We are pleased to announce the judges for SoundSport Atlanta, held at the Georgia Dome on Saturday, July 25th, 2015:
Musical Performance: Gary Markham
Gary Markham is currently the Supervisor of Music for the Cobb County Public Schools. He is the former Director of Bands at Robinson Secondary School in Fairfax County, Virginia. He has many years’ experience in music education, and serves nationally as clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and consultant.
Gary received his B. S. degree from Mansfield State University, M. Ed. degree from Penn State University, and will receive his Ph. D in conducting and music supervision at George Mason University. His leadership experience includes membership on several state music education executive boards. He is currently the Chief Judge for Bands of America, Judge Education Director for Drum Corps International, and an author of “Band Expressions” published by Warner Brothers.
He is a member of NAfME, GMEA, ASBDA, NAJE, NBA, College Music Society, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and many others including Phi Beta Mu. Bands under his direction have always received superior ratings in both concert and marching festivals. In 1987 Mr. Markham received the “Certificate of Excellence” from the Virginia Music Educator’s and in 1991 a “Commendation of Professional Excellence” from the Fairfax County Board of Education. He is a 1992 recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Sudler Order of Merit” and the Robinson Symphonic Band is the 1992 recipient of the “Sudler Flag of Honor.”
Visual Performance: Lee Carlson
Lee has served as Visual Caption Head for Drum Corps International for three year and Judges Liaison for two years. Currently he is Judge Recruiter for DCI. Lee has been judging for DCI for 14 years, and has judged finals 8 times. He has judged for Bands Of America for 7 years including Grand Nationals Finals for the last two years and has been a clinician for the Music for All Summer Symposium for 6 years. He has judged for many Winter Guard Circuits across the country, and has been involved in administration for the Winter Guard Association of Southern California and the Indiana High School Winter Guard Association. He has been drill designer for the University of Southern California for the last 31 years. His experience in instructions ranges from high school, to drum corps, and has been involved with large pageantry productions including the 1984 Summer Olympics, the centennial of the Stature of Liberty, Centennial and Bicentennial of the French Revolution and the Eiffel Tower in Paris and Celebration of Independence in Singapore. Internationally he has adjudicated in Japan, England, and the Netherlands.
Overall Impression: Michael Gray
Michael Gray’s career in the visual and pageantry arts spans more than three decades. His paintings are collected worldwide and his classes on impressionism and plein air painting are are perennial favorites with aspiring and established artists nationwide. Gray has participated in the highest levels of DCI, WGI and BOA as a designer, instructor, clinician and judge. He has served as the program coordinator for the Bluecoats Drum Corps, the Ensemble Caption Facilitator for Winter Guard International, a DCI judge. He is currently judging for DCI again in 2015 and continues to judge for BOA. He is has been the visual coordinator for the 2 time BOA Grand National Finalist, Wando High School Band and is in his 5th year as a uniform designer for DeMoulin Bros. and Co. Michael is a resident of Charleston, SC and maintains the Michael Gray Gallery on Broad St.