LaToya Johnson, Marching Director

 

Ms. Johnson is a native of Anderson, South Carolina. She is enjoying her 8th year at Marvin Ridge Middle School, and her 15th year in the field of music education. Over the course of her teaching career, her students have consistently earned Excellent and Superior ratings at a variety of adjudicated events, as well as placement in district and state level honor bands. Ms. Johnson is an active performer and clinician, most recently serving as the clinician for the 2023 Ovation Invitational Honor Band Clinic for the Independent Schools of Charlotte, and served as the 2021-2022 Teacher of The Year for Marvin Ridge Middle School. 

As native of Anderson, South Carolina, Ms. Johnson attended Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in K-12 Music Education and studied Clarinet with Dr. Phil Thompson and Mr. Timothy Gordon.  After college and a 3 year teaching stint at Southside Middle School in Florence, South Carolina, she returned to Winthrop full time to complete a Masters of Music Education degree, serving as a Graduate Assistant for the Instrumental Music Department. During this time, she studied both Music Education and Wind Ensemble Conducting with Dr. Lorrie Crochet.

Ms. Johnson continues to make performance on her primary instrument a priority in her life. She is a member of the Carolinas Wind Orchestra and other various small ensembles in the Charlotte area. Her professional affiliations include the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society, and Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity. "Music Education is one of the most important, most rewarding careers on this earth. I believe that every child is deserving of an opportunity to experience, create, and perform music in some capacity." 

Meet the other members of our Marching Band staff!

Check back regularly throughout the spring of 2024 for additional announcements!

 

Austin Thompson, Ensemble Coordinator 

Austin received his bachelor’s degree from Wingate University in Environmental Biology in 2017 and has taught Chemistry at Marvin Ridge High School since 2019.

Austin has been on staff with Paradigm Percussion since 2018 and currently holds the role of Ensemble Coordinator. Austin led the group to a Bronze Medal at WGI World Championships in Percussion Independent A Class in 2019 and led the group to finals in Independent Open Class in 2023.

Austin has served as the batterie technician and ensemble consultant at various Charlotte area high schools over the past nine years including Sun Valley High School (2012-2013), Union Academy (2018-2019), Butler High School (2018-2021), Marvin Ridge High School (2013-2022) and William A. Hough High School (2023-Present). He is excited to return to Marvin Ridge High School Bands in the new role of Ensemble Coordinator for the 2024 season!

In addition to teaching high school band, Austin is a private instructor as well as the percussion instructor at Marvin Ridge Middle School. Austin is a proud Paradigm Percussion (PIA) alum having marched under Joe Conigliaro from 2012 to 2014 and was a member with Palmetto Percussion (PIW) in 2015 and 2016 and aged out with Equinox Percussion (PIW) in 2017.

Austin is currently the CEO and co-founder of Cloud Music Suite LLC, a music instruction learning management software.

 

More Staff Announcements to come through the Spring of 2024!