Behind the Baton

Dr. Adam J. Gumble is the Director of Athletic Bands at West Chester University. Dr. Gumble’s primary responsibilities include directing the 324-member “INCOMPARABLE” Golden Rams Marching Band, “Sixth Man” Basketball Band, and WCU Concert Band. Since his arrival at West Chester University, the WCU Marching Band has performed in featured exhibition at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, was named the 2019 recipient of the prestigious Sudler Trophy (the “Heisman Trophy” for collegiate marching bands), performed halftime shows at multiple NFL playoff and regular season football games, and hosted Championship events for both USBands and the Cavalcade of Bands Association. Prior to his appointment at West Chester University, Dr. Gumble taught for 13 years in the Pennsylvania public schools as the Director of Bands at Hempfield High School and Associate Director of Bands at Quakertown Community High School. Dr. Gumble has been a quarterfinalist for the GRAMMY Foundation’s Music Educator Award and has been nominated for “Who's Who Among America's Teachers” as well as multiple "Teacher Impact Awards" through Central Pennsylvania's NBC affiliate, WGAL. Dr. Gumble graduated from West Chester University with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree in 2005, a Master of Music Education Degree from Boston University in 2007, a Master of Music Degree in Wind Conducting from West Chester University in 2016, and a Doctor of Education Degree from West Chester University in 2022.   Connect with Dr. Adam Gumble Email: [email protected] Instagram: @wcugumble

Dr. Frank Pérez serves as Director of Instrumental Music at Gloria Willis Middle School in Kansas City, KS. He formerly served as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Baker University, where he conducted the Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, taught low brass and music education courses. Dr. Pérez has conducted honor bands throughout Midwest and presented clinics and workshops for music educators nationally and internationally. As a trombonist, he has performed with the La Jolla Symphony, L.A. Guild Opera, Des Moines Big Band, De Soto Brass Band, and KC Bone Connection. He co-founded and co-conducts Trombone Christmas Kansas City. Dr. Pérez is Immediate Past-President of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, KMEA Representative for the Society for Music Teacher Education, and a Conn-Selmer and Denis Wick performing artist & clinician. Connect with Dr. Pérez Website: https://www.frankperezmusic.com Photography: https://www.facebook.com/FrankPerezDigitalImages Email: [email protected]

Chris DeVona is the Assistant Director of Bands at James Madison University, where he conducts the Symphonic Band, directs the basketball Pep Band, and works with the Marching Royal Dukes. In addition to his ensemble responsibilities, Chris also teaches conducting and marching band procedures courses. Prior to joining the band team at JMU, Chris was on faculty at Eastern University (PA), and he taught high school and middle school band/orchestra in his home state of Connecticut. In addition to his teaching, Chris’s works as an author span from educational literature to research in the wind band field. His recent textbooks include Small Band, Big Sound, a resource guide for music educators, as well as Expanding the Canon, a conducting excerpt book that foregrounds music by living composers. Chris’s research primarily addresses score interpretation and connections with contemporary music analysis; his articles are published in the Journal of Band Research and the journal of the International Conductor’s Guild. When not working with the JMU bands, Chris travels frequently as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for concert and marching ensembles. During the summer and fall seasons, Chris stays actively involved with marching band and drum corps, most recently serving in leadership roles on the staffs at the Blue Knights and Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps. Chris holds undergraduate degrees from the Hartt School and the University of Hartford in music theory and mathematics, and he completed his M.M. in conducting at West Chester University (PA).   Connect with Chris DeVona Books Small Band, Big Sound by Chris DeVona https://giamusic.com/resource/small-band-big-sound-book-11191 Expanding the Canon by Andrew Yozviak and Chris DeVona https://murphymusicpress.com/products/t-100  Facebook https://www.facebook.com/chris.devona.7  

Micah Bolton is the Director of Bands at Goddard High School, currently in his third year, where he works with students across intermediate, middle school, and high school levels. An active percussionist, educator, and conductor, he is highly sought after as a private instructor and percussion coach for schools, camps, and honor bands. He also maintains an active performing schedule as a member of the Wichita Wind Symphony.  Micah is a graduate of Friends University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music Education and was recognized as a Kansas Teacher of Promise. He resides in Wichita with his wife, Madison, and their dog, Marilyn.   Connect with Micah Bolton Email [email protected]  

If you leave your growth to randomness, you’ll always live in the land of mediocrity. ~Brendon Burchard

Good decision-making comes down to two things: 1. Knowing how to get what you want 2. Knowing what’s worth wanting ~Shane Parrish in “Clear Thinking”

If you have a “to-do” list, do you also have a “stop doing” list? ~ Jim Collins in “Good to Great”

We waste time and energy stewing and stressing over the past instead of moving forward in hope. ~Ryan Leak

People do not decide their futures, they decide their habits and their habits decide their futures. ~Frederick M. Alexander

Bigger isn’t better. Better is better. ~Mike Goldman

Don't match the energy. Set the standard. ~Ryan Leak   Check out Ryan's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-ryan-leak-podcast/id1523090326?i=1000704276203

1. Show up on time. 2. Know the music. 3. Have an idea to share. ~adapted from Tom Hanks

The way we do one thing is how we do everything. ~Dr. Tim Laurzenhiser

Dr. Brad Persinger is the Director of Bands for the Decatur Community Schools in Oberlin, Kansas. He has taught in Kansas, Colorado, and Montana and in the fall of 2025 he will begin his 32nd year of teaching. In 2012, Brad was recognized as the Montana VFW Teacher of the Year and also received the Montana VFW Citizenship Education Award. In 2013, he was recognized as the VFW District 5 Teacher of the Year. Connect with Dr. Persinger Email [email protected]      

"Excellence is the culmination of thousands of details executed perfectly.”  ~Will Guidara

Ethan Wagoner just completed his 10th year of teaching and serves as the Director of Bands at Derby Middle School, as well as an assistant band director at Derby High School in Derby, Kansas.  In 2023, Ethan was selected as the Derby Public Schools secondary nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year. He also was nominated and featured in School Band and Orchestra + Magazine as the Kansas representative for 50 Music Teachers who Make a Difference. In addition to teaching, Mr. Wagoner is an active composer and performer. Ethan is commissioned each year to compose and arrange works for marching bands throughout the state, and has composed numerous works for concert band and percussion ensemble. Ethan also performs regularly with the Wichita Wind Symphony.   Connect with Ethan Wagoner Email [email protected] Website https://www.ethanwagonermusic.com/  

The success of my day is based on the seeds that I sow, not the harvest that I reap. ~John C. Maxwell

Jordan Northerns is the Director of Bands at Circle Middle School and Circle High School in Towanda, Kansas. He just completed his 19th year in education and was recently recognized as Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Circle Public Schools.   Connect with Jordan Northerns Email [email protected]  

Focus on excellence, not comparison.

The ones doing the thinking are the ones doing the learning. ~Annika Stucky

Unclear expectations lead to unexpected results.

The success of my day is based on the seeds that I sow, not the harvest that I reap. ~ John C. Maxwell

Catch people doing right more than wrong.

When you make a mistake, it doesn’t make you a mistake.

Sunday Spark: Inspiring Insights for a Bright Week Ahead "Our success is connected. Your success is our success."

Annie Adams is in her sixth year K-12 vocal and instrumental for Thunder Ridge Schools in Kensington and Agra, Kansas.  She earned her bachelor’s in music education at Bethany College in Lindsborg, KS and her master’s in clarinet performance at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  Annie taught band for two years in Oklahoma before moving to North Carolina.  After graduate school, Annie worked in Scotland and then taught private lessons on clarinet, fiddle and guitar in North Carolina for 12 years.  In 2018, Annie returned to Kansas with her family to teach for Thunder Ridge.  Annie enjoys spending time with her two boys and husband, working on family projects, and adventure racing.  She performs fiddle locally with her dad and has recently jumped into horse ownership and horse training.   Connect with Annie Adams Email [email protected]  

I had the privilege of leading a professional development workshop for music educators in the Northwest part of Kansas. In attendance were band, choir and orchestra directors as well as general music teachers at the elementary level; all are from predominantly small and rural schools. And...some teach K-12 Music - wow! During our time together I asked the participants three questions: What does success look like in small and/or rural schools? What advice would you give your first-year teacher self? How will you define success for your program?  It’s May, school is over…"we were successful because of this" … what is that for you? The music educators in this episode are amazing...I hope you are able to find some inspiration from their stories. ~Shawn  

Brandon J. Lesando is the Director of Bands at Blue Valley Southwest High School in Overland Park, Kansas, Chair of East Central Kansas Music Educators Association HS honor bands, and the President-Elect of the the Kansas Bandmasters Association. While at Blue Valley Southwest, Lesando has presented clinics on program and project management, brass pedagogy, band travel and planning, and ensemble sound concepts, and has commissioned three new works for the wind band medium. Under his direction, the Blue Valley Southwest Band program has flourished into performing on regional and national stages as a 2-time Bands of America Regional Finalist medaling in class AA and earning a caption award in music, 2 large ensemble and 4 chamber ensemble appearances at the annual Kansas Music Educators Association In-Service Workshop and a 2-time featured stage performer at Music for All concert band festivals. Lesando is a graduate of the University of North Florida where he studied horn and euphonium and earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree, Cum Laude. He is currently pursuing his Master of Music Education degree from the University of Colorado – Boulder and was named Outstanding Young Music Educator of the Year in 2018 for the East Central District of the Kansas Music Educators Association. Originally from Pennsylvania, Lesando enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 2004. His assignments included serving as a submarine nuclear weapons technician onboard the USS Rhode Island (SSBN 740 GOLD) and as a Navy Formal Schools instructor for incoming students and fleet sailors at the Trident Training Facility in Kings Bay, GA. In 2011, Lesando was Honorably Discharged from active duty as a Missile Technician, 1st Class (Submarines) with awards for achievement, volunteer service, and good conduct.   Connect with Brandon Lesando Email [email protected]    

Dr. Melody Causby is Assistant Professor of Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to coming to The University of Southern Mississippi, Causby was on the faculty at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina for three years, first as the Assistant Director of Bands, then as the Interim Director of Bands. During her eleven years of public school teaching, the programs she ran grew in size and quality, and she served her district and state band organizations in several leadership capacities. Dr. Catheryn Shaw Foster currently serves as Assistant Professor of Practice of Music Education at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. Her responsibilities include working with graduate students in the Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction program. She taught public school in Georgia, serving as the Director of Bands at Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta and the Assistant Director of Bands at Perry High School in Perry. During this time, Foster was an active member of Districts VIII and XI, serving as the District Chair, as well as the Honor Band Coordinator for District VIII. The Rural Band Director Alliance is a newly formed national organization for rural band directors. Teaching band in a rural area comes with different challenges and rewards that are often only understood by other rural band directors. The purpose of this group is to provide a supportive and uplifting community for band directors in rural areas. This group is intended to be a safe place for rural band directors to share their struggles, experiences, and advice.   Connect with Melody & Catheryn [email protected] [email protected]   Rural Band Director Alliance https://www.facebook.com/groups/207618192221782/    

Dr. Bill Thomas is the Director of Bands at Shawnee Mission West High School and the Performing Arts Coordinator for the Shawnee Mission Public Schools. Connect with Bill Email: [email protected]  

Brandi & Clayton Kaus teach 6-8 band and choir at Augusta Middle School in Augusta, KS. Brandi and Clayton have a combined 43 years in education.   Connect with Brandi & Clayton Email: [email protected] [email protected]  

Chris Harris is the Director of Bands at Owasso High School in Owasso, Oklahoma. With 31 years in education and 19 of those in the Owasso program, Chris has had multiple bands invited to perform at the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Convention and his groups have earned 25 Sweepstakes Awards from the Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association Music Contests.    Connect with Chris Harris Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.owassobands.com/    

Kristi Vetter is the Director of Bands at Beloit Junior/Senior High School in Beloit, KS and has been in music education for 30 years. Kristi is the recipient of teaching awards from the Kansas Music Educators Association and the Kansas State Department of Education.    Connect with Kristi Vetter Email: [email protected]

Kyle Hopkins is the Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at McPherson College in McPherson, KS. Kyle has been in education for 24 years and has taught beginning band through college.   Connect with Kyle Hopkins Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kyle.hopkins.1804  

Victoria Griffitt is the Director of Bands at Derby North Middle School in Derby, KS. Victoria has been in education for 20 years and has taught beginning band through high school.   Connect with Victoria Griffitt Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoria.griffitt

Jennifer Antonetti is the Director of Bands a at Topeka High School in Topeka, KS. Jennifer has been in education for 15 years and has taught elementary general music and band for grades Pre-K through college. Jennifer is also co-founder of BatonSync, an intuitive management app for music teachers.   Connect with Jennifer Antonetti Email: [email protected] BatonSync:  https://www.batonsync.com/

As I have traveled around the midwest conducting honor bands, adjudicating festivals, and providing clinics for bands, I have had the good fortune to meet many amazing band directors and music educators. These directors have inspired and encouraged me to be a better person, and because of that, I want you to hear their stories as well!  Connect with Shawn: Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @shawnknopp