Directors
Staff
Studio Artists/Instructors
Marching Band Instructors
Directors
David W. Vandewalker – Director of Bands
Mr. Vandewalker is the Director of Bands at Harrison High School in the Cobb County Public Schools (GA). He serves both the Georgia State Board of Education and the Cobb County School District as a lead curriculum writer for band as well as the Georgia Music Educators Association as Chair for the State Music Selection Committee. Additionally, Mr. Vandewalker is a current elected Board of Director for the National Band Association. Prior to 1996, he taught in the Klein and Belton School Districts (TX). Mr. Vandewalker was honored as the 1995 Teacher of the Year in a National Exemplary School of Excellence and is a 1998 Cobb County Teacher of Excellence Award Recipient.
David is the author of Boosters to the Rescue, Everyday Stuff Every Director Needs to Know, Foundations for Wind Band Clarity, and Foundations for Wind Band Clarity Instructional DVD published by Vision Publications. Music has always been a vital part of Mr. Vandewalker’s life. A third generation band director, David is fortunate to have benefited from many excellent teachers and mentors including his grandfather, Richard Vandewalker, and uncle, David R. Vandewalker. Mr. Vandewalker received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Baylor University where he studied clarinet with Dr. Richard A. Shanley, and conducting with Michael L. Haithcock. He earned his Master of Arts in Education degree from Central Michigan University and is pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Education degree from Boston University.
Mr. Vandewalker has also participated in conducting symposiums and staff development with H. Robert Reynolds, Alan McMurray, Craig Kirkoff, Jerry Junkin, Tom Lee, Anthony Maiello, Mallory Thompson, Kevin Sedatole, Richard Clary, Gary Green, Paula Crider, and Larry Livingston.
Mr. Vandewalker, a recognized member of multiple editions of Who’s Who Among American Teachers and Who’s Who in America, is in his twenty-third year as a music educator. He is a seven-time recipient of the prestigious National Band Association’s National Citation of Excellence Award. In May of 2007, The John Philip Sousa Foundation presented Mr. Vandewalker and the Harrison Band program with the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor. He has conducted ensembles in state and national events that include: Georgia Music Educators Association Conventions, Bands of America National Concert Band Festivals, the University of Georgia High School Honor Band Festivals, and the Midwest Clinic. The Harrison Marching Band is a 2004, 2006, and 2008 Bands of America Regional Champion and a 2007 Bands of America Grand National Finalist. The Harrison Marching Band can be seen and heard in Hollywood film productions Drumline and Radio.
David is an active clinician for district and state in-service conferences including the Midwest Clinic, Texas Bandmasters Convention, Oklahoma Bandmasters Convention, Georgia Music Educators Convention, the Bands of America Summer Symposium and the NBA National Convention. Mr. Vandewalker also serves as adjudicator, consultant, and guest conductor across the United States. He is affiliated with professional organizations that include: Phi Beta Mu, NBA, MENC, WASBE, GMEA and Kappa Kappa Psi. David and his wife, Pamela, reside in Marietta, Georgia. Pamela is the Minister of Worship Programming and Creativity for Johnson Ferry Baptist Church where she has over 800 children actively involved in music each week.
Josh Ray – Associate Director of Bands/Director of Jazz Ensembles
Mr. Ray joined the Harrison faculty as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Ensembles in 2007. Mr. Ray serves the band program as a co-lead teacher with all three concert ensembles, assists with the fall percussion class, three Jazz Ensembles, and is the Lead Visual Instructor for the nationally acclaimed Harrison Marching Band.
Originally from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Mr. Ray graduated with a Bachelor degree in Music Education with a concentration in Trumpet from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Ray has experience as a performer with Southwind (Trumpet) and Madison Scouts (Mello) Drum and Bugle Corps. He student taught with David Gorham at the nationally acclaimed Owasso High School Band program, a Sudler Flag of Honor program.
Josh is an active brass adjudicator and instructor for various ensembles in Georgia. Mr. Ray has conducted ensembles performing in state and national in-service conferences including the Midwest Clinic, and the Georgia Music Educators Convention. He is an AP certified Music Theory instructor who also serves as adjudicator, brass specialist, and guest conductor across the state of Georgia. He is affiliated with professional organizations that include: NBA, MENC, and GMEA. Mr. Ray and his wife reside in Dallas, GA.
Daniel Cuevas, Assistant Band Director
Mr. Cuevas is in his third year at Harrison High School. He serves the band program as a co-lead teacher of the Concert Band and assists as a co-teacher with Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, assists with the fall percussion class, directs Jazz Ensemble II, and is the Lead Colorguard Instructor for the nationally acclaimed Harrison Marching Band.
Originally from San Antonio, Mr. Cuevas graduated with a Bachelors of Music from the University of Houston Moores School of Music. While at the University of Houston, he studied saxophone with Dr. Karen Wylie and Valeria Vidal, and was a member of the Spirit of Houston Cougar Marching Band, symphonic bands, jazz bands and the University Men’s Chorus.
In 2003, Daniel began his drum corps career with the Madison Scouts as a member of the colorguard. He continued as a member with two additional drum corps- the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2005, and his final year with the 2008 DCI World Champions Phantom Regiment.
At Harrison, Mr. Cuevas assists with each of the three concert ensembles, is co director of the Jazz II ensemble in the spring, and assists with the fall marching band/colorguard programs.
Former Harrison Band Directors:
Mr. John Abert (1991-1996) • Dr. Scott Weiss (1993-2000) • Dr. Chester Phillips (2000-2007) • Mr. Mac McMillian (2005-2006) • Mr. Stephen Meyer (2007-2010) • Mr. Chris Parks (2010-2011)
Staff
Kevin Nix, Visual Coordinator
Kevin Nix, of Nix Visual Design Consultants, has been a music educator, guard instructor, visual design coordinator and adjudicator (DCI, BOA, USSBA and WGI) for over twenty years. Mr. Nix received a Bachelor of Music Education degree in Trumpet Studies from the University of Oklahoma. In addition to his many years of service as a band director, he has served as a visual designer/consultant for numerous performance ensembles competing as: Bands of America Regional and Grand National Finalists (Texas, Ohio, and Georgia), Winterguard International Regional Finalists, as well as various Drum Corp International Division I corps. Kevin currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia where he serves as visual coordinator and colorguard director for the internationally-award winning Harrison High School Band program.
Jeffrey Hope, Percussion Instructor
After graduating with a degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Jeff returned to UMass and earned his master’s degree in Percussion Performance. At the University, he worked as a graduate assistant to Thom Hannum, taught and arranged for the Sudler Trophy-winning Minutemen Marching Band percussion section, as well as teaching percussion techniques classes and taking on other arranging and organizational responsibilities within the percussion studio.
Since 1997, Jeff has written for and taught numerous high school marching, indoor, and concert percussion groups in Massachusetts and throughout New England. He has also been actively involved with Drum Corps International since 1997 as a performing member with the Boston Crusaders and the Crossmen, as a percussion
technician for The Troopers, Magic of Orlando, The Madison Scouts, and The Blue Stars, and as a show designer and percussion arranger for the Targets Drum and Bugle Corps from Springfield, MA.
In 2004, Jeff took the job of Director of the Spirit of America Indoor Percussion Ensemble in Orleans, MA, leading them to four consecutive WGI Independent Open Finals appearances including a second place finish in 2005. In conjunction with the indoor group, he also worked as the Percussion Director for the Spirit of America Marching Band. His arranging and coaching helped propel the group to win first place at the 2007 World Association of Marching Showbands Championship in Seoul, South. In addition to teaching and arranging, Jeff has also been an active percussion performer in New England since 2005 playing with groups such as The Berkshire Symphony, The Amherst College Orchestra, the Smith College Orchestra, The Dartmouth Handel Society, and The Manchester Music Festival.
Jeff is a Vic Firth Education Team member as well as an endorser.
Email Mr. Hope
Colby Kuzontkoski, Percussion Instructor
Colby began working with Harrison Bands in 2010. He is a graduate from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance. At UMass he studied under professors Peter Tanner, Eduardo Leandro, Ayano Kataoka and Thomas Hannum. During his time at UMass he studied performance practice in all forms including contemporary chamber music, solo repertoire, new music and traditional percussion ensemble. He also extensively studied the art of arranging for percussion in the form of marimba ensembles, percussion ensembles, marching ensembles and marimba bands. He has published an article on the application of articulations in percussion called: “Connecting the Arranger Coach and Performer.” Published in the Percussive Arts Society journal: Percussive Notes.
For the last six years Colby has had the great opportunity to write for and teach competitive percussion ensembles around the country. He has also taught and given clinics at numerous high schools throughout New England. He has recently taught at Thom Hannum’s Mobile Percussion Seminar in Amherst MA, directing and teaching the Front Ensemble track of the program.
Colby is also an experienced drum set player having studied with Boston favorite Bob Gullotti for three years, attended two Berklee 5 Week Summer Performance Programs in Boston and has performed extensively in jazz and GB bands throughout the Northeast. He has also recorded several albums with touring bands from the area.
Staying current in the world of percussion is vital for the modern percussionist. Colby has participated in and performed in seminars such as the Cloid Duff Timpani Master Class in Kansas City and the International Festival of Contemporary Performance at Mannes College in Manhattan. Colby has made it his mission to further this art form and is proud to bring his expertise to the percussionists of Harrison High School.
Email Mr. Kuzontkoski
Studio Artists/Instructors
Anne Gordon, Flute (M.M. University of Georgia)
Lisa Sayre, Oboe (M.M. Louisiana State University)
Susan Brough, Clarinet (M.M. University of Georgia)
Daniel Cuevas, Saxophone (BME University of Houston)
Shelly Unger, Bassoon (D.M.A. University of Georgia)
Jennifer Marotta, Trumpet (M.M. Northwestern University)
Chris Watkins, Trumpet (M.M. Manhattan School of Music)
Mike Diblasi, Trombone (B.A. Indiana University)
Mark Burroughs, Low Brass (M.M. Indiana University)
Bernard Flythe, Low Brass (M.M. University of Michigan)
Marching Band Instructors
Freddy Martin
Stephen Parker
Ben Ray
Mark Burroughs Tyler Elvidge Jonathan Grogan Rose Walker
