Instructors
Dr. Jerry Markoch
Director of Bands
Dr. Jerry Markoch is currently in his 36th year of teaching and 28th year as Director of Bands at Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, N.C. During his tenure at Athens Drive, the band program has grown to nearly 200 members and has earned significant honors, including consistent “Superior” ratings at the N.C. Concert Band Festival and numerous “Grand Champion” and “First Place” awards at local and regional marching band events. Concert groups have performed for the Music for All/Bands of America “National Concert Band and Percussion Ensemble Festival” in Indianapolis, and the Wind Ensemble has performed 4 times at the NCMEA Conference in Winston-Salem. Under Dr. Markoch’s direction, the band has performed at such famous locales as Carnegie Hall, the Outback Bowl, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Washington D.C. Memorial Day Parade and Walt Disney World. Students in the band have received much praise for their enthusiasm, fine character and outstanding musicianship.
Dr. Markoch completed a Ph.D. in music education at Louisiana State University, a M.M. at Bowling Green State University, Ohio, and a B.M. at the University of Akron, Ohio. Prior to his graduate studies, he served three years as Band Director at Manchester High School (Akron, Ohio). Dr. Markoch has received many awards for his scholarship including a prestigious fellowship at LSU and the distinction of “Valedictorian” at the University of Akron. In 2003, he was selected by his colleagues as “Teacher of the Year” at Athens Drive High School. In 2007, he was named “Band Director of the Year” by the N.C. Central District Bandmasters Association (CDBA). In 2008, he received the “Award of Excellence” from the same organization. In 2015, Dr. Markoch was awarded the Jackson Parkhurst Award for Special Achievement in Music Education from the North Carolina Symphony.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities at Athens Drive, Dr. Markoch is very active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the state. “Doc”–as he is affectionately known by his students and colleagues—is an avid golfer and classical guitarist. He resides in Fuquay-Varina with his wife, Susan. His son Ben is a graphic designer, and his daughter Caroline is a high school dance teacher.
Contact Dr. Markoch by e-mail at jmarkoch@wcpss.net or at 919-233-4077.
John Antonelli
Percussion Instructor
John Antonelli has been the Director of Percussion at Athens Drive High School since 2007. In his time at Athens Drive, he has developed the percussion Ensemble and Drum Line into highly successful groups. Both indoor and outdoor marching percussion sections have won numerous awards all over the South Eastern United States. In 2009, the Percussion Ensemble was invited to perform in the Music for All Bands of America “National Percussion Ensemble Festival” in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mr. Antonelli holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. He has been an educator, writer, arranger, and performer throughout North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. He has performed at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention with the Philidor Percussion Group and has also performed with the Winston-Salem Symphony Orchestra.
In addition to his post at Athens Drive, Mr. Antonelli is currently the Percussion Instructor of North Carolina State University and has previously held the position of Adjunct Professor of Percussion at Wake Forest University.
Jennifer Mason Harris
Guard Instructor
Jennifer Mason Harris is an established Colorguard and Winterguard Performer as well as Instructor. Her efforts, especially with the Athens Drive Winterguard, have resulted in multiple finals performances in Atlantic Indoor Association Championships. Ms. Harris has provided growth and stability to Athens Drive Colorguard and continues to inspire her students to be their best.
Ms. Harris is an experienced spinner and has marched with Tar Heel Sun Drum Corps, Carolina Visual Productions Winterguard, and Assembly Line Winterguard. She and her husband, Chad, are the proud parents of a lovely baby girl.
Clinicians
Jillian Storey
Flute Clinician
Dr. Jillian Storey holds a DMA in flute performance from UNC Greensboro. Prior to UNCG, she studied with world-renowned flute pedagogue, Trevor Wye, in Kent, England. She also holds a Masters of Music from Baylor University and a B.M. from Tennessee Tech University. She has performed with the Bryan and Waco symphonies and the Greensboro Opera. She is also the flutist of Catchfire Collective. Jillian also serves as Newsletter Editor for the Marcel Moyse Society and is an avid cyclist and hiker.
Jimmy Gilmore
Clarinet Clinician
Mr. Gilmore holds a Masters of Music from Julliard School of Music. He was Principal Clarinet of the North Carolina Symphony until he retired in 2010. Mr. Gilmore has also played with the Rochester Philharmonic, the US Military Academy Band at West Point and also teaches Clarinet at Duke University.
Justin Berry
Saxophone Clinician
Mr. Berry has performed professionally since the age of 17. He relocated from Arizona to the RDU area in late 2015. Teaching all ages and skill levels since 1993, he holds two bachelor’s degrees from the University of Arizona (“Fine arts in music” and “Speech, language, and hearing sciences”). From 2007-2010, he taught children with Autism Disorder, developmental disabilities, and ADHD. This inspired him to seek his Master’s degree in speech-language pathology to compliment his skills as a music teacher. Mr. Berry enjoys the challenge of combining his two career skill sets in order to provide specialized music instruction to students of all ages and all abilities. Performing and teaching music are great passions in his life and he loves to share his experience with anyone who is interested to learn!
Bill Coye
Bassoon Clinician
Bill is a bassoonist who also plays saxophone. His primary bassoon teacher was the late Walter Green, the long-time principal bassoonist of the San Francisco Symphony. Bill attended San Francisco State University earning his degree in Music Education. For 45 years Bill was minister of music at several San Francisco Peninsula churches. One of Bill’s loves is musical theater. He served as Music Director, Conductor and pit musician for many years. Along with this Bill also had a day job. Currently Bill plays bassoon and contra bassoon with the Raleigh Civic Symphony and the Raleigh Civic Chamber Orchestra. Hobbies include building an O Scale electric train layout and working on his 1936 Cord Westchester.