Garry Taylor retired after a thirty-one year career as a band director, serving most of those years at Cullman High School in Cullman, Alabama. Mr. Taylor received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Auburn University and Master’s Degree and A.A. Certificate from the University of North Alabama. He served as Vice-President and President of the Alabama Chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators. He served twice as Chairman of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, District III as well as Recording Secretary, Vice President, and President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association. He received the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, was selected as an “Outstanding Young Man of America”, inducted into “Who’s Who among American High School Teachers” was selected “Featured Alumnus” of the Auburn University Bands, and is the recipient of the AMEA Barbara Odom Distinguished Service Award. In 2015 he was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame. Mr. Taylor is Executive Director of the Alabama Music Educators Association and Editor of Ala Breve, the official publication of AMEA. He currently conducts the Cullman Community Band and often serves as guest conductor of honor bands and as an adjudicator throughout the Southeast.
Ken
Yale
Ken Berg was born in 1955 and is a native of the Virginia/North Carolina region. In 1977, he graduated from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a BME in 1977. For 28 years, Ken was the Director of Choirs and Fine Arts Chairman at John Carroll Catholic High School in Birmingham. He retired in 2005 to become the Music Minister and Resident Composer at Mountain Brook Baptist Church In 2011, Ken retired from church work to become the first full-time Music Director and Resident Composer for the Birmingham Boys Choir, having been part-time with them since 1978.
Retired after 37 years of experience as a successful band director in Alabama public schools, Mr. McAfee completed his career as band director at the award-winning Hoover High School. His bands consistently received superior ratings on both the concert stage and the marching field and performed in many prestigious events both in the United States and abroad. Mr. McAfee received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Montevallo and earned a Master of Science Degree at the University of Illinois placing emphasis on instrumental conducting and band literature. Mr. McAfee served the Alabama Bandmasters as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of District IV, as Vice President and President of ABA, and for 9 years as the Executive Secretary.
Sharon McCann August is a retired music teacher of Vestavia Hills Elementary at Liberty Park in Vestavia Hills, AL. Her other teaching experiences were at Highlands School in Mountain Brook and Berry Middle School in Hoover. She is a native of Mobile, AL, where she played French Horn with the Mobile Youth Orchestra and the Mobile Symphony Orchestra. Sharon received a bachelor’s degree in music performance and a master’s degree in music education from the University of Montevallo. She completed Level I Orff certification under Shirley McRae, and Levels II, III, and Master’s Level at The University of Memphis under Konnie Saliba and Jos Wuytack.
Theresa McKibben recently retired from 25 years of teaching Elementary Music in Homewood, Alabama. She is a graduate of Millsaps College in Jackson, Ms., where she taught for 7 years before moving to Birmingham. Theresa was selected as Teacher of the Year at Edgewood in 1993-94 and 2001-2002 and received her National Board for Professional Teaching Standards 
Vicki Portis is the retired music specialist from Bluff Park Elementary School in Hoover, AL. Except for an eight-year hiatus in which she worked in a local ministry, Ms. Portis has taught since 1977 in schools in Montgomery County, Jefferson County, and Hoover, AL. Ms. Portis received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in music education from the University of Montevallo as well as Level 1 Orff certification under Konnie Saliba. She completed Levels 2-3 Orff certification and Master Class at Memphis State University under Ms. Saliba and Jos Wuytack. Ms. Portis has conducted workshops for both music and classroom teachers in addition to serving as a guest elementary choral conductor and adjudicator. She worked with local universities as a cooperating teacher for student interns. Ms. Portis has served the Elementary/General division of Alabama Music Educators Association as president and district
John Bradley is a native of Monroeville, Alabama. He holds the Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts Degrees from the University of Alabama and Certification in School Administration from Alabama State University. At the University of Alabama he was solo trumpet with the Million Dollar Band and was the leader of the Alabama Cavaliers Dance Band. He also played with the University Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Bradley has a total of 36 years of teaching experience in the public schools in Alabama. He has served as band director in Selma, Mt. Brook, and Hueytown as wellas at Monroe County High School and Monroeville Junior High School in Monroeville. His bands have consistently received superior ratings in concert competition at the district and state levels as well as superior ratings in marching competitions. The Monroe County High School band twice received Best in Class awards at the Six Flags Over Georgia Band Competition. He also served as Assistant Principal at Monroeville Middle School and Band Supervisor for the Monroe County Schools for eight years. Mr. Bradley has served as President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, Chairman of District Vll of ABA and served on the Board of Directors of the Alabama Music Educators Association. He was also appointed by the State Superintendent of Education to serve on a committee to develop the standards for Fine Arts Education in Alabama. He served 5 years with the Alabama National Guard Band and 31 years with the 313th U.S. Army Reserve Band serving 12 years as First Sergeant and Assistant Director. During this time he was the recipient of the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and served overseas. He has served as President of Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster Honorary Fraternity and is a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, Alabama Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education. Mr. Bradley has been a band adjudicator and clinician in the southeastern United States. Since his retirement he has worked part time with the Briarwood Christian School Bands and currently works with the Homewood Band program. He plays trumpet professionally in the Birmingham area. He and his wife Jane live in McCalla, Alabama. They have two daughters and five grandchildren.
Bill Brunner is a native of Cullman, Alabama and a graduate of the University of Alabama where he earned B.S and M.A. degrees in Music Education. He began his teaching career in 1959 at Vigor High School (Prichard, Alabama) where his bands received “Excellent” ratings at State Competition Festivals his four years there. In 1963 he organized the Austin High School Band in Decatur, Alabama and served as the band director until his retirement in 1988. Under his direction, the Austin Band compiled an impressive record of achievement including top ratings in numerous national concert festivals, and earned 22 consecutive “Superior” ratings at the Alabama State Competition Festivals. Mr. Brunner served as adjudicator and guest conductor in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida. State offices he held include President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association and President of Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. In 1988 he was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Alabama Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame and honored as the “Outstanding Music Educator” by the AMEA. After retiring from teaching, Mr. Brunner was employed by Nuncie’s Music until 2001. After retiring from Nuncie’s, he continued to teach privately in Decatur until moving to Georgia in 2014 to be closer to family. 
Jim Duren was the Director of Bands at Oak Mountain High School from its opening in the fall of 1999 through the end of the 2011-2012 school year. Prior to coming to Oak Mountain, Mr. Duren was Director of Bands at Mountain Brook Jr. High (1973-1978), Mountain Brook High School (1978-1987) and Pelham High School (1987 – 1999). During his 39 year career, Mr. Duren’s bands performed throughout the southeastern and midwestern United States, The Bahamas, Toronto and two performances at Carnegie Hall in New York. Mr. Duren was a graduate of Gordo High School in Pickens County. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama. While at the University, he was a member and student conductor of the “Million Dollar Band,” Principal Trombonist in the Symphonic Band, Bass Trombonist with the Brass
