Cameron Garris
Director of Bands Cameron Garris graduated magna cum laude from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a bachelor’s degree in music education. At UNCG, he performed with the nationally recognized Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra and was also involved in the Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program. He previously served as a brass instructor for the award-winning Smithfield-Selma High School marching band in Smithfield, NC. He is also an avid performer and has studied trombone with Dr. Randy Kohlenberg (UNCG) and Terry Mizesko (NC Symphony). He is an active member of the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and also holds professional affiliations with the North Carolina Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He currently serves as the All-District Clinic Chair and the Marching Band Committee Representative for the Central District Bandmasters Association. Mr. Garris served as Director of Bands at Person High School from 2019 to 2022. At Person, the band received superior ratings at adjudication in both jazz and concert band settings, and his students were consistently named to honor bands across the state. Mr. Garris has served as Director of Bands at C.E. Jordan High School since May 2022. During his tenure at Jordan, the marching band has already received numerous caption awards and first place finishes in their class at state competitions. The jazz & concert programs are also scheduled to take a joint trip with the Jordan Orchestra to perform at Universal Studios Resort in Orlando, FL in March 2023. |
Carrie Andrews
Director of Orchestras Assistant Band Director & Color Guard Instructor Originally from Casar, North Carolina, Carrie Andrews is currently in her 10th year of teaching. She attended Meredith College in Raleigh, NC where she received her bachelor’s degree in K – 12 Music. Carrie just moved from Githens Middle school in Durham to Jordan High School in January. As the orchestra director of Sherwood Githens Middle School, the orchestra grew tremendously in Carrie’s time at Githens. Under her direction, the Githens Orchestra received a 1st place trophy at Music In the Parks Six Flags New England, 5 superior rating plaques at Music Performance Adjudication, and performed with the world renowned electric violinist, Mark Wood. In her 5 months at Jordan this past spring, the orchestra more than doubled in size, won a Superior rating at MPA and won best Student Pit Orchestra for the Musical, Bright Star. Carrie is fortunate to work in a district where the arts are placed as a top priority. Carrie strongly believes that all students should have access to the arts, regardless of their financial status and advocates for funding to make that possible. In addition to her teaching duties, Carrie has served as the chair of the Eastern Regional MPA for 6 years, been the lead orchestra teacher of Durham for the past 5 years and is the Color Guard Instructor for the Jordan High School Marching Band since 2020. She has also adjudicated the 4th District of Virginia Assessments, and conducted All County and All District Orchestras in both NC and Virginia. Carrie currently serves as the Eastern Regional chair for orchestra and looks forward to continuing to grow as both a teacher and a leader in the orchestra realm. Outside of teaching, Carrie enjoys any outdoor activities, cooking, and spending time with her four children and wife, Katie. |
Ethan Analco
Percussion Instructor & Arranger Ethan Analco (he/they) is a multi instrumentalist, recording engineer, music producer, and artist residing in Durham, NC. He was a member and section leader of the Panther Creek High School Drumline for 4 years, studying under David Robinson and Kimball Seebeck. He continued his passion for music outside of high school by teaching, writing, and listening to music continually through the years. They were a student at both Wake Tech and Appalachian State, with an emphasis on music production and recording arts. Asides from being a DCI geek, he is also a huge film buff. When they're not playing music in their band, they're watching movies or listening to music. Some of his favorite artists/movies include: Arctic Monkeys, Beach House, and Depeche Mode, with movies ranging from the likes of David Lynch, Stanley Kubrick, and Robert Eggers. |
Kyrese Washington
Woodwind Instructor Kyrese Washington (they/them) is a distinguished performer, composer, and teacher based in Greensboro, NC. Most recently, they gave their debut concerto performance of Carl Nielsen’s Concerto for Flute and Orchestra with the Raleigh Symphony Orchestra. In the fall, Washington will perform the Nielsen concerto again with the UNC Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, as a result of being a winner of the School of Music’s Student Artist Competition. Along with graduating from UNC Greensboro in May, Washington was recognized as the 2020-21 Presser Scholar, and completed their training in the National Flute Association Young Artist Mentorship Program. Washington has performed principal roles in ensembles such as the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra, Appalachia: A Southeastern Wind Symphony and the Greensboro College Wind Ensemble. Currently, they teach at Music & Arts stores in Greensboro and Burlington. Kyrese is immensely grateful to their teachers, who include Dr. Erika Boysen, Sonora Slocum, Dr. Timothy Hagen, Dr. Catherine Ramirez, and Dr. Kelly Nivison. |
Patrick Hayes
Brass Instructor Patrick Hayes is a Horn Player, Composer, and Teacher from Greensboro NC. He is currently a senior at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro studying Horn Performance. At UNCG, he has had 2 works premiered by the UNCG Horn Choir; Axiomatic and Manifesting Desires. As a performer, Patrick has played with the Roanoke Opera, Mallarmé Chamber Orchestra, UNC School of the Arts Opera, Duke Chamber Orchestra, Danville Symphony Orchestra, Appalachian Wind Symphony, Wintergreen Music Festival, Winston Salem University Choir as Solo Horn, and Greensboro College Wind Ensemble as Principal Horn. Patrick also holds principal positions in the Durham Symphony Orchestra and the UNCG Wind Ensemble. Aside from orchestral and band settings, Patrick has marched Carolina Gold and Midas Winds as Lead Mellophone and has traveled across the states with the drum corps. Breath work and Alexander Technique are fundamental elements of Patrick’s teaching. He works with various high schools around North Carolina teaching horn and all brass instruments, along with the students in his own private studio |