Director of Bands - Jason Gregory
Jason Gregory is in is 23nd year of teaching (16th at duPont Manual/YPAS) and currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Percussion Studies for the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY. He also serves as the Director of Athletic Bands for duPont Manual High School. Prior to joining the YPAS and duPont Manual faculty in 2008, Mr. Gregory served as the Director of Bands for Henry County Middle and High School, North Oldham High School, Myers Middle School, and assisted at Seneca High School. His teaching responsibilities at YPAS and duPont Manual include or have included Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, Intermediate Woodwinds, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Pit Orchestra, Music Theory I, Marching Band and Pep Band. Mr. Gregory oversees all aspects of the woodwind and percussion curriculum at YPAS. His YPAS ensembles have performed at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Symphony Hall, the Music for All National Band Festival (2011, 2022), the MFA Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival (2016), the KMEA Professional Development Conference, (2015,2023) the Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference (Percussion Ensemble in 2017 and the Wind Ensemble will perform in 2023). The YPAS Percussion Ensemble has also won the Black Swamp Percussion International High School Percussion Ensemble competition in 2015 (1st place) and in 2022 (2nd place) under his leadership. Mr. Gregory was recently named the 2023 KMEA District 12 (Jefferson County) High School Teacher of the Year.
As the director of the duPont Manual HS Athletic Bands, the program has grown from 39 members to currently 75 members with 1 competitive marching band that competes in the KMEA circuit in class 4A, 2 pep bands and a competitive winter guard program that competes in the Tri-State Circuit in class Scholastic A-2. Since returning to the state competition in 2016, the Manual Band has been a consistent state championship semi-finalist since 2017. The band was also awarded the Grand Champion trophy at the South Oldham HS Midstates Circuit competition in 2022.
Mr. Gregory also serves as freelance percussionist, arranger and adjudicator throughout the state of Kentucky and Indiana. Over the years, he has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony and the Evansville Symphony. While with the Louisville Orchestra, he has performed with numerous artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Martina McBride, Frank Sinatra Jr, the Spinners and David Clayton Thomas of Blood Sweat & Tears. He is currently a member of the Chamber Winds of Louisville Concert Band, a community ensemble conducted by Dr. Frederick Speck, the Director of Bands at the University of Louisville. The ensemble recently performed at the 2013 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and at the KMEA Music Conference in 2012. Prior to becoming a band director, Mr. Gregory served as a clinician for Yamaha “Sounds of Summer” Camps, taught percussion for numerous high school percussion programs and served as the Percussion Caption Head for the Bluegrass Brass Senior Drum & Bugle Corps in 1997 and 1998. Currently, he serves as a music, visual and percussion adjudicator for various KMEA sanctioned marching band festivals, and a concert band festival and Solo and Ensemble adjudicator for the KMEA 5th District. As a percussion arranger, he has written for two Senior Drum & Bugle Corps, the University of Louisville and for numerous high school programs in the Kentuckiana area including his own band program.
Mr. Gregory is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Music (BME 2001) where his principal percussion teachers were Chad Stoltenberg, James Rago, Greg Byrne and Michael Ferraracio. He earned his Master Degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University (MED 2008). His professional affiliations include the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the Percussive Arts Society, and NAfME, the national association for music education.
Jason Gregory currently resides in Louisville, KY with his wife Nikki and daughter Hope. His son and daughter are both duPont Manual/YPAS graduates and were both members of the Crimson Sound (8th-12th grade).
Assistant Director/Color Guard Instructor/Choreographer - Megan Elliot
Megan Ellliot (formerly Alvey) is an Algebra teacher and serves as the Assistant Director for the duPont Manual HS Bands. Mrs. Elliot is an Owensboro Catholic HS graduate and participated in the marching, concert, pep band and color guard programs at OCHS. She was also a member of the University of Kentucky "Wildcat" Marching Band, performing as a member of the color guard and eventually serving in a leadership position as one of the drum majors/podium conductors.
Mrs. Elliot oversees all aspects of the duPont Manual color guard program. The fall color guard and winter guard programs have both grown in quality and quantity under her leadership (with additional help from Ms. Wiley and Ms. Martincic). The Manual winter guard program has seen major success in the past two seasons (2022, 2023) under the color guard staffs' leadership and has been one of the top ranking guard in Scholastic A-2 for the past three years.
Color Guard Instructor/Choreographer - Rachel Wiley
Rachel is a University of Louisville graduate in photography and art design. She was a member of the DCI finalist, Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps out of San Antonio, TX as well as the WGI finalist Lexis Winter Guard out of Lexington, KY. Rachel also serves on the color guard staff for the independent winter guard program "The Magnolia Project". She is a graduate of Eastern High School in Louisville, KY where she performed in the color guard.
Color Guard Instructor/Choreographer - Abigail Martincic
Abigail is a student at the University of Louisville and is a graduate of Bullitt East High School where she performed in the color guard. She has been a performing member of the independent winter guard organization, "The Magnolia Project"and currently is a member of Lexis winter guard.
Percussion Instructor -Astrid Young (front ensemble)
Astrid is a music education major at the University of Louisville. He marches tenors in the Cardinal Marching Band and performs with several School of Music ensembles.
Percussion Instructor - Ricky Garcia (caption head/battery)
Ricky is a Business Major at the University of Louisville and is a graduate of South Oldham High School High School. He is a former drum line section leader of the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band and a bass drummer in the WGI independent indoor percussion ensemble, 4th Wall. Mr. Garcia oversees our entire percussion program but specializes in teaching the battery.
Visual/Winds Instructor - Nick Felty
Nick is a graduate of the University of Louisville where he earned a degree in Music Education Major with a jazz emphasis (trumpet). He is an alumnus of duPont Manual High School and the Youth Performing Arts School.
Visual/Winds Instructor - Camron Gooden
Camron is a graduate of the University of Louisville where he earned a Jazz Performance Degree (string bass). Cameron is an alumnus of duPont Manual High School and the Youth Performing Arts School. Along with playing professionally around the region with several diverse ensembles as a bassist, he also plays in brass ensembles on both trombone and euphonium.
Visual/Winds Instructor - Jonathan Woods
John is a junior music education major (euphonium) at the University of Louisville. He is an alumnus of the Cardinal Marching Band and currently performs with several ensembles at the School of Music. Johnathan is a graduate of the KMEA Class 5A state finalist, Ryle High School.
Visual/Winds Consultant - Charles Stewart
Mr. Stewart has an extensive teaching and marching arts background having served as Director of Bands at Jeffersontown HS, Shelby County HS, Ballard HS and once again back at Jeffersontown HS. His bands have earned numerous Distinguished ratings in both concert and marching venues. Under his tutelage, the Shelby County HS Marching Band and Ballard HS Marching Band placed in the finals (top 4) of the Kentucky State Championships on multiple occasions. Mr. Stewart is a former Drum major and Contra player for the Canton Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and now serves as a staff member for the corps. He also served as the main podium conductor for the 2022 Bluecoats Alumni Drum Corps that performed at the DCI World Championships Semifinals. Mr. Stewart serves as a music and visual adjudicator for the Kentucky Music Educators Association and Mid-States Band Association.
Woodwind Sectional Instructor (Band Camp only) - Adam McIntyre
Adam earned his music education degree from the University of Louisville and currently serves as the Orchestra Director at Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, KY. He is a graduate of the duPont Manual HS and YPAS band program. He is a former student of Mr. Ron Jones and professor Adam McCord.
Jason Gregory is in is 23nd year of teaching (16th at duPont Manual/YPAS) and currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Percussion Studies for the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY. He also serves as the Director of Athletic Bands for duPont Manual High School. Prior to joining the YPAS and duPont Manual faculty in 2008, Mr. Gregory served as the Director of Bands for Henry County Middle and High School, North Oldham High School, Myers Middle School, and assisted at Seneca High School. His teaching responsibilities at YPAS and duPont Manual include or have included Percussion Ensemble, Chamber Ensemble, Intermediate Woodwinds, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Pit Orchestra, Music Theory I, Marching Band and Pep Band. Mr. Gregory oversees all aspects of the woodwind and percussion curriculum at YPAS. His YPAS ensembles have performed at the Kennedy Center, Chicago Symphony Hall, the Music for All National Band Festival (2011, 2022), the MFA Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival (2016), the KMEA Professional Development Conference, (2015,2023) the Midwest Band and Orchestra Conference (Percussion Ensemble in 2017 and the Wind Ensemble will perform in 2023). The YPAS Percussion Ensemble has also won the Black Swamp Percussion International High School Percussion Ensemble competition in 2015 (1st place) and in 2022 (2nd place) under his leadership. Mr. Gregory was recently named the 2023 KMEA District 12 (Jefferson County) High School Teacher of the Year.
As the director of the duPont Manual HS Athletic Bands, the program has grown from 39 members to currently 75 members with 1 competitive marching band that competes in the KMEA circuit in class 4A, 2 pep bands and a competitive winter guard program that competes in the Tri-State Circuit in class Scholastic A-2. Since returning to the state competition in 2016, the Manual Band has been a consistent state championship semi-finalist since 2017. The band was also awarded the Grand Champion trophy at the South Oldham HS Midstates Circuit competition in 2022.
Mr. Gregory also serves as freelance percussionist, arranger and adjudicator throughout the state of Kentucky and Indiana. Over the years, he has performed with the Louisville Orchestra, the Owensboro Symphony and the Evansville Symphony. While with the Louisville Orchestra, he has performed with numerous artists including Luciano Pavarotti, Martina McBride, Frank Sinatra Jr, the Spinners and David Clayton Thomas of Blood Sweat & Tears. He is currently a member of the Chamber Winds of Louisville Concert Band, a community ensemble conducted by Dr. Frederick Speck, the Director of Bands at the University of Louisville. The ensemble recently performed at the 2013 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and at the KMEA Music Conference in 2012. Prior to becoming a band director, Mr. Gregory served as a clinician for Yamaha “Sounds of Summer” Camps, taught percussion for numerous high school percussion programs and served as the Percussion Caption Head for the Bluegrass Brass Senior Drum & Bugle Corps in 1997 and 1998. Currently, he serves as a music, visual and percussion adjudicator for various KMEA sanctioned marching band festivals, and a concert band festival and Solo and Ensemble adjudicator for the KMEA 5th District. As a percussion arranger, he has written for two Senior Drum & Bugle Corps, the University of Louisville and for numerous high school programs in the Kentuckiana area including his own band program.
Mr. Gregory is a graduate of the University of Louisville School of Music (BME 2001) where his principal percussion teachers were Chad Stoltenberg, James Rago, Greg Byrne and Michael Ferraracio. He earned his Master Degree in Education from Indiana Wesleyan University (MED 2008). His professional affiliations include the Kentucky Music Educators Association, the Percussive Arts Society, and NAfME, the national association for music education.
Jason Gregory currently resides in Louisville, KY with his wife Nikki and daughter Hope. His son and daughter are both duPont Manual/YPAS graduates and were both members of the Crimson Sound (8th-12th grade).
Assistant Director/Color Guard Instructor/Choreographer - Megan Elliot
Megan Ellliot (formerly Alvey) is an Algebra teacher and serves as the Assistant Director for the duPont Manual HS Bands. Mrs. Elliot is an Owensboro Catholic HS graduate and participated in the marching, concert, pep band and color guard programs at OCHS. She was also a member of the University of Kentucky "Wildcat" Marching Band, performing as a member of the color guard and eventually serving in a leadership position as one of the drum majors/podium conductors.
Mrs. Elliot oversees all aspects of the duPont Manual color guard program. The fall color guard and winter guard programs have both grown in quality and quantity under her leadership (with additional help from Ms. Wiley and Ms. Martincic). The Manual winter guard program has seen major success in the past two seasons (2022, 2023) under the color guard staffs' leadership and has been one of the top ranking guard in Scholastic A-2 for the past three years.
Color Guard Instructor/Choreographer - Rachel Wiley
Rachel is a University of Louisville graduate in photography and art design. She was a member of the DCI finalist, Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps out of San Antonio, TX as well as the WGI finalist Lexis Winter Guard out of Lexington, KY. Rachel also serves on the color guard staff for the independent winter guard program "The Magnolia Project". She is a graduate of Eastern High School in Louisville, KY where she performed in the color guard.
Color Guard Instructor/Choreographer - Abigail Martincic
Abigail is a student at the University of Louisville and is a graduate of Bullitt East High School where she performed in the color guard. She has been a performing member of the independent winter guard organization, "The Magnolia Project"and currently is a member of Lexis winter guard.
Percussion Instructor -Astrid Young (front ensemble)
Astrid is a music education major at the University of Louisville. He marches tenors in the Cardinal Marching Band and performs with several School of Music ensembles.
Percussion Instructor - Ricky Garcia (caption head/battery)
Ricky is a Business Major at the University of Louisville and is a graduate of South Oldham High School High School. He is a former drum line section leader of the University of Louisville Cardinal Marching Band and a bass drummer in the WGI independent indoor percussion ensemble, 4th Wall. Mr. Garcia oversees our entire percussion program but specializes in teaching the battery.
Visual/Winds Instructor - Nick Felty
Nick is a graduate of the University of Louisville where he earned a degree in Music Education Major with a jazz emphasis (trumpet). He is an alumnus of duPont Manual High School and the Youth Performing Arts School.
Visual/Winds Instructor - Camron Gooden
Camron is a graduate of the University of Louisville where he earned a Jazz Performance Degree (string bass). Cameron is an alumnus of duPont Manual High School and the Youth Performing Arts School. Along with playing professionally around the region with several diverse ensembles as a bassist, he also plays in brass ensembles on both trombone and euphonium.
Visual/Winds Instructor - Jonathan Woods
John is a junior music education major (euphonium) at the University of Louisville. He is an alumnus of the Cardinal Marching Band and currently performs with several ensembles at the School of Music. Johnathan is a graduate of the KMEA Class 5A state finalist, Ryle High School.
Visual/Winds Consultant - Charles Stewart
Mr. Stewart has an extensive teaching and marching arts background having served as Director of Bands at Jeffersontown HS, Shelby County HS, Ballard HS and once again back at Jeffersontown HS. His bands have earned numerous Distinguished ratings in both concert and marching venues. Under his tutelage, the Shelby County HS Marching Band and Ballard HS Marching Band placed in the finals (top 4) of the Kentucky State Championships on multiple occasions. Mr. Stewart is a former Drum major and Contra player for the Canton Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and now serves as a staff member for the corps. He also served as the main podium conductor for the 2022 Bluecoats Alumni Drum Corps that performed at the DCI World Championships Semifinals. Mr. Stewart serves as a music and visual adjudicator for the Kentucky Music Educators Association and Mid-States Band Association.
Woodwind Sectional Instructor (Band Camp only) - Adam McIntyre
Adam earned his music education degree from the University of Louisville and currently serves as the Orchestra Director at Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, KY. He is a graduate of the duPont Manual HS and YPAS band program. He is a former student of Mr. Ron Jones and professor Adam McCord.
