Neil Ruby is in his twelfth year as the Director of Bands at Central - Carroll High School, in Carrollton, Georgia. His bands have consistently received superior ratings and championship awards all over the United States at concert and marching competitions. 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 currently serving his second term as the GMEA District Seven Chairman and has served on the GMEA Music Selection Committee, Nominations Committee, Marching Band Committee, and as a GMEA Mentoring Teacher for the State of Georgia. He is a frequent judge and clinician all over the United States. In 2004, Mr. Ruby was presented the prestigious National Band Association Certificate of Merit for Marching 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: Phi Beta Mu, Georgia Music Educator’s Association, National Band Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, Professional Association of Georgia Educator’s, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Ruby attends Midway Macedonia Baptist Church and is a Real Estate Agent for Coldwell Banker in Carrollton.
Mr. Phillip Berryhill is in his seventh year as the Visual Ensemble head director at Central High School. Mr. Berryhill received his B.S. and M.A. in Music Education from the University of Alabama. Mr. Berryhill has served as Band Director in the Birmingham Public Schools, Assistant Director of Athletic Bands at The University of Alabama, and Assistant Director of Bands at Escambia High School in Pensacola, FL. He has also served as Colorguard Designer for University of Alabama, Colorguard Caption Head for Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Berryhill has been a designer, instructor, clinician, and adjudicator for colorguards and bands in the Southeast including Escambia High School, Choctawhatchee High School Winterguard, Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners, and JSU Center Stage Winterguards. Mr. Berryhill will serve as the head instructor for the Central-Carroll Visual Ensemble and Winterguard programs.
Jay Bumgardner is new to the Lion Pride organization this year. He is from Villa Rica Georgia where he attended Villa Rica High School. While in high school he participated in several ensembles including the marching band, concert band, percussion ensemble and indoor drumline. He went on to 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 where the ensemble won the national title and swept all captions. He also performed with a number of ensemble 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.
David Carroll, Percussion Instructor
David Carroll is from Newnan, GA where he went to high school at Newnan High School. He performed in several ensembles while at high school including the Newnan Marching Cats, Symphonic Band, Mallet Ensemble, and district honor bands. David is a senior at Jacksonville State University getting his Bachelor's in Music Education, and is a student of Clint Gillespie. During his time at JSU he has participated in many school ensembles such as the Marching Southerners, Chamber Winds, and the JSU Mallet Ensemble. He has also performed in other independent ensembles including Spirit Drum & Bugle Corps and Odyssey Percussion Theater. Recently, Mr. Carroll has participated in soloist competitions with DCI's I&E, Birmingham Music Guild, and was a semi-finalist in the Southern California Percussion Ensemble Festival's marimba competition. David is also a member of Music Educator's National Conference, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
David M. Trumble is new to Carroll County Schools this year, working as the music specialist for Ithica Elementary School. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in Education from Tennessee Tech University and is currently working on his Master of Music degree in Trumpet Performance at the University of West Georgia. Mr. Trumble has had nine 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 the last 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 very excited to be a part of the Lion Pride this year.
