NABBA Board Members

Vice President

Mark A. Taylor has been a member of NABBA since 2003, when he attended his first Championships as a percussionist with the then newly-formed Chicago Brass Band. In 2009-2011, as part of his doctoral studies in conducting at University of North Texas, Mark served as graduate assistant to Dr. Brian Bowman, euphonium professor and director of the UNT Brass Band. He also completed research for his dissertation, “British-Style Brass Bands in U.S. Colleges and Universities.” In 2012, Mark was named Music Director of Milwaukee Festival Brass, which has appeared annually at the Championships since 2014.

Secretary

Dr. Douglas Lindsey joined the faculty at the University of Oklahoma in the Fall of 2023. Prior to his time at OU, Dr. Lindsey was the Associate Professor of trumpet and brass area coordinator at Kennesaw State University.

As a soloist, he has performed many times each at the International Trumpet Guild conference, at the Atlanta Trumpet Festival, at the Trumpet Festival of the Southeast, in numerous faculty and guest soloist recitals across the country, and with many high school, community and college bands across the country. Recently, in collaboration with pianist Kristy Olefsky, Dr. Lindsey released his first solo album, Impressions of France. Alongside pianist Judy Cole, he has performed solo recitals all over the Southeast as a founding member of Duo Trompiano.

As an orchestral musician, he has performed as principal trumpet of the Memphis Symphony, as section trumpet with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, as principal trumpet of the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, as section trumpet with the Macon Symphony, and spent two summers as an orchestral fellowship winner at the Aspen Music Festival.

His love of building community through music is highlighted by his leadership role in the Georgia Brass Band where he served as President and Principal Cornet for many years. This work culminated in the Georgia Brass Band earning their highest ever placement at NABBA. Recently in 2023 he was tapped to play principal cornet for the award-winning Fountain City Brass Band. In addition to a large variety of concerts in the United States, the band will also travel to England to compete alongside some of the world’s finest bands. In addition to brass bands, Dr. Lindsey has spent time on tour in the award-winning University of Wisconsin Brass Quintet and as a member of the Mirari Brass Quintet.

Previous to earning his DMA at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Lindsey studied with Allan Dean at Yale, earning his Master of Music with the distinction of winning the John Swallow excellence in brass prize. Prior to Yale he studied with Ray Mase, Louis Ranger, Kevin Cobb, Scott Moore and Richard Rulli. Dr. Lindsey received his music performance and music education degrees magna cum laude from the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. Dr. Lindsey is a Mercer and Barker mouthpiece and Schilke trumpet artist.

Dr. Lindsey is a Schilke performing artist.

Treasurer

Owner of Small Business Solutions LLC, Bob Crook, Advanced Certified ProAdvisor (PA), QuickBooks Solution Provider (QSP) provides accounting technology solutions, including QuickBooks® and its vast ecosystem of integrated applications, for a wide range of small businesses—from retail to nonprofit organizations.  He loves helping his clients see the “Aha” moment when an account is cleaned up and the technology produces useful financial reports.    Visit:   https://biz-bob.com

Bob has been performing consulting projects for QuickBooks for several decades and is especially well-versed in accounting software. Bob has been a Certified QuickBooks® ProAdvisor since 1999.  He is also QuickBooks® Advanced and QuickBooks Online Certified. He offers setup, installations, conversions, cleanup, and support for QuickBooks users. 

Prior to owning Small Business Solutions LLC, Bob owned Padgett Business Services, an accounting and tax firm. Prior to owning Padgett, Bob was the Box Office & Accounting Manager for the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra in Huntsville, Alabama.  Early in his career he worked for Fiscal Systems Inc developing accounting software. 

He is very active in his community, serving on the board of the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra for over 12 years, currently Treasurer The Whole Backstage Theater, Brass Band of Huntsville, and North American Brass Band Association.  

Bob received a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and Minor in Music from Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama in 1985.  

When he is not working, you can find him out sailing, playing tuba in various community bands, travelling, or staying up to date on current events.

Julia Taylor is currently the General Music Teacher at R. Dean Kilby Elementary School in Prince William County. Prior to accepting that position, she served as an interim Assistant Band Director at West Potomac High School in Fairfax County. She received her Bachelors of Music Education with a concentration on PreK-12 Instrumental Education from James Madison University, has studied under Dave Porter, Hank Attaway, and Kevin Stees, and will be receiving her certification in Level 1 Orff-Schulwerk in August 2024.

Jarod C. Estrada is the Junior High Director of Bands in Ozark Arkansas, where he teaches instrumental music. His responsibilities include conducting multiple concert bands, beginning bands, jazz band, percussion director, and assistant director of athletic bands.

He holds a Bachelor of Music with a concentration in business and entrepreneurship from Missouri Western State University, and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an emphasis in secondary education from Pittsburg State University. He is currently a graduate student at Arkansas Tech University completing requirements for a Master of Music Education.

In addition to his role as an educator, Jarod is an accomplished percussionist, frequently performing with groups such as the Northwinds Symphonic Band, Fountain City Brass Band, and The Isom Jazz Trio, as well as contributing to musical theater productions and various recording projects.

Outside of performance, Jarod is a dedicated advocate for music and the arts, maintaining active affiliations with organizations such as Freemasonry, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Fraternity, and Phi Boota Roota, where he founded the Delta Upsilon Tau Chapter. He previously served as the Northeast district representative for the Kansas Bandmasters Association and was known as “The Voice of KBA.”

As an educational artist, Jarod holds endorsements with Salyers Percussion, Encore Mallets, and Dream Cymbals and Gongs.

Tony is a Producing Coordinator for Carolina Performing Arts and a freelance musician in central North Carolina, performing with the Carolina Opera, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle and Carolina Ballet.  Tony maintains a private studio of high school and middle school students, and was the Brass Supervisor for Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps, winning the DCA – A Class Championship and high Brass in 2012, 2018 and 2019. Tony serves on the Board of Directors for the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA), including two terms as President from 2019 – 2023.  Tony was the Artistic Director for the Triangle Brass Band for 15 years, winning the 3rd section in 2022 and 2018 as well as runner up in 2019 at the NABBA Championships. Tony was the Director of the Triangle Youth Brass Band program for 13 years, building it from 17 students to over 70 in two bands and winning eight NABBA Youth Section Championships.

Christopher Ward became the Musical Director of the Five Lakes Silver Band in July of 2019. Under his leadership, Five Lakes won the U.S. Open Brass Band Championships in 2022 and 2023, Dublin Festival of Brass in 2022 and 2023, and the North American Brass Band Championships in 2023. Christopher was
just named a national finalist for The American Prize in Conducting a band/wind ensemble. In March of 2018, Christopher and his family moved to Michigan, where he assumed the role of Senior Director of Music and Gospel Arts for the Great Lakes Division of the Salvation Army. As part of his responsibilities, he is the conductor of the Great Lakes Divisional Band and is the founder and conductor
of the Great Lakes Divisional Choir. Christopher also serves on the North American Brass Band Association Board of Directors and is the chairman of the Great Lakes Brass Band Association. He is an
ambassador for Denis Wick Products, an artist for Work of Art Custom Batons and plays cornet with the Brass Band of Battle Creek.

Prior to his appointment in Michigan, Christopher served as an Assistant Music Director for the Salvation Army in Greater New York for 16 years, and concurrently served as conductor for several groups,
including the Greater New York Youth Band and the Hempstead Citadel Band. He was a member of the New York Staff Band for 23 years, 11 of those as its Eb Soprano Cornet Soloist. Christopher has performed or conducted in 23 different countries, and in venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Brooklyn Tabernacle, Royal Festival Hall, The Royal Albert Hall and Buckingham Palace. He has had the
privilege of performing with the New York Philharmonic, The Canadian Brass, The Kings Singers and Sir Elton John.

Christopher received his formal music training at New York’s Mannes College of Music and The State University of New York – Purchase, where he received degrees in Fine Arts of Music & Trumpet
Performance. In recent years, he has studied conducting privately with Professor David King.

David Jones is a native of South Bend, Indiana. A graduate of St. Joseph High School, Dave went on and received his Bachelor of Music Education and American History from Ball State University. While at Ball State, David was a member of many performing ensembles including four years in “the Pride of Mid-
America”.

David’s first teaching job was director of bands at his Alma Mater, St. Joseph High School. The band grew in numbers and quality while he taught at St. Joe. He is responsible for starting an award winning Jazz band at St. Joe.

David left St. Joe to become Graduate Assistant director of Bands at Eastern Kentucky University where he received his Master of Music Education degree. At Eastern, he directed the marching band, pep band and symphonic band.

After EKU, Mr. Jones served as director of Bands at Somerset, KY HS for one year and then director of bands at Antwerp (OH) High School for five years. In 1987, David accepted a job as Senior Education Representative for Mynett Music Company in Ft. Wayne, IN. Under his leadership the educational sales program grew exponentially. In 2015, Mynett Music became a Sweetwater Sound Company. Mr. Jones retired from Sweetwater in July, 2020.

Since then, he has kept busy teaching elementary music and band part time at Holy Cross Catholic School in Defiance, Ohio.

David is an active performer on trombone, euphonium and baritone. For about 25 years he was a member of the Conglomernotes Big Band. Mr. Jones continues to be an Indiana State School Music Association adjudicator.

David is a very active advocate for brass banding. He has served on the Board of Directors for the North American Brass Band Association (NABBA) since 2014 and was instrumental in securing the NABBA
championships on Fort Wayne in 2015-19 and 2025-26. David is an original member of Old Crown Brass Band and has served as its president several terms. He currently plays baritone in OCBB.

David and his wife Sally (also an OCBB member) reside in Antwerp, Ohio. They have two sons. Matthew
and Andrew who live and work in Fort Wayne.

J. Joseph Peters is the founder and current director of the Steuben County Festival Choir and the Choir Director at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Angola, Indiana.  Mr. Peters now serves as the Co-Conductor of the Old Crown Brass Band of Ft. Wayne, Indiana.  Mr. Peters has studied trombone, organ, piano, and conducting at the Interlochen Arts Academy, DePauw University, and the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University.  He has studied with world renowned performers such as trombonist Carl Lenthe of the Bavarian State Opera, organist Todd Wilson, conductor Gabriel Crouch of the King’s Singers, and conductor David Efron of the Cologne Opera.  Mr. Peters was an Emerson Scholar at Interlochen Arts Academy where he earned his high school diploma while double majoring in trombone and organ. Mr. Peters earned a Bachelor of Music in trombone performance with a second major in computer science and a minor in organ from DePauw University, on full music merit scholarship, while also becoming a certified Choirmaster through the American Guild of Organists.  He then earned a Master of Music from the Jacobs School of Music in bass trombone performance and conducting and has been named a Pressler Scholar Emeritus.  He serves on the Steuben County Humanities Fund board.  In 2018, Mr. Peters became the most recent and youngest recipient of the Angola Mayor’s Arts and Humanities Award.  Mr. Peters currently works as Vice President of sales and marketing at Powerscreen Midwest in Chicago, where he fulfills his childhood fascination with heavy equipment. Most recently, he has been bestowed the honor of becoming a Knight of Magistral Grace in the Order of Malta for his involvement in the Catholic Church. 

Salvatore Scarpa is a graduate of Rowan University and the Eastman School of Music, where he majored in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media. He has served on faculties of Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Camden County College, and is now a faculty member of Rowan University, where he conducts the University/Community Orchestra. He is Assistant Conductor of the Pennsylvania Ballet and Music Director/Conductor of the Bel Canto Lyric Opera Company. He is an active composer and arranger and winner of Downbeat Magazine’s “dee bee” award for Best Jazz Arrangement. In 1993, he was honored as the New Jersey Musician of the Year.

Becky Barger-Amato has a huge passion for music, having played the clarinet since the age of 11, Becky decided to teach herself Euphonium in 2011 to play in Merry Tuba Christmas and instantly fell in love.

Becky is a graduate of Capital University with a B.A. in Theatre Studies, while at Capital she played Clarinet in Wind Symphony under the direction of Barry Kopetz and Clarinet Choir under the direction of Dr. Gail Zugger. She now plays in a variety of Community Bands around Columbus, Ohio playing both Clarinet and Euphonium. Becky has had a career in technical theatre that spans over 20 years, working with theatre companies in Kentucky, Massachusetts and locally in Ohio. Her last theatre show was in 2023 because she found a new love…Brass Band and had to miss 5 weeks of rehearsals and couldn’t imagine giving up band rehearsals anymore! Becky is currently 2^nd Baritone in the Central Ohio Brass Band, previously played in Dublin Metro Brass, and helps with the Dublin Youth Brass Band. In July of 2023 she started studying Baritone & Euphonium with Dr. Paul Droste and looks forward to their weekly lessons & what an incredible opportunity this is.

Becky joined the NABBA Board in fall of 2023 though her first in person NABBA was in 2024, after having COVID in 2023 and watching it live-streamed at home.

In her professional life Becky works in Development Advancement Services at an independent school in Columbus, Ohio maintaining the database and processing donations.

Dr. John Bell is Professor of Music Emeritus from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where he served as Director of Bands and Professor of Conducting and Music Education for 30 years.  Previous appointments include Associate Director of Bands at the University of Northern Colorado, and band director at Willowbrook and Rolling Meadows High Schools in the Chicago suburbs. He currently is serving as the director of the Wind Ensemble at McKendree University, in Lebanon, Illinois, and the music and artistic director for the St. Louis Brass Band, in St. Louis, Missouri. His responsibilities as an elected member of the North American Brass Band Association board have been focused on developing a contemporary, empirically based adjudication system based on current assessment and perception research for their national and regional championships. Ensembles under his direction have been selected for performance at the international conference of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles in Chiayi City, Taiwan; the national convention of the Music Educators National Conference (now NAfME); divisional conferences of the Southwest and North-Central College Band Directors National Association; the state conferences of the Illinois Music Educators and Colorado Music Educators; and twice in New York City’s Carnegie Hall.  He has adjudicated symphonic and pageantry events throughout the United States, Canada, Japan, and Thailand.  An elected member of the prestigious American Bandmasters Association and the America School Band Directors Association, Dr. Bell has conducted all-state and honor bands in Europe, Taiwan (ROC), Washington, Colorado, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Nebraska, California, Wisconsin, and Georgia.

Dr. Doug Black is the Assistant Professor of Music Education and Low Brass at Alabama A&M University, Tuba Faculty at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the Director of Education for the Brass Band of Huntsville. He teaches applied low brass, brass ensembles, music appreciation, and music education courses. Doug has previously served on the music faculty at Nottoway County Public Schools, Halifax Community College, Winthrop University, and the University of South Carolina. 

Doug has performed concertos with the Winthrop University Wind Symphony, Carolinas Wind Orchestra, and Peoria Municipal Band and given recitals in the Midwest United States, Southeast United States, and Canada. Doug is an active orchestral tubist; he was the principal tuba of the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra,  Union Symphony Orchestra, was the principal tuba and cimbasso of Opera Carolina, and has performed with the Durham Symphony Orchestra, Augusta Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, Aiken Symphony Orchestra, and the Tuscaloosa Symphony. Doug has also performed with the North Carolina Brass Band, Brass Band of Huntsville, Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band, Triangle Brass Band, and was the tubist with Tim Zimmerman and the King’s Brass. Douglas has performed and presented at numerous regional and international conferences.

Doug received a Bachelor’s degree in Music in Music Education from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Music degree in Tuba Performance from Illinois State University, and a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Doug is an Eastman Tuba Artist.

Jessica Payne is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree at the University of Kansas where she studies tuba and euphonium with Dr. David Earll and Professor Scott Watson. Ms. Payne is very involved in the tradition of brass banding in North America. Currently, Ms. Payne performs with the Athena Brass Band, Fountain City Brass Band, and the Free State Brass Band. Before moving to Kansas, Jessica held positions in the Natural State Brass Band, the Brass Band of the Western Reserve, the Arkansas Musicworks Brass Band, and the Brass Band of Louisiana. Ms. Payne has been invited to solo with the Free State, Western Reserve, Musicworks, and Natural State bands. Ms. Payne has also served as a guest conductor for the Natural State Brass Band. Jessica attended the University of Central Arkansas where she earned her Masters Degree in Euphonium Performance where she served as the Euphonium Graduate Assistant to Dr. Gail Robertson and studied conducting with the Head Director of Bands, Dr. Michael Hancock. Ms. Payne earned her Bachelor of the Arts in Euphonium Performance from The University of Akron.

As a performing artist, Jessica has toured with several brass bands, euphonium quartets, and as a soloist. In 2024, Ms. Payne performed a solo recital at the North West Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conference in Eugene, Oregon. She also performed a recital at the Great Plains Regional Tuba and Euphonium Conference with her duo, Galley Brass. Jessica is excited to start her term on the North American Brass Band Association board of directors.

Daisey Kludt is the Adjunct Professor of Low Brass at Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, Virginia. She is pursuing her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Euphonium Performance at James Madison University, where she manages and performs with the internationally recognized JMU Brass Band under the direction of Professor Kevin Stees. In addition to managing the band, she conducts the JMU Tuba Euphonium Ensemble and is the doctoral teaching assistant for the JMU Tuba Euphonium Studio, the JMU Brass Band, and JMU School of Music Graduate Admissions.   

Daisey received a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education with a woodwind, brass, percussion emphasis from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2020. At UTK she was a staff member with the University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band and studied with Dr. Alexander Lapins. She went on to earn a Master of Music degree in Euphonium Performance with a secondary focus in Music Theory from the University of Florida in 2022. While she was a graduate teaching assistant at UF, she played a part in establishing the University of Florida Brass Band, founded by director and Assistant Professor of Tuba and Euphonium, Dr. Danielle VanTuinen. 

Daisey is an active member of the tuba euphonium community and has performed at numerous regional and international conferences. Most recently, she performed as a member of Palmetto Tuben at the 2024 Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference at Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. While at SERTEC she also performed as part of the SERTEC Faculty Ensemble, which featured collegiate faculty members from the region. Additionally, Daisey performed with the JMU Tuba Euphonium Quartet as part of Professor Kevin Stees’ recital at the 2024 Northeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. 

Daisey continues to teach and perform in Harrisonburg, Virginia and is excited to give back to the medium that has given her her most fulfilling musical experiences.

Philip Jones grew up in Flower Mound, Texas, and graduated from the University of North Texas with a Music Education degree. He is currently a member of the Dallas Brass Band, a championship level brass band based in Dallas, Texas.

Philip marched Drum Corps International with Carolina Crown. He has taught with the Crossmen, Guardians, Legends, and also System Blue leadership camps in the summers. Philip was also a marching band tech at Flower Mound High School and student-taught at Wakeland High School in Frisco.

Currently, Philip is a band director at Southlake Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas. Since joining the staff, the band has recently made Texas UIL 6A State Finals, BOA Grand National Finals, and been named a Sudler Shield recipient. Prior to Southlake, Philip previously taught at Centennial High School in Burleson, Texas.

Philip is a member of Texas Music Educators Association and Texas Bandmaster’s Association. Philip also sits on the North Texas Colorguard Association Board and Dallas Brass Band Board. During his free time, Philip enjoys time with his dogs Bosco and Sully and playing video games with his friends.