staff

Director of Bands

Will Pierce has been at Choctaw County High School since 2007. His responsibilities include teaching the "Mighty Tiger" Marching Band, conducting the Beginner Band, Jazz Ensemble, Basketball Pep Band and Symphonic Band. In addition, he also oversees the Mighty Tiger Visual Ensemble.

Mr. Pierce is a 2006 graduate of Troy University in Troy, Alabama, earning his Bachelors degree in Instrumental Music Education, where he studied composition with world renowned composer and arranger Ralph Ford and piano with Dr. Diane Orlofsky. While at Troy University, he played trombone in the Sound of the South Marching Band. He also played trombone, piano, and clarinet in the Symphony Band, trombone and clarinet in the Concert Band, and served as a piano accompanist for various ensembles and concerts. Mr. Pierce has also served as a church pianist and is a private instructor for piano. He is a member of ABA, MENC, and NEA. Mr. Pierce is a native of Greenville, AL and currently resides in Butler, AL.

Instructors

Color Guard Instructor

Vanessa Ridgeway graduated from Southern Choctaw High School in 1981 and

obtains an Associate of Arts Degree from East Mississippi Junior College. Mrs.

Ridgeway also attended Livingston University.

Mrs. Ridgeway's guard career began in high school where she served as

co-captain and captain of her high school color guard/rifle team. She served two

years as color guard captain at EMJC and one at Livingston University. Mrs.

Ridgeway was appointed the CCHS Band Sponsor for the fall semester of the

2006 marching season. She has helped the band with judging for auxiliary tryouts

and is currently serving as the color guard instructor at Choctaw County High

School.

Dance Line/Color Guard Instructor

Kathryn Hobgood is a 2005 graduate of Mary G. Montgomery High School.

She is currently a student at Troy University majoring in Biology and is set to

graduate in the Fall of 2010.

As a dancer, Ms. Hobgood was a member of her high school dance line team

for four years and danced in the Troy University Sound of the South Marching

Band for two years. She was a former student teacher at Melinda Leigh

Performing Arts Center, Elba High School flag and dance instructor, and J. R.

Arnold flag instructor. Ms. Hobgood has been working as the dance line

instructor at Choctaw County High School since 2008.

Majorette Instructor

Heather Cowen

Bio coming soon!

Marching/Trumpet Instructor

Scott Sexton is a native of Troy, Alabama, where he played trumpet in the CHHS

Blue Machine Marching Band, the Alabama All-State Band, and the Sound of the

South Marching Band. He graduated from Troy University magna cum laude with

a Bachelor of Music Education (choral emphasis) in 2009. Mr. Sexton graduated

from the University of Mississippi in 2011 with his masters in choral conducting.

He is currently an elementary music and choir teacher in Mississippi.

Mr. Sexton enjoys working with middle and high school students in many areas,

including marching band, trumpet, piano, drum major/conducting, and choir. He is also an active conductor, accompanist, and choral musician and has performed throughout the United

States and Europe.

2011-2012 Band Council

Officers

President/Band Captain ……………………Kadeshia Coleman

Vice President/1st Lieutenant …...…….....Kevin Cousin

2nd Lieutenant ………………………………Milton Thompkins

Sr. Drum Major ……………………………...Brandon Wallace

Jr. Drum Major .......................................Breanna Smith

Secretary …………………………………….Yasmine Ezell

Historian ................................................Dakota Leddon

Historian ................................................Porchea Strait

Chief Librarian ……………………………….Ceyunia Wilson