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Directors: Ronald Meers & Michael Aymett
EMAIL THE DIRECTORS
Mr. Meers • Mr. Aymett

BAND OFFICE - 615-896-0110

BAND PERSONNEL

Ron Meers - Director:
Mr. Meers is in his 29th year as Director of Bands at Riverdale High School. Prior to his tenure here, he was Director of Bands at Mt. Pleasant High School in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, for 13 years. Ron received his Bachelor of Science degree from David Lipscomb University and his Master +30 from Cumberland University. He is Past-President of the Tennessee Music Education Association, Past President of the Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Past-President of the Tennessee Bandmaster's Association, Past-President of Phi Beta Mu, has served as the All-State Audition Chairman for the MTSBOA, auditions chair for the Governor's School for the Arts, and Tennessee All State Band Chair. Mr. Meers has served as an adjudicator for both marching and concert band events throughout his career. He was selected as Riverdale High School's teacher of the year for the 2002-2003 school year. Mr. Meers is serving in his 42nd year as a director of bands in Tennessee!

 

Mike Aymett - Director:
Mike is in his 9th year as band director with the Riverdale Band. A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Mike attended Middle Tennessee State University where he earned the Bachelor of Music and Master of Arts degrees. As a saxophonist, Mr. Aymett has performed in numerous styles, from classical, to jazz, to salsa. Mike has previously taught in Nashville and at Mt. Pleasant High School, where he served as Director of Bands for three years, teaching grades 5-12. During his tenure at these schools, students distinguished themselves in both concert and marching performances.

Professionally, Mr. Aymett has served as coordinator for the Rutherford County Honor Bands, chairman for the MTSBOA Honor Bands, Performing Group Auditions Chair for the TMEA Conference, MTSBOA Executive Board, and the Band of Blue Club Board of Directors. He was Equipment Chairperson for the 2000 & 2001 TMEA Conference, and served on the host committee for the 2002 National MENC Conference in Nashville, TN.

Mr. Aymett is a member of MTSBOA, Tennessee Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Tennessee Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmaster Fraternity, selected for membership in the ASBDA, and is a member of Phi Mu Alpha.

 

Tim Hale - Percussion Instructor:
Tim has been the Percussion Instructor for the Riverdale Warrior Band since the fall of 1999. Working to create a well-rounded percussion program, his duties include teaching two percussion classes, working with the pit and battery in marching season, teaching percussion ensemble in the spring, and providing private lessons. Since 1994, he has worked with many drumlines in Middle Tennessee and served as a clinician in Tennessee, Florida, New Mexico, and California. Tim has been influenced by his instructors which have included: Mike McIntosh, Lalo Davila, and Eric Johnson. He graduated from Middle Tennessee State University in May of 2003 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, and he holds an endorsement from Innovative Percussion. He played marimba in the front ensemble of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 1996 and marched tenors for the Nite Express Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993 and 1994. Tim and his wife, Angeline, currently reside in Murfreesboro, Tennessee with their beautiful daughter, Rosa Grace and handsome son Asher Allen. They love spending time with their friends and family and are active in the worship arts and children's ministries at Lifepoint Church in Smyrna, Tn.

 

Emily Bowland- Private Instructor for Clarinet

Clarinetist Emily Wasson Bowland holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California, and is a candidate for the degree Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Oklahoma. Her major teachers have included Yehuda Gilad, Mitchell Lurie, Richard Hawley, and David Etheridge.

Ms. Bowland maintains an active career as performer and teacher. She currently holds the positions of Principal Clarinet of the Bowling Green Chamber Orchestra, 3 rd/Bass Clarinet of the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra and clarinetist with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. She can be heard performing Principal Clarinet with the Nashville Chamber Orchestra on cellist Emmanuel Feldman’s recently released Albany Records CD, Rider On The Plains, a recording characterized by The New York Times as “excellent.” Ms. Wasson can also be heard on the upcoming NAXOS Records recording of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. A highly versatile musician, she has appeared in concert with such artists as Trisha Yearwood, Natalie Cole, Michael McDonald and Jose Feliciano. As a recitalist, Ms. Bowland has appeared at the 2002 and 2004 University of Oklahoma Clarinet Symposiums, the International Clarinet Association’s 2003 ClarinetFest in Salt Lake City, and the 2004 Society of Composers, Inc. convention.

Ms. Bowland serves on the faculty of Western Kentucky University and is widely sought after as a clinician and private instructor.

 

Mike George - Private Brass Instructor

Ken Ozimek - Private Woodwinds Instructor

Wilson Sharpe - Private Instructor

We are ooking for a Private Flute Instructor

Brandon Jones - Private Low Brass Instructor

Guard Instructor: Robin Winkler

Assist. Guard Instructor: Melanie Merritt


2010 - 2011 Band Officers
President: Michael Parente
Vice President: Ethan Gailey
Recording Secretary: Nathan Nix
Corresponding Secretary: Mary Posey
Treasurer: J.D. Leverette
Librarian: Haley Hatfield, Amanda Henderson, Courtney Wright
Jr. Reps: Kelsey Rone & Brandon Cox

2010-2011 Field Commanders:

Field Commander- Ashley Corum & Sarah Ono
Assist. F.C.- Ben Bloom

2010-2011 Section Leaders and Leadership:
FLUTE LEADER- Hannah Clay
FLUTE ASSIST.- McKinzy Hart, Brittanni Haynes
FLUTE LEADERSHIP- Heather O'Neal
FLUTE LEADERSHIP- Brittanni Haynes
Bb CLARINET LEADERS- Haley Hatfield
Bb CLARINET ASSIST.- Amanda Henderson, Amy O'Neal
Bb CLARINET LEADERSHIP- Mary Posey, JD Leverette
SAXOPHONE LEADERS- Adam McAnally
SAXOPHONE ASSIST.- Mashala Enzor
SAXOPHONE LEADERSHIP- Michael Parente
LOW REED LEADERSHIP- Samantha Webb
HORN LEADER – Bryce Fausnaught
TRUMPET LEADER – Ethan Gailey
TRUMPET ASSIST.- Kelsey Rone, John Hill
TRUMPET LEADERSHIP- Nathan Nix
TROMBONE LEADER- Bryan Creech
TROMBONE ASSIST.- Brad Beasley
BARITONE LEADER- Keenan Taylor
TUBA SECTION LEADER – Trent Pyrz
PERCUSSION BATTERY LEADERS- Ryan Brown, Jayson Nesbitt
PERCUSSION BATTERY LEADERSHIP- Nick Jimenez, Joseph Schilling
PITT LEADER- Michelle Quarto
GUARD SECTION LEADER- Brittani Dixon, Michelle Moore

 

 

 

Since May 17th, 2004

Riverdale High School Band
802 Warrior Dr.
Murfreesboro, TN 37128
Band Phone: 896-0110

Special Thanks to General Mills / Pillsbury for their support of our Drumline

Webmaster: Rich Dodson Design, RS Meers