MURRAY STATE UNIVERSITY RACER BAND
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RACerband leadership 2023

DRUM MAJORS
OFFICERS
SECTION LEADERS
BARCS
 

DIRECTORS

DR. Ashley shoupe, Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Racer Band

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​Dr. Ashley Shoupe is the Assistant Director of Bands at Murray State University, where she serves as the Director of Racer Band, Racer Pep Band, and Symphonic Band. In addition to her duties with the Murray State Bands, Dr. Shoupe instructs the Instrumental Music Education courses and serves as a University Supervisor to teacher candidates.

Prior to her graduate studies, Dr. Shoupe was the Orchestra Director at Huntley Middle School in DeKalb, Illinois. During her time there, she grew the program to over 100 students, fostering growth in the quality of the program and literature performed. Additionally, she founded the Chamber Orchestra, an auditioned ensemble aimed to perform more challenging music, and which competed annually at district and state level IGSMA contests. Her groups consistently received Division I ratings at festivals and contests. In addition to her daily duties teaching orchestra, Dr. Shoupe stayed active in the marching arts. She was hired as visual and music staff with all levels of marching ensembles, including the Northern Illinois University Huskie Marching Band, the Sycamore High School Marching Spartans, and Chromium Winds.

Dr. Shoupe earned the Doctor of Musical Arts, Master of Music, and Certificate in Music Theory Pedagogy from the University of Kentucky, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. She is proud to have studied with such esteemed educators as Dr. Cody Birdwell, Dr. Shayna Stahl, Professor George Boulden, Dr. Jennifer Campbell, and Dr. Thomas Bough.

Dr. Brent M. Johnson, Director of University Bands

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Dr. Brent Johnson was appointed Director of Bands in June of 2022 and Director of Racer Band at Murray State University beginning in the fall of 2020. In May of 2021, Dr. Johnson completed his doctoral studies and the University of Kentucky and received a DMA in Instrumental Conducting. Prior to moving to Lexington, he spent 5 years as the Director of Bands at Evergreen High School in Vancouver, Washington.  While at Evergreen, the concert bands showed tremendous growth and garnered much attention for their improvement in quality and literature.  The Wind Ensemble was selected to perform in the 2018 Music For All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, IN.  This is the first national honor the band program at Evergreen has received.  In 2017, the Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the Pacific Northwest Concert Band Festival at the University of Washington in Seattle.  Also, the Evergreen Marching Band grew from 90 members to 130 members in one year and earned 2nd place in the Pacific Northwest Championships held at the University of Oregon.  In 2019, the Evergreen High School Wind Symphony performed at the NAfME All-Northwest Division Conference in Portland, OR.

     Previous to moving to the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Johnson spent one year as Director of Fine Arts for the Harlandale Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas.  His roles and responsibilities included overseeing all aspects of the Fine Arts Programs, K-12, including Music, Drama, Dance, Visual Art, Mariachi, and Spirit.  Harlandale ISD is made up of 14 square miles on the south side of San Antonio, Texas and services nearly 15,000 students.  

     Before becoming Director of Fine Arts, Mr. Johnson spent eleven years as a High School Band Director in both Kentucky and Texas.  Under his direction, Mr. Johnson's bands have received consistent Sweepstakes ratings both on the marching field and on the concert stage.  In 2002 and 2006 Mr. Johnson led the Elizabethtown High School Band (KY) and the Daviess County High School Band (KY), respectively, to the state finals of the Kentucky Music Educators Association State Marching Band Championships.  In 2007, the Daviess County High School Band was a finalist and 3rd place overall at the Bands of America Tennessee Regional in Clarksville, TN.  From 2002 to 2008, Mr. Johnson's concert bands were consistently named to Exemplary Performance Status by the Kentucky Music Educators Association for their distinguished performances at both region and state Concert and Sight Reading Contests.  In 2008, the Kentucky Chapter of the Phi Beta Mu National Bandmasters honor society named Mr. Johnson "Outstanding Young Band Director" at the KMEA Convention.  In the summer of 2008, Mr. Johnson was named Associate Band Director of the Winston Churchill High School Band in San Antonio, TX.  While at Churchill, the band program was a finalist at the Houston Bands of America Regional and the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional for two years.  In 2008, the Churchill Band was named a 5A State Finalist at the UIL State Marching Band Championships.  The Churchill Band was also invited to perform at Pearl Harbor as a commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the bombing.  In 2010, Mr. Johnson was selected to become the Head Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chair at Douglas MacArthur High School, a sister school to Churchill.  While at MacArthur, the band program grew from 150 to over 260 students in two years.  All three concert bands consistently earned sweepstakes ratings during his tenure, and in 2011, the MacArthur Band was selected to perform a feature concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City.  
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      Mr. Johnson received the Master of Music in Music Education Degree from New Mexico State University.  Prior to NMSU, Mr. Johnson is a 2001 graduate of Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky.  He is proud to have studied with such wonderful teachers as John Fannin, Dennis Johnson, Ray Conklin, Dr. Christopher Hughes and Dr. James Shearer.  Mr. Johnson is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, the Washington Music Educators Association, the National Band Association and the Kentucky Music Educators Association.


 

​drum Majors & Officers​​

Jake Glatczak, Drum Major
Instrumental Music Education Major

Sam Mitchell, Drum Major
Journalism / Media Production Major

Nicole Payne, Drum Major
Instrumental Music Education Major

​Liberty Guyette, Racer Band President
Instrumental Music Education Major

Diamond Edwards, Vice President of Community
Instrumental Music Education Major
Gena Ann Parker, Vice President of Woodwinds
Instrumental Music Education Major

Tyler Bussen, Vice President of High Brass
Music Business Major

Cooper Barnett, Vice President of Low Brass
Instrumental Music Education Major

Maddie Beck, Vice President of Percussion
Music Business Major

T'Khiyah Trice-Wilford, Vice President of Color Guard
Middle School Music Education Major, Popular Culture Minor

Alex Caporali, Uniform Manager
Animal Tech / Vet-Tech Major

 

SECTION LEADERS

Amelia Lutz, Flute Section Leader
Music Major

MJ Bachman, Flute Section Leader
Graphic Design Major

Emily Stalker, Clarinet Section Leader
Instrumental Music Education Major

Madison Roby, Clarinet Section Leader
Math Major

Michaela Black, Saxophone Section Leader
Nursing Major

Ryan Potts, Saxophone Section Leader
Occupational Safety and Health Major

Nathan Shepperd, Saxophone Section Leader
Biomedical Science Major, Music Minor

Alex West, Trumpet Section Leader
Health and Physical Education Major

Alyssa Shrader, Trumpet Section Leader
Instrumental Music Education Major

Noah Hawkins, Trumpet Section Leader
Music Business Major

Rachel Colston, Mellophone Section Leader
TESOL Major, Music Minor

Hannah Pritchett, Mellophone Section Leader
Instrumental Music Education Major
Logan Combs, Trombone Section Leader
Musical Theatre Major

Avery Mackey, Baritone Section Leader
Wildlife Biology Major, Music Minor

Isaac Carter, Sousaphone Section Leader
Instrumental Music Education Major

Nathaniel Moore, Sousaphone Section Leader
Historical / Social Studies Certification Major

Evan Carlton, Drumline Section Leader - Snare
Accounting Major

John Gibson, Drumline Section Leader - Tenors
Vet-Tech Major

Chris Trevathan, Drumline Section Leader - Bass
Music Business Major, Recording Techniques Minor, Japanese Minor

Spencer Osborne, Front Ensemble Section Leader
Instrumental Music Education Major, History Minor

Kit Bickers, Front Ensemble Section Leader
Vocal Music Education Major

Jesus Lara, Color Guard Section Leader
Instrumental Music Education major

Kristian Canada, Color Guard Section Leader
Art Education Major

Jayden Hammer, Color Guard Section Leader
English / Secondary Education Major

 

BARCS

Band ambassadors to the residential colleges

The purpose of the BARC program is to serve as a communicative liaison between colleges and Racer Band regarding scheduling conflicts during Great Beginnings and to build better relationships with incoming Racer Band freshman. Since participation in Racer Band requires seven days of camp for rehearsal prior to school, incoming freshman student miss many of the Great Beginnings sessions foundational for the college career. We will equip you with the information missed. Our goal is to promote community and build friendships across campus as well as within Racer Band. Also, we just love to have fun!
Melissa Hagarty, Head BARC
Vocal Music Education Major

Layla Turner, Lee Clark BARC
Music Business Major, Business Administration Minor

Samantha Sextonson, Franklin BARC
Creative Writing Major, Film Studies Minor

Erika Morton, Elizabeth & Richmond BARC
Biology / Fisheries / Aquatic Bio Major
Caden Laidlaw, Hart BARC
Music Business Major, Recording Techniques Minor

Alex Mills, Hester BARC
Instrumental Music Education Major

Avery Francis, White BARC
Electromechanical Engineering Technology Major

 

About

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Officers
Drum Majors
Section Leaders
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