Spirit from JSU is pleased to announce Dr. Chip Crotts will return as Brass Caption Head for the 2007 season. Dr. Crott's first season in 2006 saw tremendous growth in the brass program and the return of the trademark Spirit Sound.

Dr. Crotts is professor of trumpet and Director of Jazz Studies at Jacksonville State University.  A Grammy nominated performer Dr. Crotts has toured with Ray Charles, The Manhattan Transfer and Maynard Ferguson and is in demand as a first call player for national touring companies.  He has been involved with the drum corps community as a performer, teacher, and adjudicator.  Dr. Crotts was a performing member of the Blue Devils and Phantom Regiment. He is an adjudicator for Bands of America and Drum Corps International.

Dr. Crotts received a Bachelor of Music degree from East Carolina University and a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Penn State University.  He completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Trumpet Performance and Jazz Studies at the University of Texas in Austin.  Included in his teachers are Ray Crisara, Ray Sasaki, John Daniel, Roger Ingram, Doc Severinsen, and Boyde Hood.

Executive Director Ken Bodiford says, "The level of musicianship and positive approach Chip brought to the corps in 2006 has established a foundation for continued growth in the 2007 season and beyond. We are very excited about his return to the corps."

Additional Brass Instructional Staff members:

Donny Allen returns for his fourth year with Spirit, having previously taught in 1993, 2003, and 2006. Donny is currently the Assistant Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at the Georgia Institute of Technology.  He earned his Bachelors in Music Education and Masters in Conducting from East Carolina University and is presently a D.M.A. candidate in conducting at the University of Memphis. Donny served as principal horn for the Army bands at Ft. Gordon, GA and Ft. Benning, GA.

His teaching experience includes serving at the University of Memphis as the Assistant Director of the marching band, at ECU as Director of the Concert Band and Basketball Band.  He taught four years at West Craven High School in Vanceburg, NC.  He works with several marching bands and drum corps, including serving on the brass staff of the Bluecoats of Canton, OH.

Scott Steward is currently a professional trumpet player and educator in Nashville, TN and is a performer with Denver & The Mile High Orchestra.  His drum corps involvement includes being soprano soloist with the Freelancers and Blue Devils from 1991-95. He performed in the Tony Award winning show BLAST for nine months and three years with the Paul Cacia Jazz Orchestra.  He has performed with such artist as Bill Watrous, Louis Bellson, Jack Sheldon, and Jimmy Smith.

Scott was educated at California State University where he held the solo jazz trumpet chair for the Evening Jazz Ensemble and the One O'Clock Jazz Band.  When not performing Scott serves as an instructor with the McGavock high school band in Nashville, Tennessee.

Errick Prince is a graduate of Valdosta State University and Jacksonville State University.  Errick returns to Spirit for his fourth season and will be working with the Baritones and Euphoniums.  He previously taught on the brass staff of The Cadets drum and bugle corps. He was a performing member of the Bluecoats of Canton, OH and the Spirit of Atlanta.  He has taught in the public schools of Thomasville, Georgia and served as a Commissioned Officer in the United States Air Force.

Matt Banks returns for his second season as Spirit's instructor of Tuba.  Matt is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at Alton High School in Alton, Illinois and is the former Assistant Director of the Union High School Band in Tulsa, Oklahoma. As a performer Matt toured for several years as a member of the Tony Award winning show BLAST and is a former member of the Cavaliers drum and bugle corps.

Matt received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois State University. In addition to his experience with Spirit Matt has also taught on the brass staff of the Madison Scouts and the Bands of America Summer Symposium.

Scott Carter is returning for his fourth season on the Spirit brass staff.  He is currently completing his Bachelor of Arts in Music degree at Jacksonville State University where he is a member of the famous Marching Southerners and Chamber Winds.  Scott was a member of Southwind drum and bugle corps from 1993-97.  He served as Southwind's tour manager in 1999-01 and on the visual staff in 2002-03. Scott's primary teachers have been John Thomas, Chris Hosmer, Demondrae Thurman, and Eric Bubacz.

Mike Madonia is the Director of Bands at Thornton Fractional South High School in Lansing, Illinois and will be returning for his second season on the Spirit staff.  In addition to his teaching duties, Mike is a freelance musician working in the Chicago area. He previously taught at Pioneer drum and bugle corps.