Young Band Directors Panel- Finding and Remembering Your “Why”
Christopher Ballentine is proud to serve as the Director of Instrumental Music at Easton Area High School in Easton, Pennsylvania. In this position, Christopher oversees an instrumental music program of 370 students in grades 9 – 12. He is a proud graduate of Easton Area High School and former director, Ms. Carole Lutte.
Prior to accepting the position at Easton, Christopher graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Penn State University in 2015. From 2015 – 2018, he taught as an instrumental music teacher in the North Hills School District in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 2018, Christopher was recognized as the Outstanding Young Music Educator by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA). He also served for one year on the board for PMEA District I before accepting the position at Easton Area High School.
At Easton, students are afforded instrumental opportunities in the following ensembles: three curricular concert bands, two curricular orchestras, an auditioned string ensemble, two jazz bands, pit orchestra, pep bands, and the 300-member “Red Rover” marching band. The marching band and orchestra recently traveled to Florida for performances in Universal Studios and at the 2020 Gator Bowl. In 2019, students also participated in an exchange program with students from Flensburg, Germany as a continuation of a longstanding tradition between the Easton Area High School Jazz Ensemble and the Altes Gymnasium. In 2020, the Easton Area School District was recognized as a “Best Communities for Music Education.”
For information on the instrumental music program at Easton Area High School, please visit their website at www.eahsmusic.org
Find Chris by contacting him at [email protected].
Matt Collins currently serves as Band Director in Duxbury Public Schools, located in southeastern Massachusetts. Here he teaches all things band related from elementary beginners to the DHS Wind Ensemble. Matt is a graduate of Penn State University where he earned his Bachelors in Music Education. There he studied trumpet with Dr. Langston J. Fitzgerald III and conducting from Professor Dennis Glocke, Dr. Eric Bush, and Dr. Carter Biggers. In addition to his work as a music educator, Matt has studied composition with Dr. Sean Friar and completed compositional studies at the Berklee College of Music. His other teaching affiliations include the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps where he has served as a member of the brass instructional team.
Find Matt on any of his social media platforms below!
… or Email Matt at [email protected]
Aaron Dugger, a native of Pennsylvania, graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Music Education. While at Penn State, Mr. Dugger was a performing member of the Penn State Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Tuba/ Euphonium Ensemble, and the Penn State Marching Blue Band. He is a student of Velvet Brown, Dennis Glocke, Darrin Thornton, and Christopher Hornick.
In 2016, Mr. Dugger relocated to Texas where he served as the Assistant Director of Middle School Bands at Melissa Middle School in Melissa Texas. After 2 years, Mr. Dugger moved to Melissa High School where he served as the Associate Director of Bands and the director of the Cardinal Marching Band. The 2018 Cardinal Band appeared in 4A State Finals for the first time in school history. Under his guidance, the Melissa Middle School and High School non-varsity bands received consecutive Sweepstakes Awards. Most recently, Mr. Dugger served as an Assistant Band Director at Colleyville Heritage High School where the program made its first appearance at the UIL State Marching Contest in 20 years.
Mr. Dugger is an active clinician and drill writer for bands across the country. He serves on the brass staff for the 2019 DCI World Championship Silver Medalists, The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Dugger was a performing member of the Bluecoats from 2013-2015. Additionally, Mr. Dugger served on the brass staff for the Academy Drum and Bugle Corps in 2016. He has also served as a consultant for the Melissa Winterguard, Gateway Winterguard, Melissa Indoor Percussion, and several other groups across North Texas.
Mr. Dugger’s professional affiliations include Phi Kappa Lambda, the International Tuba/Euphonium Association, the Texas Music Educators Association, and the Texas Bandmasters Association. He lives in Lewisville, Texas with his adorable boxer puppy, Sophie.
Find Aaron by contacting him at [email protected]
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