Brett Dodson is the Director of Bands at Kilmer Middle School, where he instructs three concert bands, percussion techniques, and beginning band. He received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from James Madison University and Masters Degree in Trumpet Performance from Bowling Green State University, where he served as a graduate assistant with the university band program.
Ensembles under Mr. Dodson’s direction have received Superior Ratings at State Concert, Sight Reading and Marching Festivals. His students have also received highest marks at local and state level Solo and Ensemble contests. Prior to coming to Kilmer, he taught as the Assistant Band Director at Seguin High School in San Antonio, TX, where he also instructed the beginning trumpet classes for all students in the district. Mr. Dodson’s professional affiliations include membership in VMEA, CBDNA and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Fraternity.
An accomplished trumpeter, Mr. Dodson served as principal player and section leader in the JMU Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Brass Band, and Marching Royal Dukes. While studying at Bowling Green, he served in the same capacity for the BGSU Wind Symphony and Philharmonia. In addition to his collegiate playing, Mr. Dodson has been employed as a trumpeter with The Disneyland Resort All-American College Band, the Busch Gardens Starlight Jazz Orchestra, the Heritage Repertory Theater, and the Adrian Symphony Orchestra. In the Metro DC area, he performs with the Fairfax Wind Symphony and Capital Winds. Mr. Dodson has a special interest in performing on the cornet in British-style brass bands and plays regularly with the Massanutten Brass Band in Harrisonburg, VA.
Emily Morgan graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music with a Master’s in clarinet performance in 2008. There, she was a graduate assistant in the studio of world-renowned teacher Howard Klug. Mrs. Morgan participated in university orchestras, wind ensemble, and clarinet choir, in addition to comprehensive studies in the solo and chamber repertoire of the clarinet. She also worked as an autobiography assistant to the esteemed tubist Harvey Phillips.
Mrs. Morgan attended Furman University for her undergraduate degree in music education, where she played principal clarinet in the wind ensemble and symphony orchestra. A student of Robert Chesebro, she was recognized on Honors Recital and participated in the MTNA competition. She was president of CMENC and held leadership roles in Sigma Alpha Iota, women’s music fraternity. Mrs. Morgan was also a Teaching Fellow and graduated with honors.
Additionally, Mrs. Morgan studied wind conducting with Dr. Scott Weiss and Dr. Patrick Casey at Indiana University; and with Dr. Les Hicken and Maestro Edvard Tchivzhel at Furman University.
An active clarinet teacher and player in the area, Mrs. Morgan began teaching elementary band with Fairfax County in 2008 and joined the Kilmer band staff in 2009 as the assistant director of bands and woodwind specialist.
Mrs. Morgan is married to a clarinetist in the President’s Own Marine Band. They have one cat and many, many clarinets.
