| Co-Band
Directors
Thad Driskell
|
Thad
K. Driskell is in his sixth year as Co-Director of Bands at
Thomas Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and sixteenth
year teaching in the public schools of Iowa and the Chicago
suburbs. His primary responsibilities at Jefferson include conducting
the Wind Symphony, directing The Band of Blue Marching Band,
assisting with the Ninth Grade Concert Band, and teaching private
instruction of woodwind, brass, and percussion lessons.
Mr.
Driskell earned a Master of Music in Music Education Degree
from Northwestern University, and a Bachelor of Music Education
Degree from Wartburg College. He has pursued further education
through private study of wind conducting at the University of
Iowa under Dr. Myron Welch.
Under
Mr. Driskell's direction, the Jefferson High School Wind Symphony
performed at the 2004 Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference,
shared a joint concert with The University of Iowa Symphony
Band at Hancher Auditorium in Iowa City, and has earned consecutive
division I superior ratings at the State Large Group Festival.
The Jefferson High School Band of Blue has appeared in the 2004
Pan-Pacific Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii, the 2005 Citrus Parade
in Orlando, Florida, and has earned consecutive division I superior
ratings at the State Marching Band Festival.
Mr.
Driskell is an active guest conductor and adjudicator in Iowa
and the Midwest, having worked with many college and university,
district, and conference honor bands. As an activist for furthering
the concert band idiom through non-competitive, educational
performance opportunities, Mr. Driskell has served as a clinician
at the South Central Bandmasters Association Concert Band Festival,
hosted the Plainfield Invitational Concert Band Festival, and
initiated the creation of the Jefferson Invitational Concert
Band Festival.
Mr.
Driskell's professional affiliations include: National Band
Association; Iowa Bandmasters Association, Concert Band Affairs
state chair; Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association, Concert
Band Affairs chair and President-Elect for 2008-09; World Association
for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles; Iowa Alliance for Arts Education;
Cedar Rapids City Band Commission; and has served as an advisor
with the Iowa Ambassadors of Music. Thad's family includes his
wife, Elizabeth, and two children, Carolyn and James.
|
Andy Houk
|
Andrew
J. Houk is in his twentieth year as band director at Cedar Rapids
Jefferson High School. His responsibilities as Co-Director of
Bands include directing the Symphony Band, the Ninth Grade Concert
Band and the Jazz Ensemble. He assists Mr. Driskell with the “Band
of Blue” marching band. In addition he teaches brass, woodwind
and percussion technique lessons to students in grades 9-12. Mr.
Houk is responsible for teaching 3 sections of AP Music Theory.
Mr. Houk is also department chair.
Mr.
Houk is a graduate of The University of Iowa and has done additional
graduate work at The University of Northern Iowa. He has directed
bands that have performed at the Rose, Fiesta and Orange Parades,
twice. He has served as advisor for Iowa’s Ambassador’s
of Music European Tour three times, once as Dean of Students.
Mr. Houk has also participated as guest conductor with The University
of Iowa All-State Music Camp. Andy’s wife, Arlene, plays
flute and his son, Adam plays trumpet.
|
| Assistant
Director of Bands
Megan Austin |
Secretary
Mary Jean Smith |
Wind
Arranger
Key Poulan
Percussion Arrangers
Ralph Hardiman, Shawn Glide
Doug Hiratzka, and Phil Kamm
Drill Design
Greg Bimm
|
Color
Guard Choreography
Susan Harloff
Matt Hensch
Ernest Jennings, consultant
Jon Sullivan
Color Guard Instructors
Kim Admire
Kelsey Thompson
Kristen Rooney
Miranda Vesey
|
Percussion
Staff
Phil Kamm – Co-Caption Head (Battery)
Doug Hiratzka – Co-Caption Head (Front Line)
Matt Draeger
Visual Instructor
Alex Young |
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