Directors

Name
Position
  • dr david t kehler

    Director of Bands and Professor of Music

    dkehler1@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-2488
    MU 110

    Since 2009, Dr. David Kehler has served as Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Kennesaw State University. There, he oversees all aspects of the University’s quickly expanding band program while serving as Music Director and Conductor of the KSU Wind Ensemble. An advocate of new music, Professor Kehler has commissioned leading composers to write new works for wind ensemble. In addition, the KSU Wind Ensemble has been featured on 90.1 FM (WABE- Atlanta public radio), and continues to garner praise from composers including Steven Bryant, Karel Husa, David Lang, David Maslanka, Scott McAllister, Joel Puckett and others. Dr. Kehler’s ensembles have performed at the CBDNA Southern Division conferences in 2012 and 2016, and won the American Prize for best university wind ensemble/concert band recording in 2013. 

    Previously, David Kehler served The University of Texas at Austin as a Graduate Conducting Associate receiving a Doctor of Musical Arts degree. From 2001-2009, Dr. Kehler served as Associate Conductor of America’s Premier Windband: The Dallas Winds where he was the director of the Dallas Winds International Fanfare Project. In addition, Dr. Kehler conducted the Dallas Winds throughout Texas, including the annual Labor Day Concert at the Dallas Arboretum, various Chautauqua festivals, holiday concerts, and a formal gala presented by the United States Armed Forces with all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in attendance.

    While in Texas, Dr. Kehler was also Founder and Conductor of the GDYO Wind Symphony, an ensemble affiliated with the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestras, Inc. During his ten years of service, the GDYO Wind Symphony established itself as one of the premier youth wind ensembles in the United States. They were a featured ensemble at the Texas Bandmasters Association/National Band Association Convention in San Antonio, Texas, and were heard internationally on “From the Top”, a syndicated radio program featuring the finest young classical musicians in the country. In addition, the GDYO Wind Symphony participated in exchange concerts with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and performed with Jeff Nelson, former horn of the Canadian Brass. In the summer of 2008, the GDYO Wind Symphony embarked on an extensive two-week tour of China, performing at all of the major music conservatories throughout China and Hong Kong.

    Previous academic appointments were at Southern Methodist University, the University of Rhode Island, and Bay City Western High School, in Bay City, Michigan. Growing up in Michigan, Dr. Kehler received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Conducting degrees from Michigan State University, followed by his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in instrumental conducting from the University of Texas at Austin. Professor Kehler currently serves as Vice-President for the College Band Directors National Association-Southern Division, and has memberships in many musical organizations including CBDNA, NAfME, Phi Beta Mu, GMEA, Conductor’s Guild and others. David Kehler continues to be active as a guest conductor and clinician for both high schools and universities throughout the United States, including recent engagements at Florida State University, McNeese State University, University of Georgia, University of Missouri, and the University of Rhode Island.

  • dr brandon meeks

    Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music

    bmeeks12@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6426
    Brand 101

    Dr. Brandon Meeks is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and obtained a PhD in Music Education from Florida State University, a Master of Music Education from Florida State University, and Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Western Carolina University. He has taught in a variety of settings from middle school through undergraduate. His most recent appointment was as the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Houston. He has published research in music education in state, and international journals, and presented at multiple in-service conferences across the southeast. Some of his accolades include being named the East Lincoln Middle School Teacher of the Year, the North Carolina South Central Bandmasters Young Director Award of Excellence, and a recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellows scholarship. Dr. Meeks is a National Board-Certified Teacher and holds honorary memberships to Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. He enjoys lifting weights, playing piano, and currently resides in Woodstock, Georgia. 

  • dr david roush

    Lecturer of Bands and Assistant Director of Bands and Lecturer of Music

    droush2@kennesaw.edu
    (470) 578-6151
    WB 111

    David Roush is currently serving as Assistant Director of Bands and Lecturer of Bands at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. In this capacity he acts as conductor of the Wind Symphony and University Band, assists in the direction of the Marching Owls, and teaches courses in the music education curriculum. 
     
    Prior to completing his graduate studies and arriving at Kennesaw State, David was an active music educator in the public schools of Illinois, serving from 2013-2019 as Band Director for the North Clay and Neoga School Districts. In these roles, David taught band for grades 4-12, guiding his students from their first sounds until their high school graduation. During this time, the bands under his direction consistently sent students to Illinois All-District and All-State festivals, received high marks from adjudicators, and were selected multiple times to perform at state-level athletic competitions. 

    David holds a bachelor of music degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a master of music degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Minnesota Twin-Cities, and a doctor of musical arts degree in Wind Conducting from Northwestern University. He has studied conducting with Dr. Mallory Thompson, Dr. Emily Threinen, and Dr. Linda Moorhouse, and in 2019 he was chosen as one of 12 Conducting Fellows at the Midwest Clinic’s Reynolds Conducting Institute.
     
    David currently maintains active memberships in the College Band Director’s National Association, National Band Association, and the National Association for Music Education.

 

Administrative Staff

Vacancy: Coordinator of Band Operations and Outreach

Instructors

bradley rikard

Mr. Bradley Rikard, Music/Visual Technician

Mr. Rikard is currently serving as the Associate Director of Bands at Barber Middle School in Cobb County, GA. Since joining Barber, Mr. Rikard's ensembles have been invited to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival in 2016, 2018 and 2020, and were an invited featured ensemble at the University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Clinic in 2016. The Barber Middle School Band was also invited to the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2020. Additionally, Mr. Rikard has served as a Visual and Music Instructor for the Kennesaw State University Marching Owls since their inaugural season in 2015.

 
Mr. Rikard earned his Master’s of Music Education from Florida State University in 2015, and Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Saxophone Performance from Georgia Southern University in 2007. His professional affiliations include: National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Tau Beta Sigma.

He currently resides in Acworth with his wife Megan, daughter Riley, and dogs Grainger and Pepper Potts.

Mr. Vincent Rose, Music/Visual Technician

Vincent Rose is a band director at Lost Mountain Middle School. He is also on the marching band staff at Kennesaw State University. Before working in public schools, Mr. Rose was an avid freelancer in the greater Atlanta area from 2018-2021. Mr. Rose holds a bachelors degree in music education from Georgia State University and a masters degree in music performance from the University of South Florida. In 2016, Mr. Rose founded Tampa Bay’s premier tuba polka quartet, the “Polkamaniacs.” They perform annually at a German festival in Tampa.
vincent roe
alan sears

Mr. Alan Sears, Percussion Caption Head

Alan Sears is a co-founder of Atlanta Quest. He has been the music and program director since the beginning in 2002.

He obtained a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from Georgia Southern University in 1999. While there he performed under the direction of Dr. Daniel Pittman, and studied with Dr. Matt Fallin.  He was a member of the “Southern Pride” Marching Drumline and Indoor Drumline. He instructed and arranged for the group from 1996-1998. He also toured extensively as a performer over the Eastern United States and throughout Europe.

Alan now serves as the Director of Percussion for the Sprayberry High School “Band of Gold”, as well as consults and arranges for many groups throughout the state. His students have been named to the Georgia All-State Band and Orchestra, the Georgia Governors Honors Program, and received scholarships and placement in some of the most prestigious college band programs in the country. He also serves as the Co-Caption Head and Arranger for  Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Sears also has his arrangements published with CounterMotion Inc.

Mr. Sears is member of the Percussive Arts Society and a co-founder of the Georgia Alliance for Performing Arts Education, a non-profit foundation that provides support for Atlanta Quest.

Alan is married to Monna Sears and the proud father of two sons Hayden Alan Sears and Cole Alexander Sears.

Mr. Zack Marshall, Assistant Percussion Instructor

Mr. Marshall is an Organizational Communications major at Kennesaw State University. He has served as the Visual Caption Head of Atlanta Quest since 2013. Mr. Marshall spent the summer of 2014 on visual staff for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. He continues to write drill and design shows for Atlanta Quest, as well as many high school programs in the Southeast.

As a performer, Mr. Marshall spent numerous years as a snare drummer competing in WGI, where he marched his last season with Music City Mystique in 2011. He is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society where he competed for the first time in 2014, winning with his original composition, “A Night in the Boro,” performed by the Middle Tennessee State University Snare Ensemble.

Mr. Marshall still continues to pursue his passion of performing as he returns to Kennesaw from his tour of Europe with Blue Devils International.

zach marshall
zac carr

Mr. Zac Carr, Assistant Percussion Instructor

Zac Carr is the Bass Drum Instructor for “The Marching Owls.” Mr. Carr has worked with Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, Atlanta Quest Independent Indoor Drumline, Roswell High School, Woodland High School in Cartersville, Sprayberry High School, Creekview High School, Woodstock High School, Barber Middle School, Reinhardt University in Waleska, & the University of Alabama “Million Dollar Band.”

While a performing member of the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, Mr. Carr was fortunate to be under the instruction of Christopher Lennox, Ellis Hampton, Chauncey Holder, Jonathan Anderson, & Jonathan Leal. During his time performing with Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, Mr. Carr was fortunate to learn from Marcus Hawkins, Alan Sears, Larry Summerlin, & Jeffrey Peterson. At Atlanta Quest Independent Indoor Drumline, Mr. Carr was fortunate to learn from Michael Madaio, Marcus Hawkins, Alan Sears, Larry Summerlin, Jeffrey Peterson, & Zack Marshall.

Mr. Carr attended Creekview High School, graduating in 2010. In December of 2014, Mr. Carr graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis. In May of 2018, Mr. Carr graduated from Arizona State University with a M.S. in Business Analytics. He now works full-time as a Data Analyst for Serta Simmons Bedding in Doraville & lives in Woodstock with his wife Cristen Carr.

Ms. Nicole West, Colorguard Instructor and Coordinator

Ms. Nicole West currently lives in Marietta, Ga with her 4 year old son and 9 month old daughter. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Sociology and a double minor in both Native American Archeology and Dance. Her performance career began at Marietta High School where she was in the color guard for four years. After graduating, Ms. West went on to march with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle corps for one year and the Carolina Crown drum corps for two years. She was also a member of the Georgia Tech Band for 5 years, eventually becoming an inaugural member of the Georgia Tech winter guard. 

As an educator, Ms. West has taught numerous programs in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, California, and Wisconsin. For the last 14 years she has been the color guard director of Sprayberry High School in Marietta, Ga. She founded the Reverie winterguard organization 11 years ago and is currently the Executive Director.

nicole west
madison norrington

Ms. Madison Norrington, Assistant Colorguard Instructor

Madison Norrington currently lives in Marietta, GA. and is a school counselor at a local school. She is a graduate of Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice and a minor in Sociology, and got her masters degree from the University of San Diego with a M.A. in School Counseling. Her performing arts career began at Hillgrove High School where she was in the marching band as a trumpet player and on the varsity winter guard for four years . After graduating, Madison attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama, and marched with the Jacksonville State Marching Southerners, on the trumpet line, for two years. She then moved back to Georgia and finished her degree at KSU after a tornado incident in 2018. Madison also marched in the SAPA and WGI circuits with Reverie Winter Guard from 2016 - 2023, taking off 2021 -2022 for school, and was a part of Reverie’s first World Class Guard.

As an educator, Madison has taught at a few programs, in Georgia and California from 2018 to present day. She was a guard tech at Sprayberry HS, Roswell HS, and Whitewater HS. She then went on to be the guard director of El Capitan High School in Lakeside California, before returning to Georgia to work for the Marching Owls and Kennesaw Mtn. High School. Madison loves sharing her passion and knowledge of the marching arts world and hopes to continue her teaching journey with the marching Owls for many years to come.

Support and Undergraduate Staff

nicholas massaroni

Nicholas Massaroni- Voice of “The Marching Owls”

An alumnus of the Marching Owls himself, Nick graduated from Kennesaw State in the fall of 2022 with a degree in Marketing. His love and passion for KSU has kept him very active on the school’s campus. In addition to assuming the full duties as the “Voice of the Marching Owls” following his interim stint in 2022, Nick works as an on-court emcee and PA announcer for KSU Athletics. His development within that department has allowed him opportunities to announce basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball at the collegiate level. Nick was also fortunate to receive a voice acting role with the KSU Wind Symphony during their 2021 spring performance.

Nick currently serves as the President of the Marching Owls Alumni Society (MOAS), where he is working  with KSU and the MOAS Leadership Council on growing the MOAS organization to better serve the largest student body organization on Kennesaw State’s campus. During his time at KSU, Nick served the Marching Owls as Truck Captain and Trumpet Section Leader for 4 and 3 years respectively. Nick is a brother of Phi Mu Alpha, a sister of Tau Beta Sigma, and was recently made an honorary brother of Kappa Kappa Psi. He is also the 4-time winner of the Most Owliest Marching Owl (“MOMO”) award, a title that he will forever cherish.

Nick works full time as a financial analyst in Alpharetta and just moved in with his beautiful girlfriend Heather and their dog Finn.