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John Dupuis is a distinguished Music Curriculum Specialist, Educator, and Composer in Florida, currently serving as the Performing Arts Specialist with Volusia County Schools where he oversees over 80 music, dance, and theater programs within the district. Mr. Dupuis has held positions as the Director of Bands and Orchestras at Spruce Creek High School (FL) and Director of Bands at Howard W. Blake Performing Arts High School (FL), while also previously serving as Conductor for the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra Youth Symphony, and the Summer at the Symphony Music Program.
Mr. Dupuis holds Bachelor's degrees in Music Education and Music Composition, and a Master of Music degree in Conducting, Music Education, and Music Composition from the University of South Florida. His ensembles have performed at prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and Southwark Cathedral, and have received numerous superior ratings, including 'straight superior' at the state level. Notably, his Wind Ensemble was named "Grand Champion" at the Chicago National Wind Band Invitational, and his 220-member marching band won 'Grand Champion' at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dublin.
As an active clinician and adjudicator, Mr. Dupuis evaluates solo and ensemble performances, youth orchestra auditions, and guest conducts throughout Florida. He is also a prolific composer and arranger, with works commissioned by ensembles such as the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, the Florida Orchestra, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. Mr. Dupuis's compositions have been performed nationwide, where more locally, his work has been featured at Universal Islands of Adventure theme park, published through Daehn Music Publications and Wehr's Music House Publishers.
Lauren Gates is an adjunct professor at the University of South Florida (USF), where she teaches music education courses including Basic Conducting and Woodwind Techniques. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Oklahoma, and holds both a Bachelor's in Music Education and a Master's in Instrumental Conducting from USF.
Mrs. Gates brings extensive experience to her teaching role, having instructed students from elementary through the college levels. Her background includes teaching band to grades 4 through 12 in both private and public schools across Florida & South Carolina, and notably she served as the Director of Bands at JW Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, Florida. During the 2019-20 academic year, she was the Assistant Director of Bands at USF, where she taught music education and conducting classes, conducted the University Concert and Campus Bands, assisted with the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, and directed the Rumble Pep Band.
Active in Tampa Bay and Central Florida, Mrs. Gates is a sought-after clinician and guest conductor, regularly sharing her breadth of knowledge as an adjudicator for Music USA at Universal Orlando Resort.
Sandie Kersten has a rich background as a competitive and commercial actor & dancer, having performed for Walt Disney World Disney, Universal Orlando Resort, and various local theaters throughout Florida. With over 25 years of experience teaching & choreographing dance routines for school groups, universities and theatrical events, Ms. Kersten’s knowledge and experience has made her a highly sought after figure in the performing arts scene of Orlando, and across the country. Ms. Kersten also employs her talents as an adjudicator and announcer for various studio competitions & beauty pageants, having previously managed ‘Make It Tours’ for aspiring professional dancers in New York, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas.
Ms. Kersten plays an integral role as Director of Operations for the Florida Marching Band Championships (FMBC), an annual event showcasing field show performances from some of the best high school marching bands in the State of Florida, while also actively serving as Treasurer on the Board of Directors for FMBC.
In addition to her professional work, Ms. Kersten enjoys twirling, singing karaoke, and, most of all, watching young dancers perform for enthusiastic audiences.
Dr. Gregory W. LeFils, Jr. is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education at Stetson University. In this role, he teaches music education classes and supervises student teachers. Dr. LeFils earned his PhD in Music Education from The Florida State University, where he assisted in teaching music education, conducting, and graduate choral literature classes. During his time at Florida State, he served as assistant conductor for various choral ensembles, including the Women's Glee Club, Choral Union, Chamber Choir, and the Tallahassee Community Chorus.
Dr. LeFils brings extensive professional experience, having directed two secondary choral music programs in Florida. He has also conducted The Orlando Chorale and The Orlando Chamber Choir and performed as a singer and soloist with the Festival Singers of Florida. His research interests focus on teacher effectiveness, music teacher curriculum and training, incorporating teamwork into rehearsals, choral improvisation, and choral history.
He has presented research and conducted educational clinics at numerous conferences, including the annual meetings of the Music Education Associations in Alabama and Florida, as well as workshops for music educators in Central Florida. Dr. LeFils' dissertation, titled "The History of the Stetson University Concert Choir," reflects his deep engagement with choral history. In addition to his roles as a researcher and educator, Dr. LeFils is an active speaker, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the region.
Dr. John A. Lychner is the Director of Music Education at the School of Music at Stetson University, where he teaches music education classes, supervises intern teachers, advises students, and serves as the advisor for the collegiate NAfME chapter. Additionally, he is an active clinician and conductor. Before joining Stetson, Dr. Lychner was a Professor of Music at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.
Dr. Lychner earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Northeast Missouri State University (now Truman State University) and received a Rotary International Foundation Scholarship to study music and education at the University of Nottingham in England. He taught band, choir, and general music in the Lindbergh School District in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his Master of Arts from Northeast Missouri State University, where he was the principal conductor for the University Concert Band. He completed his PhD in Music Education at Florida State University, where he also served as Assistant Director of Bands at Rickards High School and as a woodwind coach and rehearsal assistant with the Tallahassee Symphony Youth Orchestra.
Dr. Lychner has worked as a summer music camp instructor, church organist, and church choir director. He has held various leadership roles with the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), including national Chair for two Special Research Interest Groups and President of the Michigan Music Educators Association. He was also part of the Production Staff for the International Association for Jazz Education annual convention.
Dr. Lychner's research, which focuses on aesthetic response to music and teacher education, has been published in the Journal of Research in Music Education, the International Journal of Music Education: Research, the Journal of Band Research, and several volumes of the series Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. He has also written articles for the Music Educators Journal, The Michigan Music Educator, and The Instrumentalist.
Mr. Garry Miller is a distinguished music educator and past choral director, having dedicated nineteen years to the public school system in Indian River County, Florida. Under his direction, various choral ensembles have been widely acclaimed & recognized, having performed major choral works with orchestra, period pieces, and new commissioned compositions. Earning his bachelor’s degree in Music from Appalachian State University, Mr. Miller currently directs the orchestra as part of a collaborative effort with the Schumann School for the Visual & Performing Arts in Vero Beach.
Mr. Miller is an active clinician and adjudicator throughout Florida, and has served as a board member for the Florida Music Educators Association (FMEA). Additionally, he has held leadership positions in the Florida Vocal Association and the American Choral Directors Association. Retiring from Charter High School for the Arts (FL) in 2021, Mr. Miller regularly shares his knowledge of music with directors & student performers in his community, and across Florida.
Dr. Timothy Peter is a professor of music at Stetson University. A native of Minnesota, he received his undergraduate degree from Luther College and completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Arizona. Before joining Stetson University in the fall of 2012, Dr. Peter was a professor of music and head of the music department at Luther College. He has also been a high school choral director and church musician in Minnesota, Iowa, Arizona, and Florida.
At Stetson University, Dr. Peter conducts the Stetson Concert Choir, the university's touring SATB ensemble comprised of select upper-class singers. He is actively involved in the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), having served as the divisional chair for repertoire and standards for colleges and universities, as well as the state and divisional chair for men's choirs.
His choirs have been selected to perform at prestigious events such as the 2017 National ACDA Conference in Minneapolis, the 2011 National ACDA Conference in Chicago, and four Divisional NC-ACDA conventions in Minneapolis, Sioux Falls, and Madison. He was also a presenter at the 2015 National ACDA Conference in Salt Lake City.
Dr. Peter is in demand as an all-state conductor and festival clinician across the United States, having worked in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin. He has prepared choirs and orchestras for performances at notable venues such as Carnegie Hall in Manhattan, the Singapore SAS Concert Hall, Orchestra Hall in Minneapolis, Rockefeller Chapel in Chicago, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the Holland Center in Omaha, the TWA Center in St. Louis, the Overture Center in Madison, the Alamodome in San Antonio, and the Seoul Foreign School Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, he has conducted in Singapore, Germany, England, Namibia, Oman, South Africa, and South Korea.
Dave Schreier serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Central Florida (UCF), where he plays a crucial role in the instruction and direction of the UCF Marching Knights and Jammin’ Knights Pep Bands. In addition, he contributes as one of the Assistant Directors for the UCF Concert Band Program, including the UCF Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and holds the position of principal conductor for the Concert Band. Mr. Schreier earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from UCF in 2002, followed by a Master of Arts in Music with a focus on conducting in 2010.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Schreier was the Director of Bands at Osceola High School in Kissimmee, FL, from 2002 to 2008, where he managed all aspects of the school's acclaimed instrumental music & visual program.
Mr. Schreier is actively involved in several professional organizations, including CBDNA, FMEA, NAfME, FBA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, & Pi Kappa Lambda, and remains an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Sigma Alpha Iota. He has previously served as Chair of the Marching Knights Alumni Association and was the Founder and past-President of the Central Florida Alumni Association of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He currently serves as the Faculty Liaison on the board of the UCF College of Arts and Humanities and Marching Knights Alumni Associations and is a faculty advisor for the Zeta Tau chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota.
Over the years, Mr. Schreier has become a highly sought-after clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator, with a notable reputation both within the State of Florida and around the world. His engagements have taken him to England, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Hong Kong, Germany, Italy, and various destinations across the United States of America.
Susan L. Smith is an accomplished music educator with experience teaching general, choral, and instrumental music from elementary through collegiate levels in Florida, Virginia, and Alabama. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Troy University and the Southern Division President Elect of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Ms. Smith is also the Past President of the Alabama Music Educators Association and the faculty advisor for the Troy University cNAfME Chapter.
Ms. Smith is the Chair of the NAfME Collegiate Advisory Council and a member of the Professional Development Committee. Previously, she was the Director of Bands at the Saint James School in Montgomery, AL, where the band consistently earned Superior ratings in Concert, Jazz, and Marching Band events, including the Alabama Music Performance Assessment, Smokey Mountain Music Festival, and Bands of America Super Regional and Grand National Championships.
Ms. Smith is a sought-after clinician, conductor, and adjudicator, having presented clinics at numerous state, national, and regional NAfME conferences and the Midwest Clinic. She performed with the Alabama Winds, an adult community band of Alabama music educators, and is responsible for the Chamber Music portion of the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. Additionally, she co-founded the "Mind the Gap" Webinar and Podcast for young and preservice music educators.
Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Sigma Alpha Iota, Phi Beta Kappa, and the National Band Association. Smith has conducted honor bands in multiple states, including the University of Alabama Honor Band, Samford University Honor Band, Marshall University Honor Band, and Midfest at the University of Georgia, as well as District Honor Bands in Alabama, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky.