Susan L. Smith has taught at all levels of education and in many facets. After completing her degree in Music Education from James Madison University, she taught in the Virginia public schools. Her responsibilities included the direction of elementary and secondary instrumental music programs as well as teaching other arts related courses. Her ensembles, including concert band, orchestra, marching band and jazz ensembles, consistently received superior ratings from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association festivals during her tenure.

After completing her Masters Degree in Education from Troy State University, she taught Private Horn, Teaching Music for the Classroom Teacher and Introduction to Music as an Adjunct Professor of Music. While at TSU, she served as the Executive Director of the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic and Honor Bands. In addition, she coordinated the visual program for the Sound of the South Marching Band. Her teachers include Michael Layland, Winston Deshields, John Cryder, J. Patrick Rooney, John M. Long, and Diane Denicola-Orlofsky.

She was a Coordinating Author for Warner Bros. Publications’ Expressions Music Curriculum, a vision for a vertical, conceptual approach to teaching music. She served as an author for Band Expressions, a secondary component of the curriculum written for school instrumental music programs.

Currently, she is Director of Bands at the Saint James School in Montgomery, AL. Mrs. Smith is responsible for teaching the Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced bands. The Saint James Bands consistently receive Superior ratings in Concert, Jazz and Marching band events. Her professional affiliations include Music Educators National Conference, Alabama Music Educators Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Beta Kappa and the National Band Association. Smith is in demand as a clinician, conductor and adjudicator throughout the country. She currently resides in Montgomery, AL. with her husband Robert and daughters Savannah and Madison.

Robert W. Smith (b. 1958) is one of the most popular and prolific composers of concert band and orchestral literature in America today. He has over 600 publications in print with the majority composed and arranged through his long association with Warner Bros. Publications and the Belwin catalog. He is currently published exclusively by the C. L. Barnhouse Company and serves as the Director of Product Development for C. L. Barnhouse and Walking Frog Records.

Mr. Smith's credits include many compositions and productions in all areas of the music field. His original works for winds and percussion have been programmed by countless military, university, high school, and middle school bands throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South America and Asia. His Symphony #1 (The Divine Comedy), Symphony #2 (The Odyssey) and Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual have received worldwide critical acclaim. His educational compositions such as The Tempest, Encanto, and The Great Locomotive Chase have become standards for developing bands throughout the world. His numerous works for orchestras of all levels are currently some of the most popular repertoire available today. His music has received extensive airplay on major network television as well as inclusion in multiple motion pictures. From professional ensembles such as the United States Navy Band and the Atlanta Symphony to school bands and orchestras throughout the world, his music speaks to audiences in any concert setting.

As a conductor and clinician, Mr. Smith has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe and Australia. He is the principal conductor of the American Symphonic Winds and the American Festival Philharmonic Orchestra, professional recording ensembles based in Washington D.C. He has recently completed his Symphony No. 3 (Don Quixote), the fourth in a series of compact disc recordings of his best-known works for concert band. In addition, he is co-creator of the Expressions Music Curriculum. This comprehensive Pre-K through 12 music program includes Band Expressions, an innovative new approach to teaching music through the band.

Mr. Smith is currently teaching in the Music Industry program at Troy University in Troy, AL. His teaching responsibilities are focused in music composition, production, publishing and business. In addition, he is a managing partner and conductor/producer for American Audio Unlimited, an audio production company specializing in recordings for concert band and orchestra.

N. Alan Clark has taught and conducted at all levels, from middle school to professional military bands. He received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Florida in 1976 and accepted the Director of Bands position at Crystal Lake Junior High in Lakeland, Fla., where he also studied under William C. Miller and Tom Bishop.

Mr. Clark returned to the University of Florida in 1979 to serve as Gator Band graduate assistant. He was awarded a Master’s Degree in Saxophone Performance in June of 1981. That same year he was invited to join the saxophone studio of Jean Marie Londiex in Bordeaux, France, and was also offered a teaching assistantship at Louisiana State University. He accepted the LSU offer and served as a Tiger Band graduate assistant, directed the LSU jazz band, and studied arranging with John Edmunds.

In 1984 Mr. Clark completed his PhD course work in Music Education and returned to Lakeland, Fla. to become director of bands at Kathleen High School. While there he received the ASBDA Stanbury Award, and also served as an adjunct music faculty member at Florida Southern College. In 1985 he joined the staff of the Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps and worked with Robert W. Smith, Frank Williams, Allan Murray, Mark Sylvester, Karl Lowe, Larry Clark, Kevin Ford, and others.

In 1987 Mr. Clark entered the Air Force, and served as saxophone section leader and enlisted conductor of the Air Force Band of the West in San Antonio, Tex. In 1990 he was selected to become an Air Force Band Officer, and upon completion of Officer Training School moved to Ramstein Air Force Base, Germany, where he served as Deputy Commander of the Band of the United States Air Forces in Europe. While in Europe, he conducted concert tours, ceremonies, and special marching performances in seventeen countries across Eastern and Western Europe, and studied conducting with Burt Corderman, associate conductor of the Stuttgart Symphony Orchestra.

In October of 1993, he returned to the United States to become the Deputy Commander of the Air Force Band of Flight in Dayton, Ohio, as well as the rehearsal conductor of the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra. In 1995 he was selected to be the Commander and Conductor of The Band of the United States Air Force Reserve, a position he assumed in January of 1996. In 1997 he edited and co-wrote “Band Director Secrets of Success” with William C. Miller. He was selected in 2001 to design, teach, and direct the Air Force marching show for the prestigious Budokan International Tattoo in Tokyo, Japan.

Major Clark accepted the appointment as AFROTC Commandant of Cadets at LSU in April 2004. He retired from the Air Force in 2007 and is currently completing the PhD he started at LSU 25 years ago!

Tony Deyo graduated from James Madison University with a degree in music education and completed his master's degree in music performance at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. For three years, he worked as both a high school and middle school band director in Texas before becoming a full-time drill designer. Mr. Deyo is a former member of the world champion Cadets of Bergen County Drum & Bugle Corps and served on the visual staff of the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. As a percussionist, he has performed with the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, the Opera Company of North Carolina, the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra, the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra, and the Nevada Symphony Orchestra.

Paris' experience in marching music is vast. Having marched his entire Drum Corps tenure for 6 years with the Magic of Orlando, he had the oppotunity to learn from Frank Williams, David Duffy and Robert W. Smith. Paris was baritone soloist with Magic and lead baritone in the World Champion Mixed Ensemble, Micro Magic. Originally from Orlando, Florida, Paris started his college career at East Tennessee State University as a music major and walk-on with the 1 AA football team. Soon moving to Troy Alabama, Paris marched with the Sound of the South Marching Band.

Currently, Paris is completing his degree at Troy University Dothan and is the marching instructor for the Dothan High School Marching Band. He is also very involved with studying and competing in Brazillian Jui-Jitsu.

Dennis Laorenza earned his Bachelor of Music from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Mr. Laorenza is currently a music consultant with numerous bands across the South East United States. Mr. Laorenza has worked on the brass staff of many DCI Drum & Bugle Corps. Some of the drum corps he has worked with include Sun Coast Sound, The Cadets, Glassmen and is currently working with the Boston Crusaders.

Katherine Hart is a graduate of Troy University, where she earned her degree in Music Education. Currently, Ms. Hart is the band and choir director at Girard Middle School in Dothan, AL. She is responsible for the general music classes and Concert Bands, as well as the Concert and Show Choirs. She is an assistant band director and color guard instructor for Dothan High School. She is also the instrumental music instructor for First Baptist Church of Dothan. Ms. Hart is a member of several professional organizations such as Music Educators National Conference, Alabama Music Educators Association, American Choral Directors Association, Alabama Vocal Association, and an advisor for Tri-M Music Honor Society.

As a dancer Ms. Hart is a former member of the Troy University Sound of the South Marching Band where she served as the captain of the University Dancers. She is a former instructor at Dance Dimensions Studio in Ozark AL, and has taught numerous dance teams and color guard across Alabama, Georgia, and Florida.

Chad's bio will be coming soon!

Terrance A. Cobb is currently in his third year as the Assistant Band Director at Homewood Middle School and Homewood High School. In addition to his duties as Assistant Director of Bands, Mr. Cobb also serves as the color guard instructor for the Homewood High School Patriot Color Guard.

Mr. Cobb graduated from Fitzgerald High School in Fitzgerald, Georgia. He completed his Bachelors of Music Education degree in 2006 from Troy University. While attending Troy University Mr. Cobb was a tuba player performing with the Troy University Symphony Band, Chamber Winds, and nationally renowned Sound of the South Marching Band, and also participated with the Troy Symphony Orchestra. During his time at Troy University Mr. Cobb served as color guard instructor the Sound of the South Marching Band from 2003-2006. He was also a member of the Troy University Collegiate Singers, Chamber Choir, Troy University Gospel Singers, and a featured Tenor soloist with the Troy University Opera Ensemble. He served as president of the Zeta Upsilon Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi. He was also selected as Who's Who Among America's Colleges and University Students. He also received the William R. Denison Service Award for choir and Mary Lynn Long Most Outstanding Auxiliary Member Award in 2000 & 2002.

Mr. Cobb is a member of Alabama Bandmasters Association, National Bandmasters Association, MENC, Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Service Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity. Originally from Fitzgerald Georgia, Mr. Cobb later moved to Orlando Florida, and currently resides in Homewood Alabama.

Linda Nelson has worked with the Saint James marching band for two years in multiple capacities from marching tech to prop coordination. She attended Troy State University where she studied under the direction of Robert W.Smith, Ralph Ford, and John Long.

Linda worked on the Expressions Music Curriculum, as a production assistant and librarian with Ariana Productions. Linda is currently a teacher's assistant in a special needs class in Navarre, Florida. 

An accomplished teacher and clinician, Eric brings a wealth of experience teaching percussion to young people. He has spent over a decade in the marching activity, including six years on the percussion staff with The Cadets, and a year teaching with Phantom Regiment.

A native Ohioan, Eric polished his percussion skills in the Percussice Arts Society College Champion Morehead State University drumline. Currently completing his masters degree at Troy University, Eric directs one of their jazz chamber ensembles, and consults with the Troy University Marching Trojans. He is also a percussion consultant for the Rhythm X Indoor Percussion Ensemble and the Enterprise HS Drumline.

Austin Thompson graduated from Saint James High School in the spring of 2008 He is currently pursuing a Bachelors of Music from Louisiana State University where he studies under Brett William Dietz and Jim Atwood. Austin has performed in master classes for Scott Herring (University of South Carolina), Brian Zator (Texas A&M Commerce), Dave Salay and Nina Lorenz (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra). He is also a member of Hamiruge, the LSU Percussion Group and the principal percussionist of the LSU Symphonic Winds. In the summer of 2009 he traveled to Japan to study with world renowned marimbist Keiko Abe at the Toho Gakuen School of Music.

Donatus's bio will be coming soon!