Wilco

Acknowledgements:

Music: Jereme Frey

Jereme Frey, a 1999 graduate of the University of Tennessee, is in his 27th year as Director of Bands at Father Ryan High School. Jereme’s responsibilities include conducting the concert band, after school wind ensemble, and jazz band, arranging music for and directing the marching band, coordinating the private lesson program, and teaching Music Theory I, AP Theory, and Music Tech classes. In his time at Father Ryan the Marching Band has seen success on the local and national level, being named class champions and making finals at Bands of America Regionals and Super-Regionals, winning the 2011 BOA Jacksonville State Regional, and making semi-finals at Bands of America Grand Nationals. The band was also awarded the 2011 Esprit De Corps award and is a three-time Sudler Shield finalist. The Marching Band was also a 2012 participant in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The Father Ryan Winter Winds were the firstever Winter Guard International World Class World Champions and have medaled every in multiple years of competition. The Concert Band has consistently been awarded straight superior ratings at the Middle Tennessee State School Band and Orchestra Association concert assessment, and the Jazz Band has performed at countless festivals and local events including the Murfreesboro Jazz Festival. Jereme has been recognized as an outstanding teacher by the Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts 4 times. He has served as the Middle Tennessee State School Band and Orchestra Association Jazz Chairperson for over 20 years and served as the State Jazz Chairperson for five years. Jereme is a member of M.T.S.B.O.A., Nafme, TBA, Phi Beta Mu, The American School Band Director Association, The Independent Schools Band Director Association, and the Catholic Schools Band Director Association, and is currently serving on the WGI Steering Committee and is also a Conn-Selmer VIP. Jereme is an active judge and clinician and performs professionally both on saxophone and drum set. He has recorded three albums released through a Sony subsidiary; three albums released on YK records based in New York City and has recording credits on saxophone with several local Nashville groups. 

Visual: Lin Daffron-Holway

Lin Daffron, originally from Richmond, Virginia, has called Nashville home since relocating to Davidson County in 2014. A lifelong dancer—beginning at age three—she discovered her passion for the Marching Arts at 14 when she joined her high school’s color guard. Since then, performance has remained a central part of her life. Lin has had the privilege of performing with renowned ensembles such as The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, and Mikautadze Dance Theater.

As an educator, Lin has contributed to a wide range of scholastic and independent marching and performance art programs across the United States since 2010. Since 2019, she has served as the movement specialist for The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps’ hornline.

Beyond the performing arts, Lin holds a master’s degree in occupational therapy and works in neurologic rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She enjoys exercising, pottery, cooking, and spending time with her husband and their two dogs.

Percussion: Russell Wharton

Russell Wharton is a percussion educator, performer, arranger, and composer living in Nashville, Tennessee. He currently teaches at Middle Tennessee State University and Nolensville High School, and has worked with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, Rhythm X, Monarch Independent, and the Boston Crusaders. Russell is the arranger for DrumSpirit (Belgium), and numerous fall and winter ensembles. His original music fuses live performance and multimedia with a cinematic flair, and is published by Tapspace Publications. Russell is a member of the PAS Marching Committee, and endorses Pearl/Adams, Evans Drumheads, Innovative Percussion, and Zildjian.

Guard: K.C. Perkins

KC Perkins began her connection with colorguard at the age of seven, as a spectator of the 1977 DCI Prelims in her hometown of Boulder, Colorado. She followed her passion for the activity by performing with the Blue Knights, Nova, Thunderbolts, Emerald Marquis, and The Cadets of Bergen County. She has been an instructor for many high schools including Pomona, Plymouth-Canton, Westfield, Pope, Seminole, Father Ryan, and Franklin. As well as Independent groups like Every-Body, Forte, Chimeras, Oracle, Opus X, Paramount, Blue Knights, Bluecoats, Crossmen and as a Caption Head for Phantom Regiment and Madison Scouts. She is in the Hall of Fame for the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit, and the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps. Currently, KC travels around the country to consult with various performing groups, and serves as a judge, clinician, and commentary analyst for competitions. She enjoys creative collaboration through in-person and video dialogue with artists, encouraging an open exchange of ideas about design, choreography, teaching and performance. KC believes in empowering performers to be their most intuitive and authentic selves, while holding space for instructors to explore and maximize their artistic vision.

KC is an artist, a writer and a teacher of expressive, explorative art through movement, voice, photography, performance art, drawing, play, poetry, painting, and found-object sculpture as She calls Nashville, Tennessee her home and fills days with writing, gardening, walking, dogs, meditation, and artmaking.

Special Thanks:

Chris Butler – Principal, Fairview High School

Mark Kinzer – Director of Fine Arts, Williamson County Schools

Jason Golden – Superintendent, Williamson County Schools