Neil Ruby is in his eleventh 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 has served as the GMEA District Chairman and on the GMEA Music Selection Committee, Nominations Committee, Marching Band Committee, and as a GMEA Mentoring Teacher for the State of Georgia. Mr. Ruby and the Central–Carroll bands have received letters of commendation from both Governor Roy Barnes and Governor Sonny Purdue. 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, and 2007 and STAR Teacher for the Carroll County School System in 2004. 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 fifth 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, and Designer for Enterprise HS Winterguard, Enterprise, AL, the 2004 Gulf Coast Colorguard Scholastic “A” Champions. Mr. Berryhill has served on the Colorguard Staff for: Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, Paradigm Winterguard, Choctawhatchee High School Winterguard, Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners, JSU Center Stage Winterguards, and as a designer, clinician, and adjudicator for colorguards and bands in the Southeast. Mr. Berryhill will serve as the head instructor for the Central-Carroll Visual Ensemble and Winterguard programs. Mr. Berryhill is also on the faculty of Central HS.
Amanda Dawson-Ozley, Director of Bands at Central Middle School
Amanda Dawson-Ozley is in her second year as director of bands at Central Middle School and as assistant with the Central-Carroll Marching Pride. Mrs. Ozley received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University, where she served as the Graduate Assistant for the JSU Bands as well as performed in the top ensembles, Chamber Winds and Jazz Ensemble I. Mrs. Ozley also served on staff with the world famous Marching Southerners as a music and visual tech. In addition to being the director at Central Middle, Mrs. Ozley works as a saxophone clinician for schools in Alabama and Georgia, as well as teaching students privately. Mrs. Ozley is a freelance saxophone player in the Atlanta area for various jazz ensembles and as a classical performer. Mrs. Ozley is a member of the Georgia Music Educator’s Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, North American Saxophone Alliance, and the Percussive Arts Society. Mrs. Ozley attends Tabernacle Baptist Church and is a member of the Tabernacle Orchestra on trumpet.
Mr. Chris Ozley is the Percussion Coordinator at Central-Carroll High School. He received his B.A. in Music Education from Jacksonville State University in 2008. Since his time at JSU, Mr. Ozley has been greatly involved in the drum corps activity. He currently teaches the award-winning Colts Drum and Bugle Corps in Dubuque, Iowa. Prior to going to the Colts, he began his drum corps career at Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps where he marched as the tenor section leader for four years. After his age-out season with the corps, he served as a batterie technician for the Spirit Drum Line. Mr. Ozley has also taught at the CorpsVets Drum and Bugle Corps where he won the DCA Individual and Ensemble Competition in 2006. He has also instructed the JSU Drum Line where he had previously marched for three years. In 2002 and 2004, he had the privilege of participating with the JSU PASIC Indoor Drum Line where they received 2nd- and 3rd-place national finishes, respectively, at PASIC in Columbus, Ohio. Besides his involvement with percussion, Mr. Ozley has served as an assistant band director in Alabama. In addition to his teaching credits, he is also an avid winds and percussion arranger and composer for many high schools in both Georgia and Alabama.
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.
