8th Annual

Greenville Rose Band Classic

Judge Information

Jason Barclift (NCBA Chief Judge)

Jason Barclift graduated from East Carolina University with a BM in Music Education in 1998 and a MM in Music Education in 2006. He received his National Board Certification in 2005. From 1998 – 2005 he taught at H. J. MacDonald Middle School in New Bern, NC. Mr. Barclift became the band director at E. B. Aycock Middle School in Greenville, NC in 2005. His bands at both schools have consistently received superior ratings at the North Carolina Concert Band Festival, and first place awards at other competitions. His students have been consistently selected to participate in All-District and All-State Bands.

Mr. Barclift is an active clinician and judge. He has conducted various All-County and All-City Bands in North Carolina and Virginia. He has also judged marching band competitions in North Carolina and Virginia. Mr. Barclift is active at Oakmont Baptist Church as the staff Music Assistant. His responsibilities include directing and preparing the orchestra for weekly services and directing the adult handbell ensemble. Mr. Barclift, a native of Chesapeake, VA, now resides in Winterville, NC with his wife Kim, band director at C. M. Eppes Middle School in Greenville, and their son Elijah.

David Stroud (Music Performance - Individual)

David Stroud, a native of Kinston, NC, received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1998 from East Carolina University. Following graduation, he taught beginning strings and instrumental music at Wintergreen Intermediate in Pitt County, NC. After a year at Wintergreen, Mr. Stroud moved to Carteret County where he taught instrumental music at Broad Creek Middle School.Currently, he serves as director of bands for Newport Middle School. At Newport Middle, Mr. Stroud had the honor of being selected as the 2003-2004 Newport Middle School Teacher of the Year. Mr. Stroud is also a National Board Certified Teacher.

Under his direction, his bands, concert and jazz, have received consistent and consecutive superior ratings with his separate seventh and eighth grade bands at the North Carolina State Band Festival. Mr. Stroud is an active guest clinician and adjudicator in North Carolina and Virginia, and he has the honor of being the conductor of the “Purple Band” at the East Carolina University Summer Band Camp in Greenville, NC.

Mr. Stroud currently lives in Morehead City with his wife Carrie, their two sons Damon, age 18, Camden age 7, and their 3 year old daughter, Avery Elizabeth.

David L. Hawks (Music Performance – Ensemble)

David L. Hawks is currently the principal of Durham School of the Arts, a magnet arts school in Durham, North Carolina. The school serves a student population of 1,400 students in grades six through twelve that offers a multifaceted arts program combined with rigorous academics. Previously, he was principal of Bunn Middle School in Franklin County which was recognized as a North Carolina School of Distinction under his leadership. Prior to that, he was principal of Zeb Vance Elementary School in Vance County which was twice recognized as a North Carolina School of Distinction and twice as a North Carolina School of Excellence. Prior to this position he was the Director of Bands at Roanoke Rapids High School for seventeen years. Mr. Hawks received his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 1978. He completed a Masters Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University in 1987 and a Masters Degree in Educational Administration from East Carolina University in 1990.

Mr. Hawks has been honored by receiving many awards, including the North Carolina Bandmasters Association "Award of Excellence" and the National Band Association's "Citation of Excellence." In 1987 his Symphonic Band performed at the NCMEA In-Service Conference. While under his leadership, Roanoke Rapids High School Bands received seventeen "Superior" ratings at the North Carolina District Concert Band Festival. During his last five years in Roanoke Rapids, the RRHS Marching Band won first place at thirty-two out of thirty-five marching band festivals in North Carolina and Virginia. Additionally the RRHS Band consistently placed many students in the Eastern All-District Band and the North Carolina All-State Honors Band. Mr. Hawks’ professional affiliations included membership in the Music Educators National Conference, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, the North Carolina Bandmasters Association and the American School Band Directors Association. Mr. Hawks is a past president of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association and has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the Southeast.

Jay Bolder (Music Effect)

Mr. Jay Bolder, a native of Monroe, NC, has recently retired after serving 23 years as the Director of Bands at South View High School in Fayetteville, NC. Mr. Bolder attended Wingate College and then began his teaching career at Cape Fear High School and Armstrong Middle School. He later spent five years at South View Middle School before accepting the job at South View High School in 1987.

During his tenure at South View High School Mr. Bolder’s bands received dozens of Superior ratings, attended the Gator Bowl (1988), and was chosen to perform at the Hollywood (CA) Christmas Parade (1999). Out of all of the great accomplishments, Mr. Bolder’s most cherished memory is of the relationships he built with his students over the years. Mr. Bolder is in demand as an adjudicator for both Marching and Stage Festivals throughout the region. Mr. Bolder currently resides outside of Charlotte, NC.

Chris Blice (Music Effect)

Chris Blice currently lives in Pittsboro, North Carolina with his wife Debbie. They have one daughter, Megan, who recently graduated from East Carolina University and performs as a flutist.

Chris is presently serving in his third year as the Principal of Northwood High School, one of Newsweek Magazine’s Top American High Schools, in Pittsboro, NC. Prior to accepting this position in August of 2008 he served as the Principal of Louisburg High School for five years, as the Principal of Edwards Middle School for one year, and as an Assistant Principal at Northern Nash High School for three years. Before becoming a school administrator he served as Director of Bands at Fayetteville Street Christian School, Nash Central Junior High, Northern Nash Senior High, and North Carolina Wesleyan College. His performing ensembles consistently received Superior ratings and numerous First Place/Grand Champion awards at local, state, and national levels.

Mr. Blice received his B.S. (1980) from Limestone College of South Carolina, his M.M. (1981) from Morehead State in Kentucky, and his Masters of School Administration (2000) from ECU. In 1999, he was selected to be a member of the prestigious North Carolina Principal Fellows Program. He is a currently a member of NASSP, NC-PAPA and was a performing member of the 1977 National Champion Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps (“Finis Coronaut Opus”) from La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Tony K. Robinson (Visual Performance)

A 1982 graduate of Western Carolina University, Tony Robinson began his teaching career as assistant band director at Enka High School in Asheville, N.C. In 1984, he became band director at his alma mater, Pisgah High School, in Canton, N.C. In 1987, Mr. Robinson accepted the position of Director of Bands at Cary High School.

During his 13-year tenure, the Cary Band continued its strong tradition of excellence by winning numerous marching band awards, Grand Championships and Class recognitions.

The Cary High School Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble all performed at local and state festival concerts, earning Excellent and Superior Ratings. The Cary Bands performed in the 1998 New Year’s Day Parade, in London, England, as well as giving a concert performance in Wembly Hall. In April 2000, the Cary Bands were invited to return to Europe, performing a 10-day tour of concerts in Bruges, Belgium, Le Touquet and Paris, France.

In 2000, Mr. Robinson was invited to begin the band program at the new Wakefield Middle School in Raleigh, N.C. From it first year enrollment of 80 students, the band has grown to over 200 members. The Wakefield Advanced and Intermediate Bands have earned Excellent and Superior Ratings at the N. C. Band Evaluation Festivals since 2002. In 2005, Mr. Robinson was the recipient of the Central District’s Award of Excellence. He also serves as adjudicator for marching, concert, and winter-guard competitions in NC, SC and Virginia. Mr. Robinson has been a career long member of NCMEA, NC Bandmasters Association, District Band Directors Association and County Band Directors Associations.

Paul Orsett (Visual Effect)

Paul Orsett marched with the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps and Winter Guard. He has been a band director for over 10 years in NC and founded Assembly Line Winter Guard in 1985. He currently serves as President of the Atlantic Indoor Association. Paul has over 30 years of teaching experience, including Drum & Bugle Corps, marching band, and Winter Guard and is currently a full-time theatre arts teacher at Wakefield High School in Raleigh , North Carolina. Paul is also an announcer for Winter Guard International Regional Competitions and World Championships.

Julie Hill (Color Guard)

Julie Hill, of Winterville, NC, graduated from Havelock High School in 2000, where she performed in the colorguard and winterguard programs throughout her high school career. More recently, she has performed with First Flight Winterguard from 2001-2003. Her teaching experience includes Greene Central Winterguard (2003), Farmville Central Marching Jaguars (2003), & has assisted with other high schools throughout NC. She has been involved with the J.H. Rose Marching Rampants since 2004. As the colorguard instructor at Rose High, Mrs. Hill’s high standards and strong work ethic have proven to inspire her students not only to outstanding performances on the field, but also in life.

Julie is an exceptional children’s teacher for Pitt County Schools. This is her 5th year teaching children with special needs. She lives in Winterville, NC, with her husband, Nathan, & her 1 year-old son, Landon.

Jonathan Matthews (Percussion)

Jonathan Matthews graduated from East Carolina University (B.M. in Music Education) in 2006 where he was a percussion student of Jonathan Wacker. Upon graduation, Mr. Matthews accepted the position of Director of Bands at Southwest Onslow High School in Jacksonville, NC. During his successful tenure at Southwest, Mr. Matthews worked to foster a strong sense of pride, tradition, and musical excellence in the band program. After a brief move away from teaching in Onslow County, Mr. Matthews has returned to a position at Summersill Elementary. In addition to his work at Sommersill and caring for his new baby boy, Mr. Matthews also serves as the percussion instructor at Jacksonville High School.

Victor Banfield (Drum Majors)

Victor Banfield, of Greenville, NC, is currently in his ninth year of employment by the Pitt County Department of Social Services. While attending East Carolina University (B.S. in Sociology, ’98), Mr. Banfield served for three years as Drum Major of the ECU Marching Pirates (1994-96). In 1996, Victor was also chosen to serve as the Drum Major for the Blue Coats Drum and Bugle Corps. As he was completing his college education, Mr. Banfield worked for the Tarheel Sun Drum and Bugle Corps as Assistant Director for two years (1998-99). For the past sixteen years, Victor Banfield has been active as an adjudicator and independent clinician for several programs throughout North Carolina and Virginia.