Judges for Tidewater Regional
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.
Jody Jones
Jody Jones has been involved with Broughton High School Marching Band since 1983. He is a graduate of Jamesville High School and East Carolina University. He has an undeniable passion for colorguard and has been a mentor and instructor for numerous programs across eastern North Carolina including both UNC Chapel Hill and at NC State University where he currently teaches. In addition to instructing, Mr. Jones has served on the leadership of the Atlantic Indoor Association winter guard circuit for numerous years; most recently serving as the Color Guard Coordinator. Jody has served on staff for First Flight Winter Guard over 20 years.
Tim Gauldin
Tim Gauldin is in his ninth year as Director of Bands at Kempsville Middle School. The KMS Band program offers 6th, 7th and 8th grade bands, Pep Band, Jazz Band and the KMS Flag Team. He received the prestigious Tagged by the Superintendent Award for the Virginia Beach City Public School System in 2015 for his work in the classroom and the quality of his student’s performances. He was the designer for the 2011 United States Scholastic Band Association Group VI National Champions Munford High School Band from Munford, TN. They marched in the 2015 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! In April 2017, Mr. Gauldin conducted the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association District V All-Regional Band.
Mr. Gauldin was the Director of Bands at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach Virginia from 2009-2012. Under his direction, the Bands of Kempsville have continued their winning traditions, being named a 2010-2011 VIRGINIA HONOR BAND and the 2010 United States Scholastic Band Association Virginia State Marching Band Champions. Also, Kempsville High School was named into the VBODA HALL OF FAME in 2011. In October of 2009, he was awarded the Kempsville High School Faculty “Make a Difference” Award for his influence on students. In April 2010, he was honored to guest conduct the Chesapeake All-City Band. Prior to teaching at Kempsville High School, he was a freelance designer. Since starting his own business in 2001, he taught high school marching bands and winter guards in Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, South Dakota, Michigan, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, New Mexico, Oklahoma and California. He was the visual caption head and color guard instructor at Western Branch High School, from Chesapeake, VA, was twice a medalist at the Atlantic Indoor Association Championships. In addition, the Bassett HS Marching Band, a three-time Bands of America Semi-finalist. Mr. Gauldin instructed the Lincoln HS Marching Band, Sioux Falls, SD, from 2006-2010. The Lincoln HS Marching Band participated in the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Also, Mr. Gauldin was a co-founder of The Study, a three-time Winter Guard International Finalist. He is most proud of designing/instructing the West Johnston HS Winter Guard from 2002 – 2009. The West Johnston Open Guard was the 2009 Winter Guard International Scholastic Open Class Champions.
Mr. Gauldin was the former Director of Bands at Herndon Middle School in Herndon, VA and LeRoy Martin Middle School, a Gifted and Talented Magnet School, in Raleigh, NC. While at LeRoy Martin Middle School he built the band program to over 270 students. Additionally, the LeRoy Martin Middle School had 40 students selected for the Wake County All-County Band, 24 students selected for the North Carolina Bandmasters Association All-District Band, and six students selected for the North Carolina Bandmasters Association All-State Band. Prior to teaching at the middle school level, he was the Director of Bands at Frank W. Cox High School in Virginia Beach, VA from 1994-1998. Under his direction, the Frank W. Cox High School Band was a Virginia Honor Band from 1996-1998 and won numerous awards and superior ratings. In 1995, his Symphonic Wind Ensemble gave a command performance for Queen Sonya of Norway. Additionally, he was Director of Bands at Nelson County High School from 1988-1992. In 1990, his “Marching Governors” were selected to march in the inaugural parade for Governor L. Douglas Wilder.
He attended Virginia Commonwealth University on a trumpet scholarship and received a Bachelor of Music Education in 1988. During his senior year, he was named to the National Dean's List, selected as an Outstanding College Student of America and was named to the Outstanding Young Men of America. In 1992, he was awarded a teaching assistantship at VCU, where his teaching responsibilities included being the Director of the University Band and the RamBand, assistant conductor of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and teaching Marching Band Techniques. He received his Master of Music Education with an emphasis in wind band conducting in 1994 from Virginia Commonwealth University.
He was the Visual Consultant/Program Designer for Mystical Drum and Bugle Corps from Newbury Park, CA. Additionally, he has taught the 1990-1992 Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps and the 1987-1988 Naval Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. He was a member of the 1987 Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL.
As an adjudicator, he judges for the Virginia Marching Band Cooperative, the Atlantic Indoor Association, Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, the Carolina Indoor Performance Association and the United States Scholastic Band Association. Professionally, he is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Virginia Music Educators Association and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association.
Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges has over 30 years in design and judging for winter guards, marching band, and drum corps. Most of that time was spent in South Florida. Jeff has designed and worked with many WGI finalists and world champions in the A and Open class.
Jeff is an active judge still for SFWGA/FFCC including guard, percussion and winds. He is an Ensemble and General Effect specialist as well as providing overall consultations at many contests. He currently judges the visual caption for the WGI Winds Division. He was the former Director of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and was recently inducted into the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps for his contributions to the group over the years. He was a former marching member of the Crossmen as well.
Kelly Earp
Kelly Earp resides in Raleigh NC and is an Alumni of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. For nearly a decade he served on their visual staff after his membership in their brass section, winning three DCI Championships and four Visual Caption Championships. He also has been on visual staff for The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from Denver CO and consulted with The Blue Stars from La Crosse WI. He is currently serving his 15th year as the Drill Designer and Visual Caption Head for The Cary High School Marching Band. Prior to his work at Cary High School and The Cadets he graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sound Engineering and Music Production. Kelly has been affiliated with several other high school bands, winter guards, and indoor percussion ensembles in North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, and New Jersey serving as a consultant, clinician, and drill designer. He is also a Certified Design Analysis Judge for Carolina Winter Ensemble Association (CWEA). Kelly is an enthusiastic and creative individual who enjoys being a part of the pageantry arts in NC and VA.
Dan Boothe
Daniel W. Boothe is an internationally award-winning music professional currently serving as a music conductor and public affairs strategist for the U.S. Air Force Bands and as Music Director & Conductor of the Symphonicity Orchestra of Virginia Beach, Virginia. As a recording producer for numerous CD albums, and conductor or performer around the world, his live and recorded concert events for television, radio, and internet broadcasts have reached over 50 million people in 175 countries.
Prior to joining the Air Force, Mr. Boothe served as Percussion Director for the American Wind Symphony’s Winds on the Mon music scholars program, Associate Conductor of the George Mason University Symphony Orchestra, and Director of Percussion at Radford University. He also served as a Visiting Artist for the University of Virginia's College at Wise where he taught and authored innovative curriculum in percussion, composition, and music history.
He is in high demand nationally as a music adjudicator having been recurrently invited to judge for the U.S. Bands, Winter Guard International Percussion World Championships, and various other contests across the country. Since 2004 he has been a Vic Firth Inc. Education Team member endorsed as a Marching & Scholastic Percussion Specialist, and has been a featured artist in multiple Percussive Arts Society "Day of Percussion" state events around the country.
Mark Beamish
Mark Beamish is the former Director of Bands and Fine Arts Team Leader at Green Hope High School in Morrisville, NC. A native of Rochester, NY, Mr. Beamish spent his youth participating in a variety of musically related activities including private and ensemble study at Rochester's Hochstein and Eastman Schools. Mr. Beamish attended the University of Kentucky and was a student of Vincent DiMartino. Beamish earned his Bachelor of Music Degree in 1986 and in 1987 earned his Master's Degree at Eastern Illinois University where he served as the graduate assistant of bands. Before relocation to North Carolina, Mr. Beamish taught all levels of music instruction at two different school systems on Long Island, NY. In 1992, Beamish accepted the position as High School Band Director at Sanderson High School. During Beamish's tenure at Sanderson High School, all ensembles under his tutelage received only superior ratings at music festivals at competitions from 1992-1999. In 1997, the Sanderson Wind Ensemble was the featured performing ensemble at the North Carolina Music Educators' Conference in Winston- Salem, NC. He currently serves as an Adjudicator and Chief Judge for the North Carolina Bandmasters Association.
Matt Minick
Matt Minick is currently the Band Director at Linkhorne Middle School in Lynchburg VA. He graduated from East Carolina Magna Cum Laude in Music Education. Prior experience includes being the Director of Bands at Fieldale-Collinsville HS from 1989 -1999 and the Director of Bands at Cary HS from 2000-2019.
His bands at Fieldale-Collinsville achieved numerous awards such as BOA Atlanta Class A Champions for 4 consecutive years and JMU Parade of Champions Class AAAA Champions also for 4 consecutive years.
Matt’s bands at Cary HS won numerous grand champion titles, BOA Regional Finalist placements, and made BOA Semi-Finalist status four times. Cary HS also placed in the WGI World Championship Finals in 2012, 2017, & 2018. Cary HS represented NC in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2017.
Matt has judged numerous marching band contests throughout his career and was on the first VMBC Invitational judge’s panel. He has been on staff for various DCI Drum Corps serving as a Visual Technician for Magic of Orlando and Music Caption Head for Tarheel Sun. He was a Lead Baritone for the Garfield Cadets in 1987 winning the DCI World Championship.