BAND PERSONNEL

Ron Meers - Director:
Mr. Meers is in his 26th 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 Middle Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Past-President of the Tennessee Bandmaster's Association and Past-President of Phi Beta Mu, and is All-State Audition Chairman for the MTSBOA. He was honored by being selected as Riverdale High School's teacher of the year for the 2002-2003 school year. Mr. Meers is currently serving as the President of the Tennessee Music Education Association.

 

Mike Aymett - Director:
Mike is in his 6th 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, and 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. They love spending time with their friends and family and are active in the worship arts and children's ministries at Fairview Church in Lebanon, Tn.

 

Emily Wasson - Private Instructor for Clarinet

Clarinetist Emily Wasson 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. Wasson 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. Wasson 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. Wasson serves on the faculty of Western Kentucky University and is widely sought after as a clinician and private instructor.

 

Beth Konopka - VIP Staff:

Elizabeth Konopka is a recent graduate from Middle Tennessee State University with her Bachelors in Instrumental Music Education and is now pursuing her Masters degree in Music Education. She is under the direction of Dr. Reed Thomas and Dr. Nancy Boone-Allsbrook for her graduate assistantship. She has also worked with Professor Dewayne Pigg and Dr. Carole Nies during her undergraduate studies.

Elizabeth has recently worked with Ron Meers and Mike Aymett at Riverdale High School, being employed as a band staff member. She has also worked with David Jones, and more recently David Aydelott, at Franklin High School.

Elizabeth has performed in the MTSU Band of Blue, the Symphonic Band, the Concert Band, and the University Orchestra.

Mike George - Private Brass Instructor:

Scott Kinney - Private Brass Instructor

Ken Ozimic - Private Woodwinds Instructor

Wilson Sharpe - Private Instructor

Karl Wingruber - Private Woodwinds Instructor

 

Lori Riggins - Guard Instructor:

 

Katie Rogers - Assist. Guard Instructor


2007-2008 Band Officers

President: David Winter
Vice President: J.P. Clardy
Vice President: Zane Greer
Recording Secretary: Brittany Clinton
Corresponding Secretary:
Treasurer: Josh Goslowsky
Librarian: Ashley Smotherman
Asst. Librarian: Kate Burks
Asst. Librarian: Lindsey Allen
Jr. Rep. Boy: Jordan Jatko & Ben Ellis
Jr. Rep. Girl:

2007-2008 Field Commanders:

Field Commander- Jacki Webb
Assist. F.C.- Austin Fausnaught

2007-2008 Section Leaders:

FLUTE LEADERS - Brittni Jones FLUTE ASSIST. - Kristy Morgan, Jessica Wright, and Ashley Smotherman
Bb CLARINET LEADERS -Brittany Clinton and Kylie Padgett Bb CLARINET ASSIST .- Brittany Phelan
B.Cl ASSIST- Josh Goslowsky
T. SAXOPHONE LEADER - Garrett Cole
A. SAXOPHONE LEADERS- David Winter and Andrea Boyer ASSIST. - Kyle Gilliam
TRUMPET ASSIST. - Ben Ono and Casey Beasley TRUMPET ALT.- Delrena Allen
HORN LEADER - J.P. Clardy HORN ASSIST.- Karson Lurie
TROMBONE LEADER - TBA Camp
TROMBONE ALT.- TBA Camp
BARITONE LEADER – Christine Riley
BARITONE ASSIST. .- Eric Moore
TUBA LEADER – Jordan Jatko TUBA ASSIST . – Nathan Jones
PERCUSSION LEADERS- Clay Almonrode & Jeremy Krulikowski
PIT LEADER - Adrienne Welchance
GUARD LEADERS- Lauren Barnett, Kelsey Rogers


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

Directors: Ronald Meers & Michael Aymett
email the directors
Mr. Meers • Mr. Aymett

Webmaster: Rich Dodson 2004