Dr. Jay Jacobs is Associate Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at the University of South Carolina, where he is the director of The Carolina Band, conducts the Symphonic Winds and teaches courses within the School of Music. He holds the Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from West Virginia University, where he studied trumpet with John Winkler and conducting with Don Wilcox.  Dr. Jacobs earned the Masters of Music in Conducting and Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education degrees from the University of Florida, studying in the conducting studio of David Waybright. Within Drum Corps International, Dr. Jacobs performed as a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps from Canton, Ohio and with The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, Illinois. Dr. Jacobs’ career in public education included teaching as a middle school and high school band director in Kirkland, Illinois, and prior to his appointment at UofSC, he served as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Dr. Jacobs has served as a clinician and adjudicator in West Virginia, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, Iowa, Louisiana and Texas, and as a presenter at professional conferences.  He has performed in and conducted ensembles internationally and has served as a guest conductor with the Lake Charles Symphony Orchestra.  

Dr. Michael Stewart is WJ Julian Endowed Director of the “Pride of the Southland” Marching Band and Associate Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.  Beyond directing the marching band, Dr. Stewart conducts the UT Symphonic Band, Basketball Pep Bands, as well as teaching undergraduate courses in Music Education. Dr. Stewart received his Bachelor of Music Education from The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. His teaching career began within in the Delaware City School district (Delaware, Ohio) teaching music education to students from grades 5 through 12. Dr. Stewart received his masters and doctorate degrees from The Ohio State University where he served as the Graduate Assistant Director with the Marching Band and Teaching Assistant within the School of Music. Dr. Stewart continues to actively serve as a clinician, adjudicator, drill writer, and guest conductor throughout the nation.

Steve Sykes is considered by many to be the doyen of band tuba players. He has enjoyed a stellar career as one of Europe’s leading and most entertaining brass soloists. Steve has performed worldwide as a solo artist and clinician holding masterclasses and workshops for the Band of the Royal Marines, Pershing’s Own Band, the Chicago Mid West and Orchestra Clinic, Kneller Hall, the Norwegian Navy Band and the North American Brass Band Association amongst others.  He has also been tuba tutor for the International Brass Summer School, the Swedish Youth Band, The Brass Band Summer School, the Swiss Youth Band, The National Youth Band and the National Youth Band of Wales. He was also brass tutor at the Band of the Royal Marines, Bristol University, and Bath Spa University. Many composers have written and dedicated works to him and he has a number of radio broadcasts and commercial recordings to his name. Steve has been involved in the design and development of instruments by Boosey and Hawkes, Besson, Yamaha, London Musical Instruments and Sterling. He is a member of the Association of Brass Band Adjudicators and has officiated at competitions worldwide.

Mark Upton began learning the trumpet at the age of six encouraged by his parents who were both professional trumpet players.  Growing up in Deal, Kent, Mark spent his early years playing in local Brass Bands, Orchestras and Big Bands and soon developed a passion for playing the trumpet. At the age of 17 Mark joined the Royal Marines Band Service where over the years he has honed his skill in many different musical genres. Mark has studied with the British trumpet legend, Derek Watkins and New York jazz trumpet player Richard Boulger amongst others which has led to a busy freelance career. He has recorded on over 25 albums including ‘Girl in Blue’ by the Session 8 Band and ‘I’m a Dreamer- Aren’t we all’ with international jazz singer Jill Keating. In 2012 Mark was endorsed by Eclipse Trumpets- the UK’s leading trumpet maker and worked closely with Leigh McKinney in developing an Artists Series model trumpet, now available at Eclipse Trumpets U.K. He has also been endorsed by Robinson’s Remedies lip renewal which has been formulated for musicians. In recent years Mark has been lead trumpet for the James Bond Tribute Band ‘Q The Music’, various West End Shows, The London Film Festival and has also performed with the Syd Lawrence Orchestra, The Gordon Campbell Big Band and ‘Back to Basie’ Band.

Mark’s virtuosity and versatility has led him to give many masterclasses around the world including Japan, Singapore and the UK. He is a well-respected music educator and is currently an Instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music.

Tracey Bridgeman studied at the Colchester Institute and plays all clarinets and saxophones. She works as a freelance musician in chamber music, orchestral music, dixiebands, big bands and in theatre pits. Tracey is an experienced instrumental teacher and has coached small ensembles. She has also adjudicated at youth music festivals. Tracey has performed in Europe and in many venues in the UK, including the Royal Albert Hall, the Royal Festival Hall, the Royal National Theatre, the Barbican and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

Janna Hüneke was born in Germany, has been devoted to music most of her life, giving recitals and concerts in venues such as St. Martin’s in the Fields, St James’ Piccadilly, Westminster Cathedral, as well as numerous concert halls in Germany & Belgium.

Janna freelances all around the country, playing in orchestras, ensembles and as a soloist and is an active teacher, currently teaching at St John's College School in Cambridge, at her studio at home, and online. Janna runs several courses including Flute School London, Flutes in France, and the eflute academy, which is an online teaching forum for adults.

Gordon Carter joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 1982 at the age of 16 as a Clarinet and Violinist and has only recently retired in March 2023 after a professional career of over 40 years. During this time, he has performed all over the world in many prestigious venues including The Royal Albert Hall and Sydney Opera House to name just a few. Gordon was a leading soloist with the Royal Marines. Gordon has been teaching for over 20 years and holds the CTABRSM Qualification for instrumental teaching. He also held the position as the saxophone instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music in Portsmouth in 2003 for 2 years. Other teaching positions include Saxophone Specialist for Devon Youth Jazz Orchestra and leading saxophone tuition at Lipson Co-Operative Academy for over 10 years. During this time Gordon has taught on behalf of Plymouth Music Accord delivering tuition on behalf of the charity. Gordon currently leads the Ivybridge Community College Big Band near Plymouth. He is also the lead Alto and MD for The Dave Hankin Big Band. He also plays with AJ’S Big Band in Exeter as well as several local Pop Groups in the Plymouth area. Gordon is a regular performer in the Pit Orchestra for several local theatre groups.

Band Colour Sergeant Michael Smith  is now in his 21st year within the Royal Marines Band Service. As a percussionist he has performed countless massed band solo performances whilst serving with BRNC, Collingwood, Scotland, Portsmouth band and the RMSoM instructor for 5 years. He is currently the part of the Specialist Attract Team. His career highlights include 6 months in Afghanistan, Olympic and Paralympics Games Medal Parade, the Royal Wedding, the Queens Jubilee celebrations but most of all seeing his trainees achieve their goals. Michael is the proud father of his 3-year-old son Sebastian and 7-year-old daughter Evelyn. 

Corporal Bugler James Clements commenced training  with the Royal  Marines Band Service in 2016. James has served in the West Country with both the Plymouth Band and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. His career has taken him across the globe, performing at prestigious locations such as the top of the Empire State Building in New York and the QE2 Hotel in Dubai. He also deployed as a solo ship’s bugler, playing a key role in international relations at each port and contributing to daily ship operations while at sea. In May 2025, James was selected and drafted as the Corps of Drums Corporal Instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music. James has had the honour of participating in numerous significant UK ceremonial events, including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Her Majesty’s funeral, and the Coronation of His Majesty the King. He has performed alongside many A-list bands and celebrities, with one of his most memorable moments being a performance with Queen at Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee. Throughout his career, he has regularly taken part in key Royal Marines Band Service events, including Mountbatten Festival of Music, the Horse Guards Parade, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Corporal Bugler James Clements commenced training  with the Royal  Marines Band Service in 2016. James has served in the West Country with both the Plymouth Band and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines. His career has taken him across the globe, performing at prestigious locations such as the top of the Empire State Building in New York and the QE2 Hotel in Dubai. He also deployed as a solo ship’s bugler, playing a key role in international relations at each port and contributing to daily ship operations while at sea. In May 2025, James was selected and drafted as the Corps of Drums Corporal Instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music. James has had the honour of participating in numerous significant UK ceremonial events, including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Her Majesty’s funeral, and the Coronation of His Majesty the King. He has performed alongside many A-list bands and celebrities, with one of his most memorable moments being a performance with Queen at Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee. Throughout his career, he has regularly taken part in key Royal Marines Band Service events, including Mountbatten Festival of Music, the Horse Guards Parade, and the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Dr. John Zastoupil is the Director of Bands and tenured associate professor of music at the University of Tennessee. His primary responsibilities at UT include conducting the University of Tennessee Wind Ensemble; teaching graduate courses in  conducting, band literature; guiding the wind conducting program, and providing the administrative leadership for all aspects of the University of Tennessee’s diverse and historic band program.

An advocate of music education and advancing the wind repertoire, Dr. Zastoupil has collaborated with composers such as James Stephenson, Kevin Day, Michael Daugherty, William Bolcolm, Augusta Read-Thomas, Stephen Gryc, Gunther Schuller, Scott McAllister, Paul Dooley, Scott Boerma and others. From 2020-22, he served on the Missouri Music Educators Association Board as College/University Vice-President. Since 2013, his online conducting course through Conn Selmer’s MusicProfessor platform has received worldwide recognition as a valuable resource for online conducting pedagogy. Zastoupil regularly guest conducts professional and student honor ensembles throughout the United States and has conducted abroad in Europe and Asia.

Dr. Amy M. Knopps is the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Missouri where she directs Marching Mizzou, Mini Mizzou, Symphonic Band, and teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the School of Music. Under her direction Marching Mizzou has grown in size from 245 members in 2017 to a current capacity 350 members in 2022, which stands today. Prior to her appointment in the fall of 2017, Dr. Knopps served for seven years as Associate Professor of Music, Associate Director of Bands, and Director of Athletic Bands in the School of Music and Dance at Eastern Michigan University. 

Dr. Knopps earned degrees from The University of Georgia (DMA), the University of Kansas (MM), and the University of Missouri (BS, Ed.). While at Georgia and Kansas she held conducting associate positions that involved conducting both concert and athletic bands as well as teaching courses in the music curriculum. Dr. Knopps continues to be a very active conductor, clinician, and adjudicator across the United States and internationally having worked and performed throughout Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, and South America.

Allen Frank is the Director of Instrumental Music at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where he oversees and conducts the band and orchestra programs. Originally from Ohio, Allen enlisted in the United State Marine Corps upon graduating from high school. He attended the Armed Forces School of Music, where he was his class honor graduate, before his permanent duty with the Marine Corps Band in Quantico, VA. In his time in Quantico, Allen served as a tuba player and vocalist with the marching and concert bands, jazz band, and the band’s brass quintet, The Ambassador Brass. Notable performances in his time with the Marines include the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo, joint performances with The President’s Own Marine Band and countless military ceremonies and events in the greater Washington, D.C. area. Upon his honorable discharge at the rank of Sergeant, Allen moved to Bethlehem, PA, where he attended Moravian College (now University), graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. Immediately following his collegiate studies, Allen became a member of the Broadway National Tour of the Tony and Emmy Award winning show BLAST!, touring between 2002-2003. After stepping off the stage, he obtained his teaching certification and has been in the classroom for the past 21 years. When not teaching, Allen is a freelance tuba player and a member of The Mainstreet Brass Quintet. He serves as a conductor with the Moravian Music Foundation, having conducted festivals in the United States and South Africa, and is right at home conducting pit orchestras for musical theatre productions.  Allen resides in Bethlehem, PA with his girlfriend, Jayme, son Jonathan, and his pets, Meaux and Marble. 

Dr. Julia Baumanis is Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Bands at Rutgers University and is the first female instrumental conductor at Rutgers University in its 257 year history. Her duties include serving as the Conductor of the Rutgers Symphony Band, the Associate Director of the Marching Scarlet Knights, Director of Pep Bands, and teaching courses in instrumental conducting and music education. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Baumanis served as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Central Missouri. Dr. Baumanis has also served within the music education community on the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) repertoire committee, on Music For All’s Educational Advisory Team in 2023, and is the co-Author of GO ON, Tell Your Story! Voices of Women Band Directors, a book that features the shared experiences of over 100 women band directors, published by GIA Publications in 2023. In January 2023, she was appointed Artistic Director and Conductor of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, a professional orchestra serving the New Brunswick, NJ area for the past 62 years.

Brett Padelford is Director of Public Relations for the University of Southern California Trojan Marching Band. Brett has served multiple roles within the Trojan Marching Band, including teaching assistant, assistant director, and its de facto historian. He graduated from USC with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and Language and a master’s in Communication Management. As Director of Public Relations, he built the band’s social media presence from scratch. The band’s Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube accounts are all in the top 5 of the most-followed marching band accounts in the United States.

Brett is also a photographer and was honored to be the official photographer for the first London Band Week last year. His work has been published in Sports Illustrated, the Wall Street Journal, and Halftime Magazine. He volunteers as a photographer for Make-A-Wish in Orange County, CA.

Sergeant Kyle Porter joined the Royal Marines Band Service in September 2011. He has served in Portsmouth, Commando Training Centre and Collingwood Bands and is currently the Senior Corps of Drums instructor at the Royal Marines School of Music. Throughout his career Sgt Porter has travelled extensively, visiting countries such as Australia, America, Chile, and Colombia. He has participated in a variety of prestigious engagements including the world record drum roll, performing on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, contributing to HM the Queen’s Christmas Address, collaborating with Top Secret Drum Corps at Windsor Horse Show and the historic Coronation of HM King Charles.

Simon Mellish has been a professional drummer for nearly 30 years and in that time, he has performed with such jazz luminaries as Derek Nash (Jools Holland), Roger Beaujolais (world renown jazz vibraphonist) amongst others. He has also performed in various west end shows and recorded drums for TV and film.  Simon is also an active educator and has taught extensively at the ACM in Guildford, Royal Marines school of Music and very recently was a tutor on the Freddie Gee Drum Academy 2021. Simon has also performed drum clinics with such drum kit artists as Derrick Mckenzie, Claus Hesslar, Russell Gilbrook, Ian Mathews, Chuck Silverman, Darren Mooney and Colin Woolway. Simon teaches and performs in equal amounts is equally passionate about both facets of his drum kit performing and teaching career.

Melvin Knapp started playing military side drum at the age of 10 in a local Scout band on the Isle of Wight and has experience in both marching band and pipe band drumming, having played in marching bands such as the Medina Marching Band and The Corps of Drums of HMS Nelson Royal Naval Volunteer Band. Melvin's passion for rudimental drumming led him to join a local pipe band in Portsmouth before joining the Scots Guards Association Pipes and Drums (South), in which he has performed at competitions on the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) circuit and at various prestigious engagements across the UK.