Whit Blount – Director of Bands
Whit Blount has been Director of Bands at Myers Park High School since 2006, earning him the longest
consecutive tenure of all band directors at the school. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina and 1996
graduate of Myers Park, Mr. Blount understands the rich tradition of musical excellence at Myers Park
High School. In 1998 and from 2002-2004, Mr. Blount was on the Brass Staff at Myers Park High School.
He teaches Advanced Placement (AP) Music Theory, and since 2010, he has been an AP Reader for the
College Board Advanced Placement Music Theory Exam. He is also a Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools
Master Teacher for AP Music Theory. This gifted instructor helped the AP Music Theory students at
Myers Park to achieve the highest average AP Exam score of any Advanced Placement course offered at
the school for 2010 and 2013. For the past two years, Mr. Blount has been Chair of the Performing Arts
Department at Myers Park. Previously, Mr. Blount was Director of Bands at Alexander Graham Middle
School for seven years. There he received the First Year Teacher of the Year Award and was Chair of the
Elective Department.
Mr. Blount received his Bachelor of Music (Trumpet Performance) from University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill (UNC) in 2000, and received his Master of Arts in Teaching there in 2001. While at UNC, Mr.
Blount performed in the Marching Tarheels, UNC Symphony Orchestra, UNC Wind Ensemble, and UNC
Jazz Band. He has been a freelance professional Trumpet Player since 2001. His deep love of playing
leads Mr. Blount to perform with Myers Park High School musicals, numerous church solos and
ensembles, and the Myers Park High School Jazz Band.
The extensive Myers Park High School Band program includes a 9th grade Concert Band, Wind Ensemble,
Jazz Band, and the award-winning Myers Park Marching Mustangs. Mr. Blount’s students have been
accepted into the South Central All District Band, the North Carolina All State Band, and the Jazz Honors
Band. They participate in Winterguard, Indoor Percussion Ensembles, a Flute Choir, and a Bluegrass
Band as well as several other informal ensembles. Among Mr. Blount’s students are several MoreheadCain finalists and two recipients. The Marching Mustangs have won numerous caption awards and
Grand Championships in regional competitions. Mr. Blount mentors his students and grants annually
the Louis B. Armstrong Jazz Award, the John Philip Sousa Award, the Spirit of the Band Award, the
Unsung Hero Award, and others.
Mr. Blount is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, the North Carolina Music Educators’
Association, the National Association for Music Education, the North Carolina Bandmasters’ Association,
and the South Central District (NC) Bandmasters’ Association. In addition, he is a Deacon at Myers Park
Presbyterian Church and has successfully run a half marathon.
Students in the Myers Park Band program are confident, disciplined, and passionate. Mr. Blount’s
graduates have a deep love and understanding of music, and many study music and march at major
universities.
Windy Fullagar – Woodwind Technician and First Responder
Windy Fullagar has been Woodwind Technician and First Responder for the Myers Park High School
Marching Mustangs since 2012, and was a volunteer for three years prior. She plays clarinet, flute, and
saxophone professionally.
Mrs. Fullagar is currently the Director of Bands at Alexander Graham Middle School, where she serves as
team leader, a member of the school leadership team, and as cooperating teacher. She serves as
District President for NCMEA and on the NC Bandmasters Mentoring Committee. Mrs. Fullagar’s bands
perform at Superior level at Musical Performance Assessment and Carowinds Music Festivals.
Previously, Mrs. Fullagar was Band Director at Lake Norman Charter School and Piedmont Open
International Baccalaureate Middle School, where she received the Teacher of the Year award at both.
Prior to that, Mrs. Fullagar served in the US Army Reserve Band as Staff Sergeant. There she received
the NCO Initiative Award, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Overseas Training Ribbon, and NCO
Professional Development Ribbon. She has served as Instrument Specialist for Charlotte Mecklenburg
Schools and Band Director at Cochrane Middle School.
In 1993, Mrs. Fullagar received her Bachelor of Music Education, Instrumental, from Winthrop
University. She received her Masters of Education, Curriculum and Supervision, from University of
North Carolina at Charlotte in 2005. She is an active member of Kappa Delta Pi, NBA, MENC, ICA,
NCMEA, NCBA, SCDBA, and TI:ME. She has completed an internship with the Performing Arts Specialist
for CMS and is a Smartboard level one trainer. Mrs. Fullagar has served as guest clinical for All-County
bands in Union and Rowan counties.
Anthony Arnold – Brass Instructor and Drill Writer
Anthony Arnold has served as Brass Instructor and Drill Writer for the Myers Park Marching Mustangs
since 2010. Mr. Arnold was a member of the 1995 Drum Corps International (DCI) World Champion and
three time DCI Finalist, the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. Mr. Arnold’s extensive experience includes
marching for the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps. He plays euphonium and tuba.
He is currently an 8th grade Social Studies Teacher at E.E. Waddell Language Academy and was Director
of Central Administration for Muzak, LLC prior. Mr. Arnold received his Bachelor of Arts in History at
UNC Charlotte.
Jake Drum – Marching Technician
Jake Drum has served as Marching Technician for the Myers Park Marching Mustangs since 2012. He
plays saxophone, mellophone, trumpet, tuba, euphonium, clarinet, piano, and French horn.
Mr. Drum is currently the Band Manager for the Charlotte Youth Wind Ensemble and the Stanley County
Winter Percussion, and worked as the US Marine Corps Bandsman/Rifleman for four years. He has also
worked with Butler High School Marching Band, Hickory Ridge High School Marching Band, Central
Cabarrus High School Marching Band, Olympic High School Marching Band, Lincolnton High School
Winterguard, and North Lincoln High School Marching Band.
Mr. Drum was a member and section leader with Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps for three years,
when the corps performed in the finals of the Drum Corps International Championship Tournament. He
was founding member, band leader, and arranger of the Bandini Brass Band. He served as Marine Corps
Air Ground Combat Center Band Member and Section Leader for four years as well as the Marine Corps
Air Ground Combat Center Drill Designer and Instructor for three more. Mr. Drum was a member of the
Marine Corp “All Star” Jazz Ensemble.
Mr. Drum is an Armed Forces School of Music Honor Graduate (2008). He won the Meritorious
Mast/Certificate of Achievement for becoming a member of the 3.00 club at the Armed Forced School of
Music. In 2010 He won the Certificate of Commendation as Marine Musician of the Year Nominee, and
he won the John Philip Sousa Award in 2003. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music
Performance at UNC Charlotte.
Mr. Drum has travelled extensively as a performer with over 1,500 performances in 40 states. Credits
include performances at the Bands of America Regionals (three consecutive years); the Elkhart Jazz
Festival; the Tournament of Roses Parade; California Bandfest; the Western Idaho Fair, the Scottish Rite
Festival, Marine Week, and the Lakeside Jazz Festival.
Mr. Drum is currently the Alumni Relations Officer for the Sigma Beta chapter of the Phi Mu Alpha
Sinfonia music fraternity and a member of the Upsilon Sigma Mu Chi fraternal order of the United States
Marines.
Jesse Pellington – Color Guard Caption Head
Jesse Pellington has worked with the Myers Park High School Marching Band Color Guard since 2009.
She is a five time World Champion with Winterguard International (WGI) and was the James Logan
World Guard Outstanding performer from 2003-2005. She is an accomplished and passionate
performer with dance, flag, rifle, and sabre.
Ms. Pellington is a professional makeup Artist and Product Specialist for M.A.C. Cosmetics, a Hip-Hop
Dance Instructor at The Dance District, and active with the Olympic High School Winterguard. She is a
member of the Concord Blue Devils ‘A’ Corps. Ms. Pellington is a member and Co-Choreographer of
EleKtriK Dance Crew, and she has signed with Dance District Agency. Ms. Pellington graduated from
Ohlone Junior College in Fremont, California.
Henry Davis – Percussion Caption Head
Since 2012, Henry Davis has been Percussion Caption Head for the Myers Park Marching Mustangs. He
received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Percussion Performance from UNC Charlotte, where he was on
the Dean’s List and was selected to be part of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. Mr. Davis was
section leader and soloist with the Percussion Ensemble and Chamber Mallet Ensemble.
Mr. Davis is Band Director at Bruns Academy Middle School. He has also worked with Independence
High, Anson County, Polk County, CC Griffin, JM Robinson, South Mecklenburg High, Central Cabarrus
High School, and JN Fries. He has served as percussionist with the jazz/blues band Sultry, and has
performed with the Charlotte Symphony, Charlotte Civic Orchestra, Boston Brass, Jeff Queen, and
Michael Spiro. He also conducted the Community House band during their director’s maternity leave.
Mr. Davis is a member of the North Carolina Music Educators Association and the Percussive Arts
Society. He was featured at the 2006 Southeast Young Composers Forum.
Lindsay Mount – Colorguard Technician
Brian Booth – Music Arranger
Andrew Schoen – Percussion Technician
Richard Bohlen – Brass Assistant and First Responder