STAFF BIOGRAPHIES
Ian Faires - Director
Ian M. Faires, from Charlotte, NC, is a 1999 graduate of Appalachian State University with a degree in Music Education. He is currently seeking his National Board Certification in Secondary Grades for Music.
While at Appalachian State University, Ian marched with North Carolina’s Band of Distinction. He became a member of Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity in 1996 and served as Secretary, Parliamentarian and Service Coordinator. He was awarded the Fraternity Key while serving in these capacities for exemplary service to the bands at Appalachian. Ian was also a member of the Wind Ensemble, Appalachian Symphony, the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion Ensemble, Steely Pan Steel Band, Men’s Glee Club and Tri-Fraternal Council.
Ian began his teaching career in Charlotte-Mecklenburg teaching 5th grade band at nine different elementary schools in the University area. After a short stint, Ian moved to Mooresville Graded School District to teach at Mooresville Intermediate School as an elementary music/band director. He also served as Assistant Band Director at Mooresville High School with the “Pride In Motion Band” for 5 years. While at Mooresville Intermediate School, his 6th grade band consistently received “Superior” ratings at contest. Ian then moved to Porter Ridge High and Middle School in 2005. Since the inception of the schools, both Middle and High Schools have received numerous accolades at the community, district and state levels.
Ian is currently in his 8th year of teaching, 4th at Porter Ridge. In his spare time, Ian is service accompanist at Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Weddington, NC. He is a member of MENC (Music Educator’s National Conference), NCMEA, and Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Stephanie Tomberline - Director
Ms. Stephanie Tomberlin graduated from Wingate College in 1993 with a Bachelor of Music Education K-12. She is currently serving as band director at Porter Ridge Middle and High Schools in Union County North Carolina and has been in this position since the establishment of the schools in 2005. Prior to this position, she taught at Monroe Middle and High Schools for eleven years. During her 15 years of teaching, Ms. Tomberlin’s middle school bands have continually received excellent and superior ratings at the North Carolina State District Contest/Festival, with the past 10 years being consecutive superior ratings.
Ms. Tomberlin has served as an adjudicator in the Eastern and Northwest Districts as well as a clinician for several County and District Bands in North Carolina. In 2001, Ms. Tomberlin was named as “Teacher of the Year” for Monroe Middle School. She has a very strong passion for teaching music and works hard to help others as much as possible. With this, she has been serving as a mentor teacher for her schools since 1998.
Ms. Tomberlin is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the South Central District Band Association, and the Union County Band Association. She has just recently been accepted into the membership of the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA) for the North Carolina Chapter as well as being accepted into the National level of ASBDA. In June Ms. Tomberlin will have the privledge of traveling to Wisconson to the National Convention for ASBDA members, where she will be "pinned" as a new member of the Association.
On a personal note, Ms. Tomberlin resides in Monroe, NC where she lives happily with her daughter Kayla, dog Paco, and cat Shadow. She spends her free time playing racquetball and spending quality time with Kayla. Racquetball is her means of staying physically fit as well as relieving stress.
Micael Rogers - Musical Arrangements
Chad Turner - Marching Drill
A graduate of the School of Music at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Chad Turner holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Mr. Turner has an extensive music instruction background ranging from individual lesson tutoring and small ensemble coaching to holding staff positions and writing drill for several competitive marching bands.
Mr. Turner has assisted programs all over North Carolina from Greensboro to Charlotte. His staff experience varies from tutoring students one-on-one with playing technique on their instruments to working with an entire marching band on both their marching and musical performance abilities.
The programs he has held staff positions with include Page HS, Northwest Guilford HS, East Lincoln HS, Providence HS, East Mecklenburg HS, Hopewell HS, Monroe HS, Sun Valley HS and Porter Ridge HS. Mr. Turner is also contracted regularly to write, clean and tech marching drills for a number of local high schools all over North Carolina. These include Providence HS, East Gaston HS, Monroe HS, Porter Ridge HS, Hopewell HS, Sun Valley HS, Southern Lee HS, North Stanly HS, South Stanly HS and West Stanly HS. All of these groups have consistently placed high in competition.
Mr. Turner is a past member of Phi Mu Alpha, Professional Music Fraternity and SCMEA. He is also a member of NCMEA and MENC. He is currently the Director of Bands in Albemarle NC at Albemarle Middle and High Schools.
Darrin Morrow - Guard - Marching Season/Winter Guard
Mr. Darin Morrow is a graduate of Western Carolina University (BS in Communications)
and Clemson University (Masters of Education in Counseling). Mr. Morrow received his marching experience as a member of the South Iredell HS Marching Band, Western Carolina University Marching Band, and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Morrow has taught and worked
as a counselor in high schools and colleges throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and
Georgia. Mr. Morrow's color guard teaching experience includes Carolina Crown, Paradigm World Winter Guard, and many high school guard programs. Mr. Morrow currently works at Northlake Children's Pediatric Association, and also as a choreographer, adjudicator, clinician, technician,
and designer.
Michelle Rowell - Guard
Ms. Michelle Rowell is a graduate of Porter Ridge High School. Now attending SPCC for a degree in Medical Sonography. Ms. Rowell has recieved marching experience at Sun Valley HS, and Porter Ridge HS. Her past experience has been working with the Porter Ridge colorguard and winterguard programs.