.png)
Director of the High School Symphonic Band
Dr. Joshua Buckrucker,
Director of Bands at Navarro College
Dr. Buckrucker has been professor of music and Director of Navarro College Bands since 2014. In this position he directs the 100+ member marching band, coordinates basketball and volleyball band activities, and is responsible for game day activities for volleyball, basketball, and football. Additionally, Dr. Buckrucker is also the Director of the Navarro Jazz Band, Director of the Navarro College Wind Ensemble, and Chair of the Music Department. He also assists in the instruction and rehearsal of multiple chamber ensembles and academic music major programs.
​
Dr. Buckrucker earned his doctorate in music education from Liberty University and his Master’s degree in music performance with a concentration in instrumental conducting from Washington State University. His undergraduate degree from Methodist University is in both Music Performance (saxophone) and Music Education.
​
Dr. Buckrucker is regularly used as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. He has directed numerous collegiate bands, and has been a guest conductor for multiple performing ensembles within national conferences. He has been a guest conductor and/or performer in collegiate and professional venues including Benaroya Hall, the Myerson Symphony Center, and much more. In addition to being recognized as a featured artist in multiple venues, he has also received many awards including the Semper Fidelis award for music excellence at the age of 17, the Willis c Gates award for music excellence in the field of performance, and many other performance based awards throughout his career. He also served as a member of the Fayetteville Jazz Orchestra, the Fayetteville Symphonic band, The United States Army Forceomm Band, and the Corsicana Swing Orchestra. Most recently, Dr. Buckrucker has been a guest artist with IMEA Jazz Entertainer of the Year Award winner, Mr. Aaron Myers, as well as a featured guest conductor for the Dallas Winds Summer Music Program.
​
Dr. Buckrucker has served in organizations such as North Carolina Music Education Association, Washington Music Education Association, Texas Community College Band Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, National Association for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, Phi Mu Alpha, and North American Saxophone Alliance.
​
Dr. Buckrucker now lives in Corsicana, TX with his wife Jessica and their daughter, Isabella.
Director of the High School Concert Band
Dr. Glen Brumbach, Associate Professor of Music at Texas A&M- Central Texas
Dr. Glen A. Brumbach is an Associate Professor of Music. He is a retired instrumental music teacher and band director having taught for 34 years in the Boyertown, Reading, Muhlenberg, and Muncy, (Pennsylvania) school districts. During Dr. Brumbach’s teaching tenure his concert, marching and jazz ensembles received the highest ratings at area competitions and festivals and have performed across the continental United States, Canada and Europe. His marching bands won four Cavalcade of Bands Championships as well as being awarded the Sweepstakes Award five times at the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, VA. His jazz ensembles were selected three times to perform at the Pennsylvania Music Educators Conference as well as the National Association for Music Education Eastern Conference. His ensembles have opened for Maynard Ferguson, The Count Basie Orchestra, Stan Kenton Alumni Band and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band; and performed with Wynton Marsalis, Chris Vadala, Terrell Stafford, Jim Snidero, Randy Brecker, Dave Stahl, and Alan Cheznovitz (Al Chez) of the David Letterman Show band.
Dr. Brumbach earned his BS and MS degrees in Music and Music Education from Mansfield University of Pennsylvania and his PhD in Music Education from the University of Maryland. Dr. Brumbach also studied jazz ensemble techniques at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Director’s Academy studying with Terrell Stafford, Ron Carter, Reggie Thomas, and Loren Shoenberg. He was past President of the District 10 Pennsylvania Music Educators Association as also original Jazz Vice President and Founder of the Berks County All-Star Jazz Band as well as the Cavalcade of Bands Band Director and Jazz Band Director of the Year. As a result of his work in conjunction with the Berks Jazz Festival and Arts Council (Berks County, PA) he received the Frankie Scott Jazz Education Award in 2014.
Dr. Brumbach’s research interests include the pedagogy and history of instrumental ensembles such as jazz (performance and improvisation), marching and concert bands, and music ensembles. He has articles published in the Journal of Historical Research in Music Education, Jazz Education in Research and Practice, as well as the PMEA Journal, Maryland Music Educators Journal, Connecticut Music Educators Journal and the Vermont Music Educators Journal.
Dr. Brumbach comes from a very musical family in Berks County, PA, including his parents, brothers and cousins. His wife is a 25 year veteran public high school Vocal/Choral Music Educator; his son is a professional studio guitarist and currently writes music for television and film Los Angeles, CA. He also lives with two Siamese cats and a crazy Border Collie in Central Texas.
Director of the Middle School Symphonic Band
Ms. Amanda Blackstone
Director of Tippet Middle School
Amanda Blackstone serves as the Director of Bands at James Tippit Middle School. In this role, she directs the Tippit Middle School Honors Band and teaches beginner band classes. Before coming to Georgetown ISD, Mrs. Blackstone taught in Hutto ISD and Southlake Carroll ISD.
​
Originally from El Paso, Texas, Amanda went to Texas Tech University where she majored in Music Education. While at Tech, she had the honor of serving as head drum major in the Goin' Band from Raiderland. In 2021, she earned a master’s degree in Music Education from Texas Tech University.
When she is not teaching, Mrs. Blackstone enjoys camping and hiking with her husband and dogs. She also enjoys dance classes, working out and performing on her flute.
​
Her professional affiliations include: the Texas Bandmasters Association and the Texas Music Educators Association. Amanda Blackstone founded and actively served in Young Band Directors of Texas, a nonprofit organization that works to provide community and reduce burnout in young directors.
Director of the Middle School Concert Band
Mrs. Sara Wiley
Director at Midway Middle School (Waco)
Mrs. Wiley has taught Band and Instrumental music for over 20 years in Texas, Maryland, Virginia, and Mississippi. Prior to being a director at Midway Middle, Mrs. Wiley taught at South Belton Middle and Troy Middle School. Mrs. Wiley teaches the beginner Flute, Double Reeds, Clarinet, and French Horn classes. In addition, she conducts the Wind Ensemble and Panther Band, and assists with the Symphonic and Concert Bands.
Mrs. Wiley earned her Music Education bachelor’s degree in from Indiana University in Bloomington and completed post-graduate work at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, MD. Mrs. Wiley has performed in many professional and community orchestras and bands and has maintained a private flute lesson studio.
Mrs. Wiley currently lives in Waco with her husband, five children, two dogs, and two cats. Her children attend Midway ISD schools and are proud members of the MMS and MHS Bands!