Judges for FC Classic
Mark Beamish
Mark Beamish is the former Director of Bands and Fine Arts Team Leader at Green Hope High School in Cary, NC. Originally from upstate NY, Mr. Beamish spent his youth participating in a variety of musically related activities including private and ensemble study at Hochstein and Eastman Schools. Mr. Beamish earned his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Kentucky, Master of Music Degree from Eastern Illinois University, and Master of School Administration from North Carolina State University. Throughout his career as a teacher, Mr. Beamish taught all levels of music instruction and a variety of experiences as director of musical ensembles. During Mr. Beamish’s tenures at Sanderson and Green Hope High Schools, ensembles under his tutelage received consistent superior ratings at music festivals at competitions. Mr. Beamish has been awarded the Band Director of the Year and Award of Excellence by the Central District Band Association. Mr. Beamish is the Past President of the Board of Directors for the North Carolina Wind Orchestra, has served on the Board of Directors for the Central District Band Association and as Chairperson for the North Carolina Bandmasters’ Marching Band Committee. Mr. Beamish is active as a adjudicator and performer.
Matt Savage
Matt Savage has been playing percussion for more than 30 years. He is the former Director of Marching Percussion at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam and his Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from USC. He has taught at every level of public education, from elementary to the college level. Additionally, he has played snare drum with the legendary Bayonne Bridgemen and served as percussion director and arranger for drum and bugle corps such as The Anaheim Velvet Knights, The Dutchboy of Kitchener, Ontario and The Canton Bluecoats.
Matt is heavily involved with the WGI indoor percussion activity as an adjudicator and has served on the WGI Percussion Steering Committee. Matt has delved into the art of drumstick and mallet design for the Pro-Mark drumstick company creating a signature line of sticks. His most recent publication is "Savage Rudimental Workshop", a state of the art rudiment development book with 2 CD accompaniment published by Alfred Music.
He is the founder and director of the Matt Savage Marching Percussion Camp taking place every summer in the Carolinas (www.drumcamp.net) Along with being a marching percussion specialist, Matt is a Remo hand drum artist and drum circle facilitator leading drum circles for a variety of both local and national events.
David Priester
Dave Priester is from Dale City, Virginia and has over 40 years of experience judging bands and color guards. He was a founding charter member Atlantic Indoor Association (AIA) in 1995. He currently serves as a Contest Administration for WGI. He was inducted into the AIA Hall of Honor in 2004 for his contributions to founding the circuit.
Josh Potter
Joshua K Potter is currently the Director of Bands at Providence Senior High School. Previously, Mr. Potter was the Director of Bands at Raleigh Wakefield High School for eleven years – beginning with its opening in 2000. He received his Bachelor of Music Education from UNC - Chapel Hill and completed a Masters in Wind Band Conducting at ECU. Mr. Potter also served as the Director of Bands at West Rowan HS and Charlotte Catholic HS.
During his time at Wakefield, the program developed into a comprehensive music education program that featured three concert ensembles, two jazz bands, a percussion ensemble studio and a winter percussion ensemble, four winter guards, a chamber music program, and a music theory and AP Music Theory program. The marching band was a Bands of America Regional Championship Finalist on multiple occasions. The Winter Guard was a four-time Winter Guard International World Championships finalist. The Wakefield band program was featured twice at the NC Music Educator’s Conference.
At Providence, the Wind Ensemble was a featured ensemble at the 2013 NC Music Educator’s Conference. In addition, the Pride of Providence Marching Band was a finalist at the 2013 Bands of America Winston-Salem Super Regional, the first band from Charlotte to earn this honor.
Tommy Goddard
Tommy Goddard is a nationally known performer, composer, and educator, Tommy Goddard has been working in the music industry since 2002. As winner of many drumset, marimba, and marching percussion awards, Goddard has worked in schools, football stadiums, and music venues all across North America. He made his Kennedy Center debut as a snare drummer in the Crossmen Drum Corps in Washington, D.C. in 2008. In 2011, he performed at the Murat Theatre in Indianapolis, IN as champion of the Drumline Live! national solo competition. Goddard has worked with recording artists Neil Patrick Harris, Shania Twain, Lincoln Brewster, Arturo Sandoval, John Clayton, Steve Houghton, Rick Baptist, Sal Lozano, Jonelle Allen, Meloney Collins, Jay Leach, Jennifer Barnes, Robbie Seay, Evans Blue, Kutless, Air Force Band of the Golden West, and many others.
He is currently the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands and Drumline at Liberty University (Lynchburg, VA), freelance drummer/percussionist in Virginia, and judges marching percussion competitions in Virginia and North Carolina. He is the owner of Goddard Music Studios, offering private and group lessons in percussion (drumset, mallets, timpani, marching percussion, orchestral percussion, latin percussion), composition/arranging, music business/commercial music, and general music.
Katie Kegley
Katie Kegley is originally from Salem, VA and currently is a school counselor for Rockingham County Public Schools in Virginia. She performed with James Madison University's color guard in 2010 and was captain in 2011. She was also a member of JMU Nuance Winter Guard in 2010 and 2011. Most recently, she was a member in First Flight World for the 2016-2018 seasons. She has been teaching high school and collegiate color guard and winter guard throughout the Shenandoah Valley since 2012 and is excited to continue with her fourth year of judging with VMBC. She is currently a movement judge with the Atlantic Indoor Association (AIA).