2025 Trojan Marching Invitational
Judge Information
|
J Jeff Beckman: Music Effect
J. Jeff Beckman is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music Education at Vanderbilt University, Blair School of Music and the Supervisor of all Residency I and II Music Education students at Tennessee State University. He works in the Macy’s Parade Band Division of Students on Broadway in New York City and is also the Executive Treasurer for the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association. Beckman is an active Adjudicator and Festival Director throughout the Southeastern United States. He was formerly the Co-Director and Director of Bands at McGavock High School for twenty-seven years. He was also the Team Leader for the Center of the Creative Arts and Chair of the Music Department at McGavock. During his tenure, the McGavock Band was named the Tennessee State Marching Champion fifteen times, Grand Champion at the Contest of Champions in Murfreesboro, Tennessee ten times, Grand Champion of the Bands of America Southern Regional Competition three times, and a finalist at the Bands of America Grand National Championships. They received numerous superior ratings in both concert and marching festivals and competitions. The McGavock Band participated in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, New York, the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida, Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California, and Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1994, both the McGavock Band and Mr. Beckman were awarded the Sudler Shield Award presented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The National Band Association awarded Beckman the Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence three times. In 2005, he was named “Teacher of the Year” at McGavock High School and received the “Educator of the Year” award from the Donelson-Hermitage Chamber of Commerce. Beckman was most recently awarded the “Carol Crittenden Arts Advocate of the Year”Award for outstanding support of Music Education and the Performing Arts in Middle Tennesseeand was elected as a member of the “Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame” in 2017. |
|
David Butler: Music Ensemble
David Butler is a native of Chattanooga, and a graduate of Tennessee Tech University, where he studied tuba with R. Winston Morris. Mr. Butler retired after 32 years as a band director in East Tennessee, 28 of those years as the Director of Bands at Chattanooga School for the Arts & Sciences. Under his direction the bands at CSAS consistently received superior ratings and recognition at state and national levels. In addition to his duties at CSAS, Mr. Butler also served as the lead instrumental teacher for the Hamilton County School system for 12 years. He is a Past President of the East Tennessee School Band & Orchestra Association, and is an elected member of the American School Band Directors Association and the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony, the Jericho Brass Band, and the Southern Star Brass Band, as well as serving as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the southeast. In his role as the Educational Representative for Giant Steps Music, he continues to serve band programs, directors, and students as an educator and resource. |
|
Chad Guess : Visual Ensemble
Chad Guess currently resides in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Alabama. He served as drum major and choreographer for the Marching Pride for three years and was president of the collegiate chapters of the Music Educators National Conference and Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity.
Currently, Chad is the Director of Enterprise Skill Development at Unum Group in Chattanooga, where he ensures meaningful development opportunities for employees in the US, UK, Ireland, and Poland.
Prior to Unum, Chad was a middle school instrumental music teacher for 21 years in Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida. His concert and jazz ensembles consistently received superior ratings, and he achieved numerous successes in the marching arts and indoor pageantry arts. He served in multiple roles, including program coordinator, visual designer, and color guard director for programs such as Soddy Daisy High School, Dorman High School, and Seminole High School, all of which were Bands of America regional finalists. Chad also designed and directed both scholastic and independent winter guard programs that achieved competitive success in local circuits and Winter Guard International competitions.
Chad performed with the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps as both a musician and a member of the color guard. As an instructor, designer, and program coordinator, he taught in the drum corps activity for 10 years with the Drum Corps International Finalist Colts and Magic of Orlando.
After moving from music education to the corporate world, Chad remains involved in the performing arts whenever possible and maintains a strong passion for the importance of music education in the lives of students.
|
Blair Calloway: Visual Effect
Blair Callaway is currently an Instructor of Instrumental Music Education at Jacksonville State University. Blair taught high school band for twenty-eight years at Heritage HS, Gilmer HS, Foley HS (AL), Alma Bryant HS (AL), and Russellville HS (AL). He marched with the Guardsmen, Cavaliers and Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. Blair is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, American School Band Directors Association, National Band Association, Georgia Association of Jazz Educators and the Epsilon Nu Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is the 2018 Heritage High STAR Teacher, 2015 Heritage High School Teacher of the Year and is a member of Phi Beta Mu. He has received the NBA Citation of Excellence four times and his bands have received the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award three times. Blair is a Past President of the American School Band Directors Association. He has been an instructor for the U.S. Army All American Band and has performed with the Tara Winds at the 2015 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the 2021 Alabama Winds at the Western International Band Clinic. Blair serves as the organist at Anniston United Methodist Church. |
|
|
Ethan McDaniel: Percussion
Ethan McDaniel currently serves as the Professor of Percussion at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and is an active performer and educator in the Chattanooga area. As a performer, Ethan has performed concerts throughout the United States. He has performed with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra, TTU Percussion Ensemble as they competed in the 2017 PASIC Ensemble Competition, and the UTK Percussion Ensemble. He has also performed with Grammy Nominated Quartets including So Percussion, Kronos Quartet, and Sandbox Percussion. He is an active marching percussion arranger and has arranged for the Soddy Daisy High School Band, White County High School Marching Band, Macon County Indoor Drumline, and Pride of the Southland Marching Band. As an educator, Ethan has taught percussion at multiple programs in Tennessee including Soddy Daisy HS, Oak Ridge High School, Farragut High School, Tennessee Tech University drumline, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville drumline. Ethan holds degrees from Tennessee Technological University (B.M.) and The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (M.M.). |
|
Amy Stewart - Color Guard
Amy Stewart has been involved in colorguard and pageantry activities since 1992. She currently serves on the board of directors of CIPA to facilitate indoor marching opportunities. Her marching experience includes Infiniti Winterguard, the 2000 WGI Independent A Class Champion. She was also the co-director of Southeast Independent Winterguard, a three-time WGI Independent A Class Finalist. Amy has enjoyed judging and teaching marching band and winterguard in Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. Professionally, Amy is a manager of hospital volunteers and auxiliary services. She resides in Johnson City, Tennessee. |
|