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Troy Athens High School
Marching Band Staff
P. Jefferson McCoy
Director of Bands
(for more information on Jeff, click here)
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Eric Junod
Assistant Director
(for more information on Eric, click here)
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Greg Cole, Percussion Instructor
Greg Cole has been involved in marching percussion since 1986. In addition to Troy Athens High School, he has worked with numerous
marching bands across the state including Durand, Farmington Harrison, Lakeland, and Grand Blanc high schools. He has also worked
with a number of drum corps as well as indoor marching percussion ensembles including the 2001 Winter Guard International
Independent A World Champion Arthur Hill High School and the 2003 Winter Guard International Independent Open World Champion
NorthCoast Academy. Greg is currently the Vice President of Percussion and and also an indoor percussion judge for the Michigan
Color Guard Circuit.
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Jennifer Dawson, Percussion Instructor
Jen Dawson has been teaching the front ensemble (also known as “the Pit”) for the Athens for six years. She performed in high school
(Rich Hogan was her high school instructor), at Eastern Michigan University and with East Side Fury percussion ensemble. Jen is a
librarian (shush) at an elementary school in Dearborn Heights. She loves working with kids and eating Gathering Place pizza (not to
mention hanging out with her husband – percussion instructor Rob Dawson – and their “four-legged” child.
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Rob Dawson, Percussion Instructor
Lakeshormen indoor drum lines. While studying percussion at Oakland University, Rob performed three years with OU’s symphony band
including one year as principal timpanist. Teaching at Athens, Rob started out as battery “tech” and now works with both battery and
front ensemble. Rob has also taught quads with Arthur Hill’s winter line, and is proud of the ensemble’s achievement in WGI finals.
Rob has worked as an instructor at various band camps and for middle school percussion sections. In his “day job,” Rob is head
photographer for Moosejaw Mountaineering, shooting studio photos as well as outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, camping,
mountaineering, etc.. He is creative arts director at his church in Berkley. In September, he’ll celebrate his first-year wedding
anniversary with Jen, who also teaches the front ensemble.
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Rich Hogan, Percussion Caption Head
Rich Hogan has been involved with marching percussion since 1961 when he joined the local Drum & Bugle Corps in Grand Rapids
Michigan. Toronto with Dr. Russel Hartenberger, and earned certificates in music theory and harmony and then went on to further
study music at Saginaw Valley State College. He began teaching beginning drummers in 1967 and has since taught many marching
percussion sections in drum corps, marching band and competing winter line activities in Michigan and Canada. His drum lines have
Association, Rich currently judges for Scholastic Marching Bands competing circuit in western Michigan, the Michigan Color Guard
Circuit, and is a USSBA adjudicator as well. In 2006, Rich was the first percussionist ever to be inducted in to the Michigan Color Guard
Circuit Hall of Fame.
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Amber Junod, Woodwind Instructor
Amber Junod serves as woodwind and visual tech instructor for the Red Hawk Marching Band. Her marching experience stems from
marching in senior drum and bugle corps and teaching high school marching band for the last 10 years. She currently plays with the
Oakland Community College Community Band and is working to complete a degree in education, majoring in math and science.
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Sharon MacLean, Brass Instructor
A mainstay of the Athens team for more than 20 years, Sharon MacLean is celebrating 50 years of involvement in pageantry arts. She
lends her expertise to all areas of our band’s performance. Her broad experience includes teaching marching band, drum and bugle
including Lakeview, Eisenhower and Chippewa Valley high schools. Sharon has judged hundreds of band competitions, and is past
president of the Great Lakes Judges Association. She’s served as contest director for the Michigan Color Guard Circuit (MCGC), and is
immediate past president of that group.
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Mark Palise, Visual Caption Head
Mark Palise has been involved with marching arts for more than 20 years. He marched with Lamphere HS and the Madison Scouts Drum
& Bugle Corps, from Madison, Wisconsin. He’s served as marching instructor with Glassmen, Southwind and the Madison Scouts drum
and bugle corps, as well as the Lamphere, Milford, Novi, and Troy Athens marching bands. Mark is an expert marching technician,
having worked with various wind and percussion sections, as visual caption head, and consultant. In his daily life, Mark teaches high
school English at Fordson High School in Dearborn, Mich. He lives with his wife and son in Troy.
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Katie Reith, Woodwind Instructor
Katie Reith worked with the AHSMB back in 2006 and is ecstatic to be back to help this season! Katie is an alumna of Central Michigan
University, graduating in 2006 with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. During her time at CMU, Katie performed with the
Chippewa Marching Band serving as both a rank captain and piccolo section leader. She also participated with the CMU Women's
Chorus, Concert Choir, Festival Chorus, Flute Choir and Basketball Band. Outside of college performing ensembles, Katie is a senior
member of the 1st Michigan Colonial Fife & Drum Corps out of Sterling Heights, Michigan. Currently, Katie is the instrumental and vocal
music director at Hamtramck High School in Hamtramck, Michigan and is working on her Master’s degree.
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Craig Rizzi, Visual Instructor
Craig Rizzi is very excited to be working as a visual instructor for the Athens High School Marching Band. He has been working with
the band since he graduated from Athens in 2008. Craig currently studies mathematics, psychology and physics at Oakland University
(Go Grizzlies!) and plans to teach high school. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching karate, developing marching band show concepts,
and playing the clarinet in the symphonic band and pep band at OU.
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Matt Tignanelli, Brass Instructor
Teaching beginning band in the Troy School District since 2005, Matt Tignanelli has worked with the Red Hawk Marching Band since
2008. His most favorite thing about working with the Athens Marching Band is getting a second chance to teach former students.
Matt holds a master’s degree in Music Education from Oakland University and bachelor’s degree from Central Michigan University. He
has performed with the Rochester College Concert Band, Motor City Brass Band, Blue Lake Staff Band, and various ensembles at CMU.
Matt is very excited about his upcoming wedding in June of 2012!
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What’s a Caption Head?
A caption head is the staff member in charge of a particular large aspect of the show such as Visuals, Percussion, Color
Guard, Music or Drill. This person is generally responsible for managing any additional staff members, providing organization
and communication among staff members and leading the way in the development of the competitive and/or artistic
direction for their particular caption for the season.
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