Neil Ruby is in his fourteenth year as the Director of Bands at Central - Carroll High School, in Carrollton, Georgia. Mr. Ruby received a B.M. Degree in Music Education from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, and a M.M. Degree in Music Education from the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Ruby is serving his fourth term as the Georgia Music Educator’s Association District Seven Chairman and has served on the GMEA Music Selection Committee, Nominations Committee, Marching Band Committee, and as a Mentoring Teacher for the State of Georgia. Mr. Ruby is a GMEA-Certified Adjudicator for the Large Group Performance Evaluations. Mr. Ruby has received the National Band Association Certificate of Merit for Music Excellence. He is a former Teacher of the Year recipient in Carroll County and was chosen as STAR teacher of Central High School in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2010 and STAR Teacher for the Carroll County School System in 2004 and 2010. Mr. Ruby was also chosen as the 2007 Teacher of the Year by the Wal-Mart Foundation. He is an active member of numerous professional organizations including: Georgia Music Educator’s Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, Professional Association of Georgia Educator’s, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Jay Bumgardner is beginning his second year with the Lion Pride. He attended Jacksonville State University to study percussion. While at JSU, Mr. Bumgardner played snare drum with the Marching Southerners. He also served as a section leader for the front ensemble for two years. He competed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 1999 with the JSU Marching Percussion Ensemble. He also performed with a number of ensembles other than marching band. Some of those include wind ensemble(principal player), percussion ensemble, mallet ensemble, ragtime ensemble, marimba quartet, pit orchestra, chamber orchestra, Gadsden Symphony, percussion trio, and numerous other groups. Stage productions included “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Bye Bye Birdy”, “The Wiz”, “Annie”, “Annie Get Your Gun”, “Pirates of Penzance”, and “Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”. With 25 years of marching percussion experience, Mr. Bumgardner has taught schools from Georgia, Alabama, Virginia, and Tennessee as well as been a guest artist, clinician and conductor all over the Southeast. Mr. Bumgardner resides in Carrollton Georgia with his wife Dawn and his two children, Alex and Anna.
Melody Lopez is a native of Queens, NY, that moved to Fayetteville, GA where she attended high school. She marched with the Fayette County High School Marching Tigers. After graduating, she the went onto Jacksonville State University and received a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design and Printmaking. While attending JSU, Melody was a member of the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners as well as the winterguard Center Stage. Over the years, Melody has marched numerous other talented groups such as: Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, Northgate Independent, and CorpsVets Drum and Bugle Corps. Melody has come to the Lion Pride organization after teaching several years at Rockdale County High School, Fayette County High School, Northgate High School, and Roswell High School. She is excited to be a member of the Lion Pride!
David M. Trumble is the band director at Central Middle School and is in his third year serving on staff with the Central-Carroll Marching Pride. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Education from Tennessee Tech University and his Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance at the University of West Georgia. Mr. Trumble has had eleven years of experience as a band director in Tennessee and Georgia. In addition to teaching, he has also worked as a freelance trumpeter in Memphis, TN and Atlanta, GA metropolitan areas for over fifteen years. Since moving to Georgia in 2002, he has served as guest conductor, clinician, performer, and adjudicator for band programs and honor bands in the metro-Atlanta area. Mr. Trumble is a member of the Carroll Symphony Orchestra and the Basement Brass Quintet. David, his wife, Yoshimi, and his son, Kenji, are proud to be part of the Lion Pride.
Azadeh “Ozzie” Moheb is from Marietta, GA. She attended Alan C. Pope High School, where she marched clarinet and colorguard. Ozzie went onto Jacksonville State University where she was a member of the Colorguard and Marching Ballerinas. Ozzie was also a charter member and captain/choreographer of JSU Hardcorps Pep Band Dancers. She has marched with Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, and Starlight Independent World Class Winterguard. Ozzie has instructed with various colorguards across the southeast and in California. This is Ozzie’s first year as colorguard instructor with the Marching Pride.
Kristen Huckeba, Drum Major Instructor
Kristen Powers Huckeba is a native of Carrollton, GA. She graduated in May 2009, Summa Cum Laude, from the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She now teaches 2nd grade at South Douglas Elementary with the Douglas County School System. Kristen also works with the drum majors at her alma mater, Central Carroll High School, as well as other drum majors in the surrounding counties. She teaches drum major clinics and private lessons. She also judges competitions, exhibitions, and auditions for many high schools in this area. She has studied under well known conductors including Andre Finley, Ricky Walker, and Sharon Durden. She was the drum major of the Marching Pride, both her junior and senior years in high school, where she earned 5 Grand Champion Awards and all Superior Ratings. She was the recipient of the prestigious Patrick L. Gilmore Award for band and teaching excellence.
