Download Judges Bios_2016HHMI

The HHMI welcomes the following highly qualified adjudicators to
judge our 12th annual competition.
Clyde L. Hughes, Jr., (Music)
Mr. Clyde Hughes is in his 44th year as an instrumental conductor and music educator. He is a graduate of Hermitage High School in Henrico County, the University of Richmond (B.A. Music Education),
and George Mason University (M.A. Music Conducting).
In May, 2009, Mr. Hughes completed seven years as Professor of Brass Studies (Music Education)
and Conductor of the Symphonic Band at George Mason University, Fairfax, VA. He is Director of
Bands Emeritus of Hermitage HS, Henrico County, VA, retiring in June 2002. Upon his retirement , Mr.
Hughes was presented with Joint House Resolution No. 288 by the Virginia General Assembly at the
State Capitol in recognition of his contributions to music education and the youth of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Henrico County Board of Supervisors also presented a resolution in recognition
of his 30 years of service to the Hermitage HS community and music education. He is currently involved in teaching seminars on music education methods and mentoring of young band directors. He
has traveled throughout Virginia, the U.S. and Canada over his career, adjudicating and serving as a
clinician for marching and concert band assessments and festivals. He is a member NAfME, VMEA,
VBODA, NBA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and an elected member to Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity for which he serves as President of the Virginia state chapter, Alpha Chi. In addition to
the aforementioned recognitions, he is the recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence for outstanding contributions to bands and band music.
Alongside his career in music education, Mr. Hughes served as a US Army Reserve officer and was
retired on October 13, 2009, from the United States Army with maximum years’ service resulting from
his active and reserve duty, with the permanent rank of lieutenant colonel.
John Sarvay (Music)
John Sarvay is the Director of Bands at Hermitage High School in Henrico County. He is in his Twentieth year of teaching, his Seventeenth at Hermitage HS. He is a graduate of Hermitage HS, having
been a student of former director of bands Mr. Clyde L. Hughes Jr. Prior to his appointment at Hermitage, Mr. Sarvay taught at Dinwiddie High School, Dinwiddie County and Fairfield Middle School in
Henrico County. Mr. Sarvay is also the chief administrator of The Hermitage Classic, one of the largest
and most respected marching contests in the state. Mr. Sarvay has carried on the documented history
of excellence at Hermitage by achieving the designation of Virginia Honor Band, for the twenty sixth
year, giving Hermitage the third highest ranking in the state and placing Hermitage in the VBODA Honor Band Hall of Fame. Mr. Sarvay is an active adjudicator in both marching and concert festivals, to
include the VBODA State Marching Assessment. He has also served two terms as the VBODA District 1
Instrumental Representative. As a saxophonist, he has performed with the Potbelly Saxophone Quartet, Richmond Symphonic Winds, and The Commonwealth Winds. Mr. Sarvay received his Bachelor of
Music Degree from Virginia Commonwealth University, where he studied with Dr. Terry Austin. He is a
member of the Music Educators National Conference, Phi Beta Mu Alpha Chi Chapter Honors Fraternity, VMEA, and VBODA. Mr. Sarvay resides in Henrico County with his wife Crystal and has three children, Jessica, David and Jordan. Jessica is also a band director. Mr. Sarvay enjoys camping and fishing
in his free time.
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Jimmy Penington (Visual)
Mr. Pennington has been a professional musician and music educator in the Greater Richmond area
since moving here in 1990. In that time, he has worked as a private teacher, clinician, consultant,
marching band instructor, drill writer, marching and concert adjudicator, and band director. His bands
have performed and competed up and down the East Coast, regularly taking top honors and receiving
superior ratings in the marching, concert and jazz idioms. His marching bands have twice been invited
to appear in the New Year’s Day Parade in London, England, having performed in 2004 and 2008.
A graduate of the James Madison University School of Music, Mr. Pennington’s widely varied musical background includes experience in concert, jazz, and orchestral ensembles, and considerable time
in the recording studio. Additionally, Mr. Pennington is an alumnus of the Boston Crusaders and
Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps and served as section leader and soloist with the nationally renowned JMU Marching Royal Dukes.
Currently, Mr. Pennington is in his fifth year as Director of Bands at Deep Run High School in Glen
Allen, VA. He is a member of the Commonwealth Winds and the Festival Brass Quintet. His twin sons
are following in Dad’s footsteps and are juniors at James Madison University studying Music Education. He lives in beautiful Hanover County with his wife Paula and his dog Molly.
Kyle Flohre (Visual)
Mr. Flohre is currently the Director of Bands at Colonial Heights High School. He received his Bachelor of Music from James Madison University. Under the direction of Mr. Flohre, the ensembles at
Colonial Heights High School have consistently received superior ratings at Marching and Concert
Assessments. Colonial Heights High School is a seventeen time Virginia Honor Band, with thirteen of
those coming under Mr. Flohre’s tenure. The Colonial Heights Band Program consists many ensembles The program also supports a very successful Winter Guard. The Concept Winter Guard has received numerous awards while participating in the AIA circuit. In 2008, Mr. Flohre was recognized by
his peers and received the Colonial Heights High School “Teacher of the Year” award.
Mr. Flohre’s professional affiliations include: NAfME, VMEA, VBODA, and Kappa Kappa Psi, and Phi
Beta Mu International Bandmaster’s Fraternity. He served as the District III VBODA representative
and has served as a judge at various marching band and VBODA Concert Assessments. He is an instructor at JMU Summer Band Camps, and schedule permitting plays clarinet in the Commonwealth
Winds. Mr. Flohre and his wife Jennifer spend their free time trying to keep up with their energetic
daughter - Emma.
Steve Turner (Visual)
Mr. Turner graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University in 1988 and received his Master of Music Degree in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000. Beginning in 1989, he taught instrumental music at Thomas Dale High
School in Chesterfield Country for six years before relocating to Williamsburg. He spent two years
directing high school musicians at Lafayette High School, and transferred to Jamestown High School
upon its opening in 1997. He initiated the band program at Jamestown, and has guided his bands
through a process of growth throughout the years of the school’s existence. He now directs the
marching, symphonic, jazz, percussion groups at the high school, In addition to serving as head of the
Jamestown Fine Arts Department, Mr. Turner participates in number of out of school concert and
musical activities. He is an adjunct instructor at Virginia Commonwealth University as well as a trombonist performing at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, has served as a Festival judge, and serves on the
executive board of VBODA.
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Richard Huggins (General Effect)
Richard Huggins is the band director at Oak Knoll Middle School in Hanover County. Originally from
Roanoke, he studied at Longwood College and graduated from James Madison University. Mr. Huggins
first taught elementary bands in Fairfax County and then accepted a teaching position in Washington
County, Virginia, most recently as Band Director at Patrick Henry High School in Glade Spring. Mr.
Huggins then served as director at Salem Church Middle School in Chesterfield County, where he
taught for fifteen years. Mr. Huggins marched with and served as an instructor for the Guardsmen
Drum and Bugle Corps from Schaumburg, Illinois. He is an active adjudicator, clinician and drill writer.
His professional affiliations include VMEA, VBODA and Phi Mu Alpha. Mr. Huggins resides in Hanover
with his wife and two children.
Allen Hall (General Effect)
Allen Hall is a music educator at Glen Allen High School in Henrico County, a position he has held
since 2010. He teaches band, orchestra, music appreciation, and has taught choir at Glen Allen and
currently serves as department chair for Fine Arts. He also sponsors Glen Allen’s Bocce team and has
coached them to five undefeated seasons.
A graduate of James Madison University, Allen has taught in Henrico County for twenty-eight years.
In 2009 he was selected Henrico’s Music Educator of the Year. He is also a member of Phi Beta Mu.
Allen is a Past President of the VBODA and currently serves as Vice-President. Allen is an active clinician, adjudicator, and performing musician across Virginia and resides in the suburbs of Montpelier
with his wife, Merry Beth, and a brown dog of questionable origin.
David Holley (Percussion)
David L. Holley is the band director at Cosby High School. He lives in Chesterfield County with his
wife Chrissie, their daughter Ruby, and their crazy dog Furrgie. He attended Virginia Tech University
where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education. During his senior year Mr. Holley
served as a staff assistant for the Marching Virginians of Virginia Tech. He also was hired as the primary percussion arranger for the Marching Virginians, a position he held for 10 years. Mr. Holley has also
completed his Masters of Music degree from Virginia Commonwealth University with a specialization
in Music Education.
In addition to his 21 years of teaching experience, Mr. Holley has served as a judge for the Virginia
State Marching Band Assessment and the Virginia State Concert Band Assessment. He has also been
hired as a drill designer, percussion arranger, percussion instructor and adjudicator for numerous high
schools. He is a member of the VMEA, NAfME and the VBODA.
Kim Kras (Color Guard)
Dr. Kras has been working for over fifteen years in the fall and winter pageantry activities, designing for marching bands and winter guards across the US, including California, Iowa, Missouri, and Virginia. She was most recently involved with Francis Howell North HS form St. Louis, Missouri, a five
time WGI Scholastic Open Finalist. Dr. Kras also performed with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle
Corps, as well as the Pride of Missouri State University Winter Guard.
Dr. Kras resides in Boston, MA where she is an Assistant Professor of Criminology at the University
of Massachusetts—Lowell.
Jenny Ryan (Drum Major)
Jenny Ryan has directed bands on the middle and high school levels for the past twenty-two years.
A native of Richmond, Virginia, she earned her Undergraduate and Masters degrees from James Madison University in music education and conduction. She taught in the Spotsylvania County school system for six years and is now in her seventeenth year as band director at Monacan High School in Chesterfield County. Monacan’s band program has been recognized as a Virginia Honor Band seven times
and a VEMA Blue Ribbon music program six times. Jenny has adjudicated and guest conducted middle
and high school hands from around the state. She is a member of VBODA, VMEA, NAfME, and Phi
Beta Mu. She served as VMEA Secretary from 2010-2014.
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