Dr. Marcus Reddick
Colorado native Dr. Marcus Reddick joined the faculty of Mercer University in the Fall of 2006 as the Director of Percussion Studies and Assistant Professor of Music, where he teaches applied percussion, percussion ensemble, percussion techniques, and courses in music theory, orchestration, musicianship, jazz appreciation, and music appreciation as well as assisting with the Mercer Wind and Jazz Ensembles. Before coming to Mercer, he was the Director of Percussion Studies and an assistant Professor of Music at Albany State University in Albany , Georgia .
Marcus received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky ; his Master of Music in Percussion Performance was obtained at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas , and his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance at the University of Nebraska-Omaha .
A versatile performer, he has toured extensively and performed around the world performing both as a soloist and as a member of numerous ensembles. He has performed with orchestras throughout the country including the Omaha Symphony, Nevada Symphony Orchestra, the Las Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, Colorado Symphony, and Albany Symphony. He currently serves as principal timpanist with the Ocmulgee Symphony Orchestra and section percussionist with the Macon and Augusta Symphonies. Other performing ensembles include the Nevada Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Chamber Music Southwest, Southern Nevada New Music Ensemble, the Las Vegas Percussion Group, of which he was also the assistant music director, and The Mothers Big Band, to name but a few.
A highly sought after performer and clinician, Marcus has been an Artist-in-Residence at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and a marimba soloist/clinician at Universities throughout the country. He has performed with numerous world class musicians including Elton John, Billy Joel, Fred Wesley, Joe Bonner, Kim Stone, Rick Neilsen, Allen Vizzuti, Bobby Shew, Eric Marienthal, Nelson Rangell, Benny Golson, and many others.
Marcus has been featured at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the Nebraska Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society Day of Percussion, the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, CA, the Lotus World Music and Arts Festival in Bloomington, Indiana performing with world hand drumming virtuoso Glen Velez, the Atlanta International Band and Orchestra Conference, the Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference in Chicago, multiple state MENC Conferences, the Atlanta Jazz Festival, performing with jazz legend Donald Byrd, and as a clinician with Sonny Emory at his International Drum Set Camp. He can be heard on Troppe Note Recordings, Sea Breeze Jazz, and Smitty Records, in addition to several independent labels.
Marcus continues to pioneer the performance, composition, and pedagogy of the six-mallet independence technique for the marimba. He endorses Mike Balter mallets and is a member of the Vic Firth Professional Drum Teachers Team.
Dr. Douglas Hill
Dr. Douglas Hill, Professor of Music, Director of Instrumental Ensembles, and Director of Undergraduate Studies at Mercer University’s Townsend School of Music, joined the faculty in 1988 after completing six years of successful public school teaching in Ohio and the doctor of musical arts degree in wind conducting at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music.
As Conductor of the Mercer Wind Ensemble, Hill has broadened the program to include the performance of both traditional and contemporary wind ensemble literature from the Renaissance through the twenty-first century. Since the opening of the McCorkle Music Building in 2001, a full complement of more than 12 chamber ensembles has been established from within the Mercer Wind Ensemble. In the first half of each semester the Mercer Wind Ensemble divides into chamber ensembles coached by faculty members to focus on individual musicianship, performance skills, and improved intonation. Following a midterm chamber ensemble concert, the students rehearse as a full wind ensemble in preparation for concerts in The Grand Opera House, a historic concert hall in downtown Macon, and on regional and national tours. Hill also conducts the Mercer Chamber Players, a faculty ensemble of mixed instrumentation depending upon the literature performed. In January 2004, this premiere ensemble was invited to perform at the Georgia Music Educators In-Service Conference in Savannah.
Hill’s experience and expertise as both a conductor and music educator and his broad knowledge of traditional and contemporary band literature have made him much in demand as a guest conductor and clinician for high school, university and community bands across the country. On seven separate occasions, Hill has been the recipient of Mercer University Faculty Research Grants to research new and existing wind works in Kerkrade, The Netherlands; Manchester, England; the University of Calgary, Canada; San Luis Obispo, California; Lucerne, Switzerland, at the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles world conference on wind band music; a focus on chamber music in the National Libraries of Prague, Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria and most recently The Interlochen Music library in Michigan. As a result of this research, he has been able to incorporate a wealth of literature into conducting, wind literature and music education classes as well as wind ensemble rehearsals and performances at Mercer.
While at Mercer, Hill and the Mercer Wind Ensemble have presented the Georgia premiere of works by Henk Alkema, Warren Benson, Daren Hagen, Rocky Reuter, Robert J. Frank, Michael Weinstein and Eric Ewazen. Hill and the Mercer Wind Ensemble have been regular participants in consortiums to promote new works by composers Nebojsa Zivkovic, Warren Benson, John Mackey, Eric Ewazen, Adam Gorb, Roger Cichy and Lowell Liebermann.
In 2010, Hill and faculty members Adrian Gnam, Distinguished Artist in Residence at Mercer and Conductor of the Macon Symphony Orchestra; Stanley Roberts, Director of Choral Activities at Mercer, will host the Seventh International Conductors Workshop. Participants from around the world will be given the rare opportunity to conduct in an orchestral, choral and band setting with the Macon Sinfonia, Mercer Singers, and Mercer Wind Ensemble serving as resident ensembles for the four-day workshop.
Hill is an active member of the College Band Directors National Association, World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Music Educators National Conference, Georgia Music Educators Association, and the International Trumpet Guild. Hill maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and trumpet performer across the Southeast. He currently performs in the Colony IV Brass and Townsend Faculty Brass Quintet at Mercer University.
Mr. Mark Johnson
Mark B. Johnson is the director of wind ensembles and wind studies at Armstrong Atlantic State University in Savannah, Georgia. He is also conductor of the AASU Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds, and the Savannah Winds Community Band. Courses taught by Professor Johnson include: Advanced Instrumental Conducting, Band Methods, Band Repertoire, Brass Methods, Marching Band Techniques, Performance Techniques and Supervisor of Music Student Teaching. Mr. Johnson professional affiliations include: College Band Directors National Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, National Band Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.
Mark Johnson has completed course work for the doctorate of musical arts-band and orchestral conducting at the University of Kansas. He received his master of music in conducting and brass pedagogy from Louisiana State University and his bachelor of music education from Murray State University. He is the former assistant director of bands at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, show designer of the University of Kansas Marching JayHawks, and former director of bands at Terry Sanford High School in Fayetteville, North Carolina where under his direction the bands of Terry Sanford received consistent superior ratings in performance and numerous invitations to perform for national, state, and local events. Johnson is in constant demand as conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States. He lives in Savannah, Georgia with wife Peggy and daughter Madeline where he also enjoys golf and restoring vintage Volkswagens.
Degrees: * M.M., Louisiana State University * B.M.E., Murray State University
Mr. Richard D. Brasco
Richard D. Brasco is a native of Jeannette , Pennsylvania where he graduated from Jeannette High School . He has a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Vincent College , in Latrobe , Pennsylvania , and a Master Degree in Music Education from the University of South Carolina .
Mr. Brasco is an educator with thirty- five years experience in Georgia and South Carolina . Concert, jazz, and marching bands under his direction have performed at the Georgia and South Carolina state music conventions, ASBDA National Convention in Atlanta, the University of South Carolina Conductor’s Symposium, the University of Georgia Winter Music Festival, the Macy*s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, the Lord Mayor’s Parade in London, England, Westminster Central Hall in London, and the Easter Festival in Maastricht, the Netherlands. His bands have received consistent Superior ratings in level VI music festivals and contests in Georgia , South Carolina , Florida , and Tennessee . He has served as guest clinician/adjudicator in London , England ; Edinburgh , Scotland ; Alaska , North and South Carolina , Georgia , the University of Georgia , and Winthrop University in South Carolina . Mr. Brasco also conducted the second band at Winthrop University Summer Band Camp for twelve years.
Mr. Brasco is a four-time recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence and the ASBDA/Stanbury award. He has received Teacher of the Year and Star Teacher on three occasions at Evans High School . Mr. Brasco received the “Golden Apple Award” from WJBF television and was also featured in the national “Band and Orchestra” magazine article; Educators Who Make a Difference. Mr. Brasco was inducted into the Wall of Fame at Evans High School in 2008.
Mr. Brasco’s professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu where he has served as treasurer, American School Band Directors Association, National Band Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, and MENC. Mr. Brasco has served in various capacities in GMEA.
Presently, Mr. Brasco is an adjunct faculty member at Augusta State University . He conducts the ASU Conservatory Wind Symphony and the high school band at the ASU Summer Camp. Mr. Brasco is also conductor of Savannah River Winds which is an adult wind ensemble. This ensemble has performed at the GMEA State Music Convention,the South Carolina State Music Convention, and the Westobou Festival in Augusta . Savannah River Winds, upon the request of composer David Shaffer, has recorded a compact disc containing ten of Mr. Shaffer’s compositions. Mr. Brasco also conducted the Augusta Community Band for thirteen seasons, and has performed with and served as musical director for the Augusta Players.
Mr. Brasco currently resides in North Augusta , South Carolina with his wife Barbara. Their son Craig lives in Marietta , Georgia with his wife Erika, daughter Natalie, and son Nicklaus. Their daughter Mia lives in Aiken , South Carolina with her husband C. Alan Miller and daughter Penelope.
Mr. James Henderson
Previously, Mr. Henderson was a teacher of instrumental music with Orange County Public Schools, Florida. Mr. Henderson has taught 5 out of the last 11 years as Director of Bands at William R. Boone High School and helped with three Middle Schools that feed into the school. Mr. Henderson oversaw all facets of the instrumental music program. His teaching experience in Louisiana, Florida, and Georgia encompasses the elementary, junior high and high school leve ls, as well as private brass instruction.
Performing groups for which Mr. Henderson has been responsible have been consistently recognized for their high level of accomplishments. Mr. Henderson has served as a clinician and an adjudicator throughout Orange County, Louisiana, and Georgia for both concert and marching band activities.
Mr. Henderson’s professional affiliations include Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Henderson has also held office as Secretary of the District 8 chapter of the Florida Bandmasters Association. A native of Louisiana, Mr. Henderson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Louisiana State University.
Mr. Ralph Ford
Ralph Ford (b. 1963) is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Troy University (AL). A native of Panama City, Florida, he has served on the university faculty in numerous areas of expertise since 1986, working mainly as the assistant director, arranger and theory instructor. Since 2001, Professor Ford has been the conductor of the Troy University Symphony Band and Chamber Winds, as well as the director of the nationally renowned “Sound of the South” Marching Band. His compositions and arrangements for band have been commissioned and performed by middle school, high school, collegiate, and professional bands worldwide. He currently serves as an exclusive composer-arranger for the Belwin division of Alfred Publications, a position he has enjoyed for over a decade. Currently, he has over 200 publications for concert band, orchestra, jazz ensemble, and marching band available worldwide. Professor Ford has served extensively in the United States and Canada as a composer, arranger, conductor, clinician, consultant, and adjudicator.
Professor Ford has also worked extensively in the music industry where he has composed, recorded, and produced music, jingles, and 3D graphic designs for radio, television, and video productions. Most recently, he was the music team supervisor on the soundtrack recording for the animated motion picture, “Dwegons.” He has won numerous “Addies,” as well as recognition and awards from various agencies and international associations for his creative work in the media field. His active professional memberships include the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Music Educators National Conference, the National Band Association, the Troy Rotary Club, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Sigma Alpha Iota and Delta Chi, among others. Professor Ford has received the Outstanding Artist Award from the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He has co-authored published articles discussing the incorporation of electronic instruments into the modern wind ensemble and was recently a featured composer in the series Teaching Music through Performance in Band, Vol. 7 . In March 2009, he was elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and is currently the only active Alabama director in this organization. He and his wife, Amanda, reside in Troy with their daughters, Melanie and Abby.
Mr. Travis Roye
Travis Roye is a native of Lincolnton , GA located just outside of the Augusta area. He completed his Bachelor of Music Education degree at Georgia Southern University in 2004 where he was named the prestigious Presser Scholar awarded to the top rising senior music major. While attending GSU he participated in the symphonic wind ensemble, percussion ensemble, jazz band, big band, community band, Statesboro Symphony Orchestra, indoor marching percussion ensemble, and the “Southern Pride” marching band. He held the position of principle in each of these ensembles, while also holding the position of Caption Head/Arranger/Instructor for both the outdoor and indoor marching percussion ensembles. Under his direction and co-direction the indoor ensemble placed in the top ten nationally every year they participated and finished 3 rd overall in the nation in 2003 at the annual Percussive Arts Society Indoor Competition held in Nashville , Tennessee . He also participated in the Georgia All College Band held annually during the GMEA convention in Savannah , GA for 3 years.
His work as an educator over the years includes being on staff as a percussion coordinator/instructor and arranger for several high school and middle school programs throughout the state of Georgia . He is currently a full-time percussion instructor/arranger for Houston County High School , Northside High School , and Bonaire Middle School all located in Warner Robins , GA. He started the percussion ensemble program at Bonaire Middle School and his two high school percussion programs have doubled in size in the 5 years he has been educating in the area. His ensembles consistently garner superior ratings, class championships, and grand championships at festivals and competitions. In the last two years at Houston County High School his marching percussion section has finished 1 st place overall at 5 out 6 contests. The percussion ensemble at Houston has also been a guest performing group at Middle Georgia College and annually hosts a guest performer/clinician on their percussion ensemble concert. He also has a private studio of 20 students, many of whom have made several honor bands including District, Region, and All State , as well as Jan-Fest honor band, Macon-Mercer Youth Symphony and the Governors Honors program. Several of his students have received music scholarships to prominent universities including Florida State University , University of Georgia , and Georgia Southern University, and are now music majors. One of his former students- Tony Royster, Jr. is now a highly sought-after session player in Los Angeles and is endorsed by Vic Firth.
Travis is also currently on staff as an instructor for East Paulding High School and Milton High School located in the Atlanta area. Both of these groups are annually in the top 15 in the WGI Indoor Percussion circuit. Travis is an avid composer of all things percussive and musical, and he has recently joined the Countermotion, Inc. company as an indoor percussion composer/arranger and designer. He has also held the position of adjudicator in Georgia and South Carolina for both marching band contests, and district and all state band auditions. In addition to all of that, Travis finds time to perform in his original rock band called “The Industry.” They recently finished recording their first album at Tree Sound Studios in Atlanta , GA with producer/engineer Wyatt Oates. The album is set to be released in May 2010. He also performs weekly in church on drumset.
Travis and his wife Carli currently reside in Centerville , GA with their beautiful daughter Brooklyn Isabel and their two chihuhuas Mollie and Bella.
Mr. Jim Bagley
Jim Bagley is Director of Bands at Dutchtown High School , a position he has held since the school opened in 2005. He holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Education degrees from Georgia Southern University and an Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Lincoln Memorial University . A 29-year veteran of the teaching field in Georgia, Mr. Bagley is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, having served as GMEA District Six band chair, as district chair of GMEA District Four, and as GMEA’s state marching band chair. Mr. Bagley’s bands have consistently earned superior ratings at GMEA large group performance evaluations and his marching bands have been consistent class champions through the years. Under his direction, the Jackson High School marching band marched in the 1999 London New Year’s Parade and the JHS concert band performed as part of the London Music Festival at St. Paul ‘s Church, Hammersmith. Mr. Bagley is an active performer, playing bass trombone in the Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra and the Jonesboro United Methodist Church Orchestra.
Mr. Bagley and his wife of 33 years, Barbara, have two sons. Jonathan is a music education graduate of the University of Georgia and is band director at Waycross Middle School , while Jacob is a Health and PE major and football player at Georgia Southern University. While away from the music world, Mr. Bagley enjoys his pastimes of reading and bicycling.
Mr. Vincent K. Rosse
Vincent K. Rosse is the Director of Bands at Stone Mountain Middle School, Stone Mountain, Ga. and was the Instrumental Band Lead Teacher for Clayton County Schools in Jonesboro, Ga. An honors graduate of Hardaway High School in Columbus, Georgia, Mr. Rosse received his B.A. in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and his M.A. in Music Education from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama, and the Educational Leadership Certification from the State University of West Georgia. His professional teaching career began in Columbia , Mississippi at Jefferson Middle and Columbia High Schools . Mr. Rosse also taught at Spencer High School in Columbus, Georgia, Albany High School in Albany, Georgia, North Clayton High School in College Park, Georgia , Morris Brown College in Atlanta, and LaGrange High School in LaGrange, Georgia.
Mr. Rosse is extensively sought after as an adjudicator and conductor in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and California . Bands under his have performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, The Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, The All-American Music Festival in Orlando, Florida and Performing Arts Abroad in Mexico City, Mexico. As a performer, Mr. Rosse has performed twice at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic with Hardaway High School and the Tara Winds Community Band. He has also performed with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra as principal percussionist, the LaGrange Symphony Orchestra, and the Meridian Symphony. He has also served as the percussion instructor at the Southeastern Music Center at Columbus State University; Guest Conductor and Percussion Instructor at the Encore Music Camp at Georgia College; and Assistant Director for the Atlanta Olympic Band. In addition, he serves as a motivational speaker at schools and churches across the country. His awards and accolades include: Who’s Who in Music in 1980, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities in 1983; Outstanding Young Man of America Award in 1985 and again in 1987; Outstanding Leadership Award in 1989 from Spencer High School; the Golden Apple Teacher Award in 1996; Who’s Who Among American Teachers in 1999 and 2000; and Teacher Of The Month in 2003 from Mundy’s Mill High School. He is formerly a member of the Board of Directors for Arts Clayton Incorporated; and a member of the Board of Directors for Troy University – Southeastern United States Honor Band. Mr. Rosse is a 2004 recipient of the John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor and in 2006 was inducted into the National High School Band Directors Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Board of Directors for the Georgia Music Educator’s Association where he served as Multi-Cultural Awareness Chairman, All State Organizing Chair and Chairman of the Music Selection Committee.
His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters, Kappa Kappa Psi, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Mu Alpha, 100 Black Men of America , and the National Band Association. Mr. Rosse is a Deacon and the Minister of Music at the Franchise Missionary Baptist Church in Phenix City, Alabama .
Dr. Robert Dunham
Robert Dunham is in his fifth year as Director of Bands at Georgia Southern University, where, in the Department of Music, he coordinates the wind and percussion program, conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony, teaches undergraduate and graduate instrumental conducting, and instrumental literature courses.
Collegiate ensembles under his direction have performed at regional College Band Directors National Associations conventions, the California Music Educators convention, the Wyoming All State Music Educators Convention, Drum Corps International World Championships, National Football League half-time shows, and been invited to perform in China, Mexico, and England. As a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Dunham has traveled throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Additionally, Dr. Dunham has served as the Artistic Director of the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra, and as the Assistant Conductor of the Saint Joseph Symphony Orchestra and the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Scott Brown
Scott Brown is a graduate of Georgia State University in music education with twenty years experience in teaching grades K through 12. Mr. Brown’s drum lines have never made less than a superior rating in more than 75 marching competitions.
Scott has performed with the Atlanta , Macon, Charleston and Chattanooga Symphony Orchestras as a freelance performer. He has performed with the national champion Georgia Brass Band as well. Scott is a charter member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corp and has performed with and composed for the CorpsVets Senior Drum and Bugle Corps. Currently, Scott is active as a performer in the elementary schools with an educational concert titled “A History of Drum” in which he performs in different musical styles on a variety of percussion instruments.
Mrs. Regine Kimmel
Regine Kimmel is a native of Marianna, Florida where she graduated from Marianna High School. She completed her Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1979 from Troy University, Troy, Alabama. At Troy University she performed as first flute in the Symphony Band, Opera Orchestra and the marching Sound of the South.
In 2008, Mrs. Kimmel completed her thirtieth year of teaching instrumental music. For twenty-two years, Mrs. Kimmel was the Director of Bands at Bleckley County Middle School and assistant director for the Royal Kingsmen Marching Band. Under Mrs. Kimmel’s direction, the Bleckley County Middle School Baron Brigade Concert Band earned superior ratings each year in Georgia Music Education Performance Evaluations. Prior to teaching in Bleckley County, Regine taught in the Ware County and the Valdosta City system coordinating beginner, middle school band programs and the high school marching band auxiliary units .
Over her thirty year career, Mrs. Kimmel’s marching auxiliary work received all superior ratings in marching festivals and contests. Mrs. Kimmel currently enjoys work as a woodwind private teacher, concert band clinician and marching band auxiliary adjudicator.
Mrs. Kimmel’s professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Flute Association, Women Band Directors International, and Tau Beta Sigma Band Sorority Alumnae Association. Regine and her husband Rick reside in Cochran, Georgia. They have one son, Richard, 19 years old who attends the University of Georgia.