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Kell Bands Staff

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David Roth

Director of Bands

David Roth joined the faculty at Kell High School as the Assistant Director of Bands in 2008 and was named Director of Bands in 2011.  Under his direction, the Kell Wind Ensemble has performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (2017), the Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival (2017), the GMEA State Convention (2016), and the January High School Music Festival (JanFest) in Athens, GA (2013). In 2010, the Kell Wind Symphony performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the marching band won two BOA Regional Championships.  Prior to joining the Kell program, Mr. Roth was the Assistant Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School where he conducted the Kennesaw Mountain Wind Symphony at the 2006 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and was a part of multiple BOA regional championship marching bands between 2004-2008. 

 

A native of Marietta, Georgia, Mr. Roth graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Music Composition and earned his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois.  He was a member of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from 2000-2003, serving as the corps’ drum major from 2001-2003.   While a member of Carolina Crown, he helped found the Carolina Crown Student Leadership Task Force, an initiative aimed at enhancing the level of student leadership within the corps that is still in effect today. 

 

Mr. Roth is currently an active clinician, guest lecturer, adjudicator, and music arranger across the Southeast.  His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, the National Band Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Georgia Music Educator’s Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Roth lives in Kennesaw, GA with his husband Jeff and five-year old son Jacob.

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Taylor Watts

Associate Director of Bands

Taylor Watts is the Associate Director of Bands at Kell High School. Mr. Watts is a native of Kennesaw, Georgia, and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia Honors Program with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education in 2013. During his time at UGA, he served as the drum major of the Redcoat Marching Band for three years and worked with the Symphonic Band as a guest conductor. Additionally, he was named the Presser Scholar in 2012, having been voted by the faculty of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music as the most outstanding undergraduate music major. His studies include conducting with Dr. John Lynch and saxophone with Dr. Connie Frigo, Dr. Joseph Wytko, Dr. Stephen Fischer, and the late Dr. Kenneth Fischer.

 

As an educator, Mr. Watts actively works as a clinician, adjudicator, and private lessons instructor for both saxophone and conducting. In addition to his efforts in the local community, he has been a part of the staff at the UGA Summer Marching Camp, Music For All Summer Symposium, and George N. Parks Drum Major Academy. His professional affiliations include the National Band Association, Georgia Music Educators' Association, Music Educators' National Conference, and Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity.

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Rebekah Chadderdon

Director of Guard

Currently residing in Atlanta, GA, Rebekah brings over 23 years experience within the marching arts. She has worked with many WGI, DCI and BOA programs including The Cadets, MadisonScouts, Speakeasy, Everybody, Jinx, Braddock, Paramount, Lassiter, Pickens, South Forsyth, Ponderosa, River Ridge, Cooper City, Taravella, Father Ryan, East Coweta, and many more.Whether performing, teaching or designing, Rebekah loves the arts and has dedicated many years studying Dance and Movement under Kim Robards, Stanley Knaub, Cleo ParkerRobinson, GTTP and the Atlanta Ballet. Rebekah currently resides on the steering committee for the Southern Association of Performing Arts (SAPA), enjoys her time spent as a clinician andloves consulting with a variety of programs. She has been adjudicating both locally in Atlanta and the Denver metro areas for over 10 years. Outside of “band hours”, Rebekah is a brandstrategist and creative director for a boutique agency and loves hiking, yoga, and cooking.

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Drew Tucker

Director of Percussion

Drew Tucker is the Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Malletlab a musician, educator, and social entrepreneur—a unique combination of talents that place him at the intersection of the arts and activism.

Artistically, he’s at the forefront of the movement to reinvent the vibraphone—a dynamic instrument that he melds with soul, funk, jazz and hip-hop influences. He has shared the stage with Shaun Martin, Mani Hoffman, Norah Jones, Jeff Coffin, Chris Nix, Tom Hurst, Nebojsa Zikovic, Mark Ford to name a few and his jazz influenced twists on modern-day standards from Michael Jackson, to Prince and The Police, have earned him key endorsements from Innovative Percussion, Musser, Beetle Percussion, Lot Riot and Sabian Cymbals—and the applause of sold-out audiences Worldwide.

 

The passion he brings to the stage is also present in his classroom. Drew’s one of the most sought after educators in mallet percussion education, which he led to him being a top front ensemble coach and one of the most coveted speakers in his field.

As a community activist, he’s driven to revitalize underserved areas through the creation of arts centers in underserved neighborhoods and was the key factor in the development of Arts Garage in Delray Beach, the Bailey & Ali Cultural Arts Center and Old School Square. Through his leadership and musicianship, he strives to not only raise spirits, but set an example of excellence and open opportunities for students, families and communities to realize their potential.

Whether performing alongside Grammy winners as a world-class vibraphonist, coaching eager high school students through national music competitions, or leading and directing the growth of local arts institutions, Drew's passion for improving people’s lives through artistic endeavor is unwavering.

Drew serves as an American cultural ambassador, currently tours solo and with his band ‘The New Standard,’ is a front ensemble consultant for Stryke Percussion, & Blue Coats Drum & Bugle Corps and was the percussion director at Boca Raton High School, West Broward High School & Dreyfoos High School of the Arts in Florida.

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