For the Love of Band by Chanel
“Key Contributors”
Michael Carson
Bernard Bradley
Michael Carson is a native of Suffolk, Virginia. He received a B. S. degree in Public School Music and a Master of Music degree in Music Performance from Norfolk State University. He is a member of the Music Educators National Conference and the Alpha Chi Chapter of Phi Beta Mu.
Mr. Carson has seventeen years of teaching experience in the Suffolk Public Schools system as a band director on both the middle and high school levels. He was the band director at Nansemond River High School when the band earned quite a reputation on both the football field and the concert stage in the 1990’s. His bands earned numerous superior ratings as well as other honors and awards at marching and concert band festivals including the Virginia Honors Band Award.
Mr. Carson is currently employed by Chesapeake City Public Schools. This is his sixteenth year as band director at Western Branch Middle School where his bands have consistently earned superior ratings. Mr. Carson feels that the beginning level of music education is crucial to the success of aspiring musicians. Therefore, he sought and accepted this position so that he could make the greatest impact upon ambitious young musicians.
Mr. Carson serves as a consultant, clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor at many schools and events.
Juliette Boykins
William Prentiss
William L. Prentiss Jr., received his BM in Music /Media, Endorsement in Education and M.M. Ed at Norfolk State University. He also studied at Shenandoah University and JMU. As a public school instrumental music teacher, Mr. Prentiss has taught all levels. His former teaching assignments include: Smithfield H.S., I. C. Norcom H.S., Huguenot H.S. and Potomac M. S. respectfully. He is an adjudicator, a clinician, and a conductor.
Mr. Prentiss has received superior ratings at the state level in marching, concert and jazz band. His concert bands have received numerous superior ratings. While at Huguenot High school he became the first and only VA Honor band in Richmond. He is presently the Band Director at Cardozo Education Campus in Washington D.C. and Adjunct Professor at Virginia Union University.
Affiliations: VMEA; NAFME; NSUAA, Kappa Kappa Psi, an Honorary Band Fraternity; Phi Beta Mu, an International Band Masters Fraternity; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
My name is Juliet M. Boykins. I was born to Jennie Ganiey and Clifford Gainey Sr. (deceased). I am married to Carroll A. Boykins Jr. and we have two children, Allen and Julia.
I am a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. I graduated from Norfolk State University with a B.S. in Music Education in 1995; from Regent University with a M. ED. in Administration and Supervision in 2003; and from Norfolk State University with a M. Ed. in Music Education in 2014.
My teaching career began in October 1995-1998 at Hertford County High School in Ahoskie, N.C. In September 1999 I became the band director of Rosemont Middle School where I taught for 5 years (1999-2004). While at Rosemont the students received several Superior and Excellent ratings at various music assessments. In the fall of 2004 I became the band director at I. C. Norcom High School for the next 4 years (2004-2008).
I am the first female band director at this institution. During this time the marching band won over 380 trophies for various band competitions and parades and 212 of those being 1st place and grand champion prizes. We were also the first band to ever win the National High-Stepping Marching Band Championship back to back and I was also the 1st and only female to have ever won the National Title. In those 4 years Norcom achieved Superior and Excellent ratings at all of their assessments.
In 2008, I resigned to spend more time at home. During that time (2008-2010) I was teaching at An Achievable Dream Elementary in Newport News as the music teacher. This title included teaching xylophones, chorus, recorder, and general music. I later realized that I really missed the busy schedule of having a high school band so I then reapplied for the position of band director at I. C. Norcom High School where I was rehired.
In 2010 I became once again the band director at I. C. Norcom High School. During this first year back we revisited the National High-Stepping Marching Band Championship were we walked away as 2nd in the Nation. From 2010 to the present the marching band has won 194 trophies and 146 of those being 1st place and grand championship trophies. And the concert band has received on Superior and Excellent ratings at band assessments.
Over the years I have been the band director for the concert band, marching band, and the pep band. Being a band director brings joy, peace, and happiness to me and so many others. I live by the words “Music is not what I do Its who I am.”