, and instructor for numerous programs including Ayala H.S., Pulse Percussion, Upland H.S., Rancho Cucamonga H.S., and Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Rothe is an internationally sought-after adjudicator and clinician, and has written for numerous groups across the United States and Japan. Caleb has served as an adjudicator at events across the United States, Europe, and Asia. His judging experience includes work with WGI Sport of the Arts, Drum Corps International (DCI), Bands of America (BOA), the Malaysia World Band Competition, and a number of local and regional marching arts organizations and events across the United States. On the field, his groups have previously been named DCI Division III World Champions, Page 2 of 4 BOA Grand National Finalists, BOA Regional Champions, and Western Band Association Finalists 23 times. In indoor competition, his ensembles have collectively won nine WGI World Championship medals and have been WGI World Championship Finalists 25 times. Mr. Rothe received his bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona in the spring of 2003 and his teaching credential from the University of Redlands in the winter of 2007. After teaching math and percussion, and serving as mathematics department chair for many years, he now serves as an Instructional Technology Coach for the Redlands Unified School District. Caleb lives with his wife Kelly and sons Cameron and Carter in Fontana, California.
Ken Turner, Apalachin, NY Ken Turner has an extensive history in the field of music education and pageantry. During his career as an educator he served as a band director, supervisor of music, clinician, musical arranger, program coordinator, consultant, adjudicator, and guest conductor. His high school concert band, jazz ensembles, and marching bands have won numerous local, state, and national honors. Ken has also served as the Music and Brass Caption Chairman for Drum Corps Associates (DCA), the New York Federation of Contest Judges (NYFCJ), Drum Corps East (DCE), and Drum Corps International (DCI), as well as Judge Administrator for the New York Field Band Conference and as Chief Judge and Judge Administrator for DCI. He has been a member of the DCI Task Force, the Drum Corps Strategic Planning Committee, and the DCI Rules Committee; and has served as a clinician and adjudicator at numerous state, national, and international musical events in North America, Europe, and Japan. Ken served as Director of Music for the Johnson City Central School District in Johnson City, New York, which was honored on six occasions by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences as a GRAMMY Signature School, and was also recognized as one of the Best Communities in America for Music Education by NAMM. He served for four years as a member of the National Advisory Board for the Partners in Education Program at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and received special recognition from the Kennedy Center for his contribution to the program.
VISUAL PANEL (alphabetical by last name) Lee Carlson, Palm Springs, CA Mr. Lee Carlson has been involved in the pageantry arts for over 40 years. He has spent the last 34 years as the drill designer and color guard instructor for the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band. Mr. Carlson judges for Bands of America (BOA), Drum Corps International (DCI), and many Winter Guard Circuits across the United States. Mr. Carlson served four years as Visual Caption Head for DCI and currently serves as Judges Training Coordinator. Mr. Carlson has judged in Europe and Asia, and has adjudicated the Drum Corps Japan Championships seven times. He has written for and taught many mass bands including the opening of the Los Angeles Olympics, Centennial of the Statue of Liberty, the Bicentennial of the French Revolution, and the Centennial of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Mr. Carlson owns and operates a pottery studio in Palm Springs, California.
William Chumley, Littleton, CO William Chumley has committed over 35 years to the pageantry arts as a marching member, instructor, consultant, judge, and color guard director, where his various roles have included: serving on the Board of Directors for the Rocky Mountain Color Guard Association for 21 years; judging worldwide for Drum Corps United Kingdom, Drum Corps Japan, Color Guard Netherlands, Winter Guard International, Bands of America (BOA), and Drum Corps International (DCI) for 25 years; and training, mentoring, and scheduling judges for 25 years. William Chumley is the Design Analysis and General Effect Caption Manager for Winter Guard International (WGI); he is a sought after clinician and judge around the world; and he balances his pageantry judging with his daily work as Chief Customer Officer for the Colorado Governor’s Office of Information Technology.
Tim Ochran, Tyler, TX Mr. Tim Ochran has been a Bands of America (BOA) judge since 1985 and has had the privilege to be part of over 100 BOA Regional Championships, as well as over 20 Grand National Championship judging panels. He has served as the visual judge administrator for Drum Corps International (DCI), as well as had the honor of serving as a member of the Music for All Board of Directors. He is the Senior Vice President & Chief Administrator Officer for the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler.
Page 3 of 4 Michael Stone, Los Angeles, CA Michael Stone has been adjudicating various pageantry competitions since 1997. He attributes his interest in pageantry to his high school music and marching band program. Mr. Stone has studied, performed, and taught in several music programs in California. Mr. Stone is recognized at the highest level of adjudicators for Drum Corps International (DCI) and Winter Guard International (WGI). As a nationally recognized adjudicator, Mr. Stone is proud to be affiliated with the following organizations: DCI, WGI, Music for All - Bands of America (BOA), Winter Guard Association of Southern California (WGASC/MBOS), and Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit (FFCC)
Jim Sturgeon, Louisville, KY Mr. Jim Sturgeon has been involved in the pageantry arts for over 25 years. He serves as an adjudicator for Drum Corps International (DCI), Bands of America (BOA), Winter Guard International (WGI), Gulf Coast Judges Association, and various marching band and color guard circuits. Mr. Sturgeon was a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard. He has served as a designer and clinician for the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as for several high school band and color guard programs throughout the country. Mr. Sturgeon possesses a B.S. in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Louisville. Jim is a Senior Director of Human Resources Operations for Kindred Healthcare.
Jeff Young, Carmel IN Jeff Young teaches in Carmel, Indiana. He graduated from Notre Dame & Indiana University. He is currently the visual caption head for the Carmel High School Marching Band. Jeff has been the marching band track division head for the Music for All Summer Symposium since 2009. In addition, Jeff is a visual consultant for the Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps. Jeff judges, designs drills, and frequently teaches clinics on marching and movement.
CHIEF JUDGE Gary Markham, Dallas, GA Mr. Gary Markham is recently retired Supervisor of Instrumental Music for the Cobb County School District in Marietta, Georgia. He is the former Director of Bands at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, VA. He has over four decades of experience in music education, with 25 years as a high school band director and 20 years as a music supervisor. He currently serves internationally as clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and consultant. The Cobb County Music program has been named one of the “BEST Communities for Music Education in America, 12 times. Mr. Markham received his B. S. degree from Mansfield State University, M. Ed. degree from Penn State University, and studied for Ph. D. (ABD) in conducting and music supervision at George Mason University with Tony Maiello and Arnald Gabriel. His leadership experience includes membership on several state and national music education executive boards including the Mid-West Clinic Advisory Committee. He is currently the Senior Education Consultant and Chief Judge for Bands of America (BOA), Executive Director of the Music Administration Collaborative, and Judge Education Director for Drum Corps International (DCI). He is a 1992 recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation's "Sudler Order of Merit" and the Robinson Symphonic Band is the 1992 recipient of the "Sudler Flag of Honor.” In 2006, Mr. Markham was presented with the Georgia Music Educators Administrative Leadership award and was inducted into the BOA “Hall of Fame.” In 2007, Mr. Markham received the DCI & Coltrin & Associates “Excellence in Music Education Award.” In 2009, NAfME presented the first “Excellence in Marching Music Education” to Mr. Markham for serving as chairman of the Blue Ribbon Commission for writing National Standards and a lifetime devoted to marching music excellence.
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