2024 Judge Bios

Richard Holmes - Chief Judge
Richard Holmes graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina in
1989 with a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. He studied with Dr. William Malambri
while attending Winthrop.  He also graduated from Appalachian State University in
Boone with a Master of Music – concentration in Band Directing. While attending ASU,
he studied with Dr. Jay Jackson and Dr. William Gora.

Mr. Holmes retired at the end of the 2017 – 2018 school year with 31 years of creditable
service to the Public Schools of North and South Carolina. While teaching, bands under
his direction have consistently earned “Superior” and “Excellent” ratings both for
marching and concert band. Band programs under his direction also grew in numbers
and quality as large numbers of students in his bands participated in activities such as
All-County Honors Band, All-District Band, All-State Honors Band and Solo and Ensemble MPA.

Mr. Holmes has served in many leadership roles during his teaching career. He served
as Treasurer, Webmaster, Chair of the All-District Band Clinic and Chair for the High
School Concert Band Music Performance Adjudication for the South Central District
Bandmasters Association. He served as President and Secretary of the North Carolina
Bandmasters Association and as President of the North Carolina Music Educators
Association. He is currently serving as the Southern Division Representative on the
National Association for Music Education’s Council for Band Education. Other
professional memberships include: North Carolina Association of Educators, National
Association for Music Education, North Carolina Music Educators Association, South
Central District Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association,
National Band Association,  and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Some of Mr. Holmes’ personal honors include receiving the 2004 Award of Excellence
for the South Central District, being recognized by Who's Who Among America's
Teachers for many years from nominations of former students. Mr. Holmes has also

served as a clinician for several All-County Honor Bands in North Carolina and has
judged marching band and concert band assessments in North Carolina and Virginia.
Mr. Holmes is currently serving as an Educational representative for Music & Arts in the
Charlotte, NC area.
 

Dr. Brian Taylor - Music Effect Judge
Brian Taylor serves as Director of Athletic Bands and Associate Director of Bands at the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte. At Charlotte, he directs the Pride of Niner
Nation Marching Band, 49er Basketball Band and Symphonic Band, along with teaching
Woodwind Methods and Marching Band Methods. He recently earned his Doctor of
Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at Michigan State University under the
supervision of Dr. Kevin Sedatole. In 2020, Dr. Taylor presented with Dr. Rebekah
Daniel at TMEA on rehearsal strategies that develop independent and collaborative
individual musicians. Immediately before his DMA studies, he completed a MM in
conducting at MSU.

Before beginning his graduate studies, Dr. Taylor taught high school and middle school
band in the Dallas-Fort Worth area for four years. He earned his BM and BA from the
University of Texas where he studied under Jerry Junkin, Bob Duke, and Ray Sasaki.
His professional memberships include CBDNA, and NAfME.

Tony K. Robinson - Music Performance (Individual) Judge
A 1982 graduate of Western Carolina University, Mr. Robinson began his teaching
career as assistant band director and choir director at Enka High School in Asheville,
N.C. In 1984, he became band director at his home school, Pisgah High School, in
Canton, N.C.

In 1987, Mr. Robinson accepted the position of Director of Bands at Cary High School.
During his 13-year tenure, the Cary Band continued its strong tradition of excellence by
winning numerous marching band, concert band, jazz ensemble, percussion ensemble
and winter-guard awards, grand championships and many class honors in guard, drum-
major and percussion.

The Cary Bands performed in the 1998 New Year’s Day Parade, in London, England, as
well as giving a concert performance in Wembly Hall. In April 2000, the Cary Bands
were invited to return to Europe, performing a 10-day tour of concerts in Bruges,
Belgium, Le-Touquet and Paris, France.

In 2000, Mr. Robinson started the band program at Wakefield Middle School in Raleigh,
N.C. From it first year enrollment of 80 students, the band grew to over 225 members
earning Superior and Excellent ratings at N.C. Musical Performance Assessments
during his 10-year tenure.

From 2010-23 he was the Instrumental Director at the 500 student Franklin Academy
Charter High School in Wake Forest, NC. He conducted the Concert Band, 2 Jazz
Ensembles, 2 Percussion Ensembles and piano class. The band begin with 27
members and grew to over 90 members. The Franklin Academy Band Ensembles are
the 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022 Music in the Parks, Williamsburg, V.A. Spring Grand
Champions.

Mr. Robinson has earned Teacher of the Year honors at both Cary High School and
Wakefield Middle School. He has been recognized as both a semi-finalist and a finalist
for the Wake County Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Wake County PTA Teacher of
the Year and recipient of the NC Central District’s “Award of Excellence”.
Mr. Robinson was the Conductor of the Triangle Youth Symphony, Philharmonic
Association, from 1997-2010. He also serves as adjudicator for marching band, concert
band and winter-guard competitions in NC, TN, SC and Virginia. He is a career long
member of NCMEA, NC Bandmasters Association, Atlantic Indoor Association and
East-Central District Band Directors Association.

Mr. Robinson retired in June of 2023 after a 40-year career music educator for the North
Carolina Public Schools.

Vince Clayton - Music Performance (Ensemble) Judge
D. Vincent Clayton is retired after 34 years of teaching, the last 21 years at Ridge View
High School in Columbia, South Carolina. He received both the Bachelor of Music
Education and Master of Music Education degrees from the University of South
Carolina.

Under his direction, the Ridge View band program received numerous Superior Ratings
and awards in marching and concert events. The Blazer Marching Band was a
consistent finalist at the South Carolina State Championships and at several Bands of
America Regional competitions. The Ridge View Symphonic Band received numerous
Superior Ratings at state and national events. They performed at the Bands of America
National Concert Festival, four times at the South Carolina Music Educators State
Convention, twice at the University of South Carolina Band Clinic, the University of
Southern Mississippi Band Clinic, and the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational.
His professional affiliations include the National Band Association which he serves as
State Chair for South Carolina, Phi Beta Mu, Pi Kappa Lambda, and he is a Past
Chapter President of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He is also a charter member and Past
President of the Palmetto Concert Band, which has performed three times at the
prestigious Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Mr. Clayton received the
National Band Association’s “Citation of Excellence” on five different occasions, the
John Philip Sousa Foundation’s “Legion of Honor”, Phi Beta Mu’s “Outstanding
Bandmaster Award”, and in 2016, Mr. Clayton was inducted into the South Carolina
Band Directors Association’s “Hall of Fame” as well as the South Carolina Chapter of
Phi Beta Mu’s “Hall of Fame”.

He and his wife Laura reside in Lexington, SC. His daughter, Kelsey, is a Doctorate of
Clinical Pharmacy and works with children in critical care.

Brandon Pope - Visual Effect Judge
Brandon Pope brings over two decades of marching arts instructional experience to our
2022 judges panel. A dedicated education and technology professional, Brandon earned his
Bachelors Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University (Greenville, NC) and a
Technical Diploma in Media Production from the Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences (Tempe, AZ).

Professionally, Brandon has served as a Band Director in both Pitt and Nash County
Schools of North Carolina, along with various collaborative instructional roles with band
programs across North & South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Programs under his
instruction have enjoyed success across several levels of competition including the NC

Bandmasters Association (NCBA), United States Scholastic Band Association
(USSBA), and Bands of America (BOA). Continuing his career in education, Brandon is currently an
Instructional Technology & Design Professional at NC State University of Raleigh, NC.

Dr. George Kenney - Visual Performance Judge
Dr. George Kenney is a former band director and retired high school principal. He has
over 40 years of experience adjudicating marching bands, indoor color guards and drum
and bugle corps. His bands and color guards have been highly acclaimed throughout
the east coast.

Drew O’Keefe - Timing Judge
Drew O’Keefe is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Ballantyne Ridge High
School where he leads the band and orchestra programs. He attended Appalachian
State University where he received a BM in Music Education, Sacred Music, and Music
Composition & Theory. He then attended Belmont University in Nashville, TN where he
received a MM in Music Education and Composition. Before accepting his current job at
Ballantyne Ridge, he taught band and orchestra at Brentwood High School in
Brentwood, TN for 10 years.

Katie Greene Kegley - Color Guard Judge

Katie Greene Kegley is originally from Salem, VA and currently resides in Virginia
Beach, VA with her husband and son. She is a Behavioral Health Therapist for
emergency departments, a resident outpatient counselor, and a doctoral candidate
studying Counselor Education and Supervision. Her marching arts experience includes
performing multiple indoor and outdoor seasons with the Salem High School (Salem,
VA) colorguard and the James Madison University's colorguard. She was also a
member of JMU Nuance Winterguard in 2010 and 2011 and First Flight World for the
2016-2018 seasons. She has been teaching high school, collegiate, and independent
colorguard and winterguard units in Virginia and North Carolina since 2012. Katie has
been an adjudicator for the outdoor marching arts since 2016 as well as for winterguard
since 2020.

Casey Lee Case - Percussion Judge
Over the past 10 years, Casey has been performing, teaching, and judging bands and
percussion ensembles throughout the Southeast. In his time, Casey has been an
educator for all grade levels in percussion as well as served on faculty and staff with
programs including but not limited to Walton High School, Fort Mill High School, Music
City Drum Corps, Civitas Independent, and Gardner Webb University. When not on the
farm with his wife and children at home, Casey works with Ludwig-Musser total
percussion and Conn-Selmer in Monroe, NC while working as an arranger and clinician
for programs in the Carolinas.