NC Music Educator Conference 2020

He served as chair of the South Central District and member
of the NCBA Board of Directors from 2018 – 2020, and
previously served as High School At-Large member, SCDBA
MPA site host, and SCDBA representative to the NCBA MPA
Committee.
His professional memberships include the American School
Band Directors Association, North Carolina Bandmasters
Association, North Carolina Music Educators Association,
National Association for Music Education, and the International
Trumpet Guild. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Pi Kappa
Lambda, and Omicron Delta Kappa fraternities. He holds degrees
from Bridgewater College, Va., and Winthrop University. He is a
National Board Certified teacher.
Band Delegate
Drew Carter
Drew Carter is in his fifth year as band
director at Jay M. Robinson High School in
Concord, where he directs the symphonic
band, concert band, marching band, jazz
band, and percussion ensemble. He has
taught in public middle and high schools in
the South-Central, Central, and Northwest
Districts for eighteen years, earning many
accolades, including consistent Concert
Band MPA superior ratings in Grades
II – VI. His Jay M. Robinson Symphonic Band was selected to
play as a clinic band for Prof. Dennis Fisher at the 2019 NCMEA
Professional Development Conference and as part of 2019
President’s Cup through the U.S. Army Band, “The Pershing’s
Own.”
Carter also conducts the Charlotte Concert Band, a band of
professional and dedicated amateur musicians which performs
regularly throughout the year at various locations in and around
Charlotte (www.charlotteconcertband.org). The band performed
at the NCMEA Professional Development Conference in 2008
and for its 50th Anniversary in 2015.
Carter earned his National Board Certification in Early
Adolescence through Young Adulthood in November of 2010,
and admittance into the American School Band Directors
Association in 2016. He received his Bachelor of Arts in music
(horn performance) in 2000 and his Master of Arts in teaching
in 2001, both from UNC Chapel Hill. He has received further
instruction in conducting from Prof. Daniel Cook, Prof. Eugene
Corporon, Dr. Donald Hunsberger, Dr. Mark Scatterday, Dr.
Mallory Thompson, Dr. Andrew Trachsel, and Dr. Eric Wilson.
He is married to his wonderful and supportive wife of fourteen
years, Mandy. They live in Cabarrus County with their two sons,
Van and Levi.
David Deese
David Deese graduated from Page High
School in Greensboro, and is thankful
to have had Charles Murph as his band
director. He attended Appalachian State
University and earned his bachelor’s degree.
He also served two years as percussion
instructor and arranger for the Marching
Mountaineers. His student teaching was supervised by Jon Patton
at Wilkes Central High School.
In February 1993, Deese became director of bands at E.L.
Brown Middle School and assistant director to Ed Kiefer at East
Davidson High School. In the following 12 year period, the
Brown Middle School Concert Band earned superior ratings at
MPA in grade IV and one in grade V.
Upon Ed Kiefer’s retirement, Deese became the director of
the East Davidson Bands. This year marks his 29th year with
the Brown Middle and East Davidson Bands. The program
continues to prosper and has two concert bands participate in
MPA each year. He also conducts two full jazz bands, both of
which participate in numerous Jazz Festivals. The Golden Eagle
Marching Band has also enjoyed great success and continues to
earn top honors each year.
Deese has been named Teacher of the Year twice. He was
Band Director of the Year in the Central District and received
the Award of Excellence in the Northwest District. He has
served as the clinician for both the Central and Northwest All-
District Bands and has taught numerous All-County Clinics. He
frequently adjudicates jazz, concert, and marching festivals. He
became a Nationally Board Certified teacher in 2002, and earned
re-certification in 2012. Also in 2012, he was honored by the
North Carolina Symphony as the winner of the Jackson Parkhurst
award for outstanding music educator.
Deese resides in Thomasville, with his wife, Ellen-Nora, and
five sons: Elijah, Alex, Payton, Levi, and Walker.
Olivia Spell
Olivia D. Spell is currently the director
of bands and ensembles at Corinth Holders
High School in Wendell. A 2009 graduate
of East Carolina University, she received the
Outstanding Senior Music Education Award.
After graduation, Spell landed in Franklin
County and served as director of bands at
Cedar Creek Middle School and Franklinton
High School. During her two-year tenure at
CCMS and FHS, she experienced exponential growth in both
programs, nearly tripling enrollment. Immersing the students in a
total music education, she restarted the marching band program,
began a winterguard program, participated in MPA and other
festivals around the state.
Entering her tenth year at Corinth Holders, Spell oversees
the marching band, fall concert band, spring concert band, wind
ensemble, basketball pep band, jazz band, winds, winterguard
and winter percussion ensembles. Growing this program from
the ground up has been one of the most rewarding parts of her
career! Not only has the program experienced growth under her
tenure, but the students and the program have seen a tremendous
amount of success.
The marching band has seen many caption and class awards
at NCBA shows across the state. The concert band and wind
ensemble have attended the NCMPA and received many excellent
and superior ratings. The winter ensembles have been highly
successful locally, regionally and nationally. The students of
the Corinth Holders band program are also actively selected
to participate in the JCPS All-County Honors Band, SEDBA
All-District Honors Band and NCBA All-State Honors Band as
well as the Macy’s Great American Marching Band, Army All-
American Marching Band and the NAfME All-National Concert
Band.
In addition to her role as director of bands, Spell has
served as fine arts department chair and school improvement
team member at Corinth Holders. She currently serves as the
JCPS High School band liaison and the Southeastern District
Bandmaster Association chairperson. In her spare time, she
enjoys traveling, shopping and cooking. She also enjoys spending
time with her husband Ryan, and their children, Robbie and
Addie Jo. It is a busy life, but she would not have it any other way!
Secretary
Karen Williams Lanning
Karen Williams Lanning serves as the
band director for Swain High School in
Bryson City. She is a 2002 graduate of
Western Carolina University, earning a
Bachelor of Music Education as both a
saxophone major and piano minor. During
her tenure as director, Swain County band
students have participated in: District, State
and Honor Band Clinics, Solo and Ensemble,
Asheville Youth Orchestra, All-American Army Band, Honors
Performance Series at Carnegie Hall, International Tuba &
Audition Dates: www.brevard.edu/music
Information: musicinfo@brevard.edu
Euphonium Conference and NC Governor’s School for Music.
Swain High ensembles participate annually in MPA events where
Swain High has received consistent superior ratings. Swain
County concert and marching band students have performed in
New York, Washington, D.C. and Hawaii.
Lanning is an active member of Women Band Directors
International, where she has served as scholarship chair,
recording secretary and conference presenter. Her presentation,
“Literacy within the Band Room” was presented during the
2016 summer conference held in Indiana. At the 2013 Chicago
Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Swain High School was
awarded the Summa Cum Laude Award from WBDI, which
recognizes outstanding achievements in music education,
specifically within small high schools. She is actively involved
with NCBDA and is currently serving her second year as
president for the Western district.
Within the Swain County School System, Karen has served
on the Arts Center advisory board, serves as certified mentor for
beginning teachers, member of the Covey High School leadership
team, and school improvement team chair for Swain High. She
was named Swain County Schools Employee of the Year in 2008,
and Teacher of the Year in 2013. She is currently in the process of
pursuing National Board Certification.
Music Matters
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