VSU Brass Alumni

We are trying to keep an accurate list of all VSU brass alumni.  Please email Doug Farwell with updates if you or anyone you know moves into a new position.  Also, we would like for this page to serve as a way to stay in touch with former brass students, so send me your email as well.

Year stands for graduation date.

MM=Master of Music in Performance; MME=Master of Music in Education;

BM=Bachelor of Music in Performance; BME=Bachelor of Music in Education; BA=Bachelor of Arts in Music.

2008

• Ethan Dogan-trombone, BME, (fall graduation)
• Justin Powell-trumpet, BM (Jazz), new Graduate Assistantship at Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
• Joshua Moorer-trumpet, BA in music, new Graduate Assistant in trumpet, University of Louisiana at Lafayette

2007

• Nanami Cunningham-tuba, BM
• Shane Padgett-trumpet, BME, trumpet teaching assistant at University of Florida, Gainesville
• Brian Souder-tuba, BME, Music Teacher, Tara Elementary School, Clayton County

2006

• Matt Elder-trumpet, BME, Director of Bands, Lanier County

2005

• Miranda Morris-horn, BM, M.M (2008) University of Florida in Gainesville
• Christopher Crenshaw-trombone, BM-Jazz; now a member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, MM The Julliard School 2007

2004

• Justin Burke-trumpet, BME-Associate Director of Bands, South Effingham High School
• Daniel Schilling-trumpet, BM, MM (2007) University of Florida
• Andrew Hill-trombone, MME, BME in 2003, Assistant Director of Bands, Valdosta High School

2003

• Wes Babcock-trombone, BM, MM (2006) University of New Mexico in Albuquerque
• Toni Reichert-horn, MUE, Director of Choir, Valdosta Middle School
• Julie Savoie-trumpet; MME, BME in 2001, Director of Bands/Music, Valdosta City Schools
• Aaron Walker-horn, BA, Partner in a SONIC franchise in NE Georgia.

2002

• Jason Royal-trumpet, MME, BME in 2001; Director of Bands, Wake County Public School system in North Carolina, freelance trumpeter in the Raleigh/Triangle area.
• Jeremy Johnson-tuba, MME, BME in 2000; Director of Bands, Coffee County Middle School
• Holly Fowler Cottrell-horn, BME, Director of Bands, St. Mary's Middle School
• Torris Johnson-trumpet, BME, Former Assistant Director of Bands,Washington Wilkes High School
• Angie Mills-horn, BME, Director of Bands, Crisp County Middle School/Visual Ensemble Coordinator/Colorguard Instructor, Crisp County High School
• Jared Cardwell, bass trombone (Music Minor), Math Major, current student at Medical College of Georgia

2001

• Brad Pirkle-trumpet; BME, MME in 2007, University of Georgia, Director of Bands, Thomson Middle School
• Jeff Mills-trumpet; MME, working on EdD. at University of North Florida and teaching at Grove Park Elementary, Orange Park, FL
• Chris Harper-trumpet; BME, Director of Bands, Screven County High School
• Wayne Hughes-trombone; BA music, now living in Jacksonville, FL
• Casey Dryden-tuba; BME, manager of Music and Arts Center in Atlanta
• Nathan NeSmith-trombone; BA, selected into Navy Intelligence Officer Training Position-03
• Marcus Lewis-trombone; BM-(Jazz), MA, 2003 from U of Nebraska at Omaha, freelance trombonist/arranger in Atlanta

2000

• Ben Helms-trombone; BME, Director of Bands, Tattnall County Middle School
• Trent Hayes-trumpet, BME and MM, Director of Bands, Baker County High School, FL
• Matthew Sanderlin-tuba; BM, MM in Tuba from LSU, 2002
• William Majors-trumpet; BME, Band Director, Thomas County Middle School
• Maria Vaughn-trumpet; BA in Music and History.  Maria completed a degree a bachelor of science in civil engineering from Georgia Tech in 2004 and is currently working for a consulting firm in Macon, GA.

1999

• Becky Vendemo-trumpet; BME, MM, U of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2000, moved to NYC in 2003, currently working for Metropolitan Opera and as archivist for the New York Philharmonic’s online resources project
• Matt Deal-horn; BME, Director of Bands, Tift County Middle School
• Lee Collins-trombone; BME, Director of Bands, Tattnall County High School
• Chris Jones-trumpet; BME, Director of Bands, Thomasville High School
• Isaac Sanchez-bass trombone; BA, second degree in Biology 2000-Master of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science, Cytotechnology at Medical College of Georgia, currently working as research scientist for a hospital in Amarillo, Texas.

1998

• Christopher Dennard-trumpet; BA, MM, U of Missouri  Kansas City 2002; currently member of The Old Guard Fife and Drum Corp. 
• John Emerson-trombone; BME, Technology Coordinator, Rockdale County School System
• Darvin McRoy-trumpet; BME, MM at Brooklyn College-CUNY Conservatory 2004. Director of Bands, General Ray Davis Middle School in the Rockdale County Public School System.
• Chad Elder-trombone; BME, General Music, Ballard-Hudson Middle School
• Brent Whiten-trumpet; BM-Jazz, 1998, Free-lance musician-trumpet teacher in Atlanta area.   K-5 general music at Fellowship Christian School in Roswell GA and the music director for the "North River Church of Christ".
• Steve Pruitt-trombone; MME, 1998; BME, 1995, Director of Bands, Evans Middle School in Augusta

1997

• Scott Young-horn; MME, Performing Arts Department Head at the Deerfield-Windsor School, Albany; 2nd horn-Albany (GA) Symphony Orchestra;    Horn Instructor-Darton College.
• John Glisson-trombone; BME, MM 2000, U of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana, currently teaching in Colorado
• Errick Prince-trumpet; BME, Air Force Captain
• Jonathan Hickox-euphonium; BME, Director of Bands, Appling County High Schools

1996

• Jody Herrington-horn; BME, Masters in Youth Ministry, 1998, Pensacola, FL
• Jonathan Bishop-horn; BME, Director of Bands, Edwards Middle School

1995

• Jason Hilliard-trumpet, BME, now performing with the Fabulous Classics Show Band and Owner/Designer for Rhythm in Motion Show Concepts and Marching Drill Design.  Contact Jason if you need some drill designs for your band!
• Wendy Barnhill-trumpet; BME, Director of Bands, Risley Middle School

1994

• James Ford-trumpet; BM, DMA-University of North Texas, assistant professor, California State University in L.A
• Pat Ballew-trombone, BME, Cairo Middle School
• Robbi (Pollard) Howell-trumpet; BME, former member of Army Band; now married with two children; teaching Pre-Kindergarden in Atlanta area

1993

• Scott Dunn-trumpet; Leader-Fabulous Classics Show Band, Valdosta
• Lance Kindred-trombone; BME, Associate Pastor, Park Avenue United Methodist Church, Valdosta
• Shaun Parsons-tuba; BME, Music Director/Youth Pastor, Victory Christian Center, Macon, GA
• Christine Mattingly-trombone, BME
• Curt Hersey-trumpet; BME, Director of Bands, Charlton County High School

1992

• Darren Layfield-trumpet; BME, Director of Bands, Macon County Schools
• Curt Kimbrough-trumpet; BME, Director of Bands, JL Newbern Middle School, Valdosta
• James Harrell-trumpet; BME

1991

• Kenneth Sexton-trumpet; BME, MCM, Southern Baptist Seminary Worship Pastor, Church at Lake Guntersville, Alabama

1990

• Joe Pearce-tuba; BME-VSU; MME West Georgia, Director of bands at Westside Middle School in Winder, GA. 

1989

• Kevin Johnson-euphonium; BME-Valdosta State University, MME-Troy State University; Assistant Director of Bands, North Cobb High School, website: http://www.nchsband.com/, Director of Bands, Lindley Middle School
• Billy Steltenpohl-trumpet; BME, Director of Bands, Miller County High School

1988

• Albert Busey-trombone; BME, Assistant Director of Bands, Ware County High School

1986

• Dr. John D. Lairsey - trumpet ; BM, MME,1991; MME. 1994 VSU (Educational Administration and Supervision); Ed. S., 1996 VSU (Educational Leadership), Ed. D. 2002 VSU (Educational Leadership), Currently principal - Folkston Elementary School, 1994-present, Serve as Minster of Music, Folkston United Methodist Church 1989 - present Director of Bands - Charlton County High School 1986-1994
• Levis Dasher-trombone/tuba; BM 1986, MME 1989 VSU  Director of Chorus and Band at Irwin County High School in Ocilla, GA.  Still playing the trombone at Northside Baptist Church in Valdosta, GA weekly.

1985

• Ken Trimmins-trumpet; BME, Leader of Ken Trimmins Jazz Quarter, Air-Force Band member at Warner-Robins.  Ken has a new CD out!

1984

• Bill McIntosh-trumpet; BME, MME VSU 1992; Lead Trumpet player-Royal Carribean Cruise lines on the Brilliance of the Seas Ship.  See Bill's website: My web address is www.myspace.com/billmcintosh.  

• Christina Huss-BME, MME 1991; French horn/saxophone/trombone/ trumpet; Director of Bands, Brooks County High School in Quitman, GA

1982

• Steve Myers-trumpet; BME, Assistant Director of Bands, Coffee County High School

1980

• Dr. Jeff Kluball, Ed. D-trombone; BME, Current Chair, Music Department, Darton College in Albany, GA; bass trombonist with the Albany Symphony Orchestra; MME Vander Cook College of Music in Chicago; Education Specialist Degree at Troy State in 1990