GRADUATE ASSISTANTS |
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| John LaCognata | Jeff Vaughan | Dustin Burgess | Charley Andersen | Megan Hermann | Michael Miller | Margaret Dixon |
Office: GSBB 0104
For the past nine years he has served as the Director of Bands at Winter Park High School. At Winter Park his duties included serving as Performing Arts Department Chair, conducting the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and the 200-member “Sound of the Wildcats” Marching Band. Under the direction of Mr. LaCognata, the band program at Winter Park has received recognition within the state of Florida and throughout the nation. The band program has consistently received Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association music performance assessments and was awarded the prestigious Otto J. Kraushaar Award in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007. The “Sound of the Wildcats” Marching Band most recently participated in the 2005 Autozone Liberty Bowl, the 2002 Blue Cross Blue Shield Fiesta Bowl National Band Championship and parade, and the 2000 Sylvania Alamo Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. In addition, the Wind Ensemble at Winter Park has performed at the 2002 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana, was a featured ensemble at the "President's Concert" for the 2007 Florida Music Educators' Association Conference in Tampa, Florida, and most notably performed at the 60th Anniversary of the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois in 2006. Prior to his position at Winter Park High School Mr. LaCognata had a variety of teaching experiences. At the collegiate level, he served as Assistant Director of Bands/Brass Instructor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Assistant Director of Bands at Louisiana State University, and as the Associate Director of Bands at Iowa State University. At the secondary level, he held positions as Director of Bands at Hillcrest High School, Country Club Hills, Illinois; Director of Bands at Tavares High School, Tavares, Florida; and as the Associate Director of Bands at Cypress Creek High School, Orlando, Florida. Mr. LaCognata is an active adjudicator, clinician and performer. He is a member of the “Cathedral Brass” and a freelance trumpet player. His professional affiliations include the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Music Educators' Association, and the Music Educators National Conference.
Office: GSBB 0104
Office: GSBB 0104
Dustin Burgess is currently at the University of Florida pursuing a PhD in Music Education with an emphasis in Wind Conducting. Mr. Burgess received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina and his Master's Degree in Music Education at VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. He has studied trumpet with Joe Phelps, Charles Gottschalk, John Almeida, and Dr. Leah Schuman and has studied conducting with Dr. Jay Jackson and Dr. Charles Menghini. As a trumpet player, Mr. Burgess was a member of the 82nd Airborne Division Band and the Eighth United States Army Band performing throughout the United States, South Korea, England and France. During his four years in the Army bands, he performed as the section leader in the Ceremonial Band, Concert Band, Brass Quintet, Big Band, and Variety Rock Band. Mr. Burgess has also performed with the Southern Winds Wind Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, the Cape Fear Regional Theatre, Brass Band of Central Florida, Chicago Brass Band and Sunshine Brass Band. As an educator, Mr. Burgess has taught middle and high school band programs in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Florida and has served as a mentor for the Erie Youth Symphony Orchestra. For the past five years Mr. Burgess has taught middle school band in Volusia County Florida and helped establish a new middle school band program, River Springs Middle School in Orange City, Florida, as a "Superior" rated program. Mr. Burgess is a member of the following professional organizations: Florida Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, Florida Music Educators' Association, North American Brass Band Association and the International Trumpet Guild.
Office: GSBB G001
During his time at the University of Florida, Mr. Andersen has had the opportunity to study abroad during the summer in Salzburg, Austria, and participate in the conducting symposium hosted by the university with Mr. Michael Haithcock and Dr. David Waybright. Mr. Andersen has also attended symposia at the Florida International University symposium with Dr. Roby George and Mr. Michael Haithcock and the Eastern Tennessee State University symposium with Dr. Timothy Mahr and Dr. Christian Zembower. Mr. Andersen has earned academic recognition including scholarships for the study abroad program hosted by the University of Florida and multiple placements on the Dean’s List and President’s List. Upon graduation, he was recognized as the most outstanding undergraduate in the School of Music. Mr. Andersen is an active educator working with programs such as the Vero Beach High School Band and Gatorland Summer Music Camps. He is a member of professional organizations including the Florida Music Educators Association, Collegiate Music Education National Conference, College Band Directors National Association, National Education Association, and National Band Association. Mr. Andersen is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting degree from the University of Florida. He has earned a graduate assistantship and works on staff with the University of Florida Marching Band and is the teaching assistant for Dr. Waybright’s conducting class.
Office: GSBB G007
Miss Hermann moved to West Des Moines, Iowa, in the summer of 2004 where she served in the West Des Moines Community School District at Clive and Hillside Elementary Schools as the Band Director for the 5th and 6th Grade. She conducted the Northside 6th Grade Band, which included four district schools, and the Eighth Street 5th Grade Band. In May of 2005, she was asked to conduct the 6th Grade District All Star band which consisted of students from all eight elementary schools in the West Des Moines school system. During the summer of 2006, Miss Hermann moved to Cleveland, Tennessee, and began work as the Assistant Band Director for Walker Valley High School. She conducted the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, the 9th Grade Band, the Woodwind Ensemble, and the Mustang Marching Band. She also assisted with the choir program and played piano for the Fine Arts Department production’s of Footloose and Beauty and the Beast. Miss Hermann is affiliated with several professional organizations including the Music Educator’s National Conference, the International Double Reed Society, Kappa Delta Pi, the Tennessee Music Educator’s Association, the East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Association, the National Band Association, the Tennessee Education Association, the Bradley County Education Association and the Mortar Board National Honor Society. She is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Instrumental Conducting and is in the conducting studio of Dr. David Waybright.
Office: GSBB G007
From 2001 to 2005 Michael played mellophone for the Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle corps, and in 2006 he played lead trumpet for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps. Michael was Drum Major for the Crusaders in 2007 under the direction of Mr. Howard Weinstein. While he was a member of the Crusaders, Michael traveled the United States, and performed in over a hundred competitive pageants. Michael has performed in the Rose Bowl at UCLA, the University of Louisville’s Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, the Georgia Dome, the Alamo Dome, the old RCA Dome in Indianapolis, IN, and Camp Randall Stadium at the University of Wisconsin. Michael has worked as a music arranger and music educator for marching bands and drum corps across the United States. Currently, Michael is a Visual Technician for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from La Crosse, WI. Michael's music has been performed by Syracuse University's “Pride of the Orange” Marching Band and the University of Florida's "Fighting Gator Marching Band". In 2009 Michael completed The Grand Send Off for symphonic band; a hymnsong dedicated to all those who have been loved and lost (remembering especially Don Wahl and Shannon Kane). Michael is a certified teacher in New York State, a member of the Music Educators National Conference, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Florida, where he is a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the University Bands under Dr. David Waybright. After finishing his studies at the University of Florida, Michael plans to teach High School bands and eventually pursue a Doctoral degree in either Music Education, or Educational Leadership.
Office: GSBB G007
Margaret Dixon began her undergraduate studies at the University of Alabama under Professor Charles "Skip" Snead in Fall of 2005. During her four years at UA, Margaret preformed with the Huxford Symphony Orchestra, the Alabama Symphonic Band, and the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band, and she acted as an alternate horn player for the Alabama Wind Ensemble. She also participated in various chamber ensembles including Hilaritas ensembles, various woodwind and brass quintets, and various horn quartets. In Spring of 2008, Margaret and her quartet received first place in the Southeast Regional Horn Quartet Competition. Margaret has also participated in, and director of, the University of Alabama Afro-American Gospel Choir. Margaret is a member of SAI, Phi Eta Sigma, IHS, and Pi Kappa Lambda. In May of 2009, Margaret graduated summa cum laude with her Bachelors degree in Horn Performance from the University of Alabama. She is currently attending the University of Florida where she is working towards her Masters degree in Horn Performance. At UF, Margaret serves as head band librarian and Gator Band Graduate Teaching Assistant. She is also actively participating in the University of Florida Wind Symphony, the University of Florida Orchestra, and various chamber ensembles. After completing her graduate studies at the University of Florida, Margaret plans to pursue a Doctoral degree in horn performance. Margaret aspires to one day become a professional horn player, studio musician, and collegiate teacher. She desires to share her passion for music with the next generation, leaving a lasting impression on the lives of young musicians that will influence them to develop and use their skills to create their own paths and generate an entirely original kind of music. |
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Jeff Vaughan
Dustin Burgess
