Honors and AwArds

2022-2023 Guest Conductors and Clinicians

JAMES MEREDITH is a 1974 graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music in Winchester Virginia, where he majored in euphonium and played violin in the orchestra. He retired from Lynchburg City Schools (Virginia) in 2013, after a 40-year career teaching middle school band and assisting with high school marching band. Most of those years were at Sandusky Middle School where the band earned consistent superior ratings at Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors’ Association, and other festivals from notable adjudicators including Col. Arnald Gabriel, Lowell Graham, Elliot Del Borgo, and James Copenhaver.   He also did adjunct work at Lynchburg College.

         His bands performed multiple times at the Virginia Music Educators Conference, for several universities as guests of the music departments, and at the Midwest Clinic in 1990. In 2007, the band won the National Adjudicators Invitational “Middle School Grand” sponsored by Dixie Classic Festivals. In 2010, James was Virginia Music Educator of the Year and has been recognized by Bandworld Magazine and the John Philip Sousa Foundation as a Legion Laureate award winner. In 2015, the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music honored him with its Distinguished Alumnus Lifetime Achievement award.

          Since retiring, he has enjoyed a growing career as a composer for band and orchestra with CARL FISCHER, G. SCHIRMER, MUSICWORKS, MACIE PUBLISHING, and now JAMES RIVER MUSIC. His music has been featured in The Instrumentalist and performed at the Midwest Clinic multiple times. James continues a busy career of adjudicating, guest-conducting, and presenting. He continues to strive for a single-digit handicap on the golf course.

Dr. Chris Sharp is serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Music. At the University of Lynchburg he teaches music theory, music arranging, conducting, music appreciation and applied low brass. He also conducts the percussion ensemble. Prior to his assignment at the University of Lynchburg, Dr. Sharp taught at small colleges throughout the state of Florida. Educated at the University of Florida and the University of Miami, his degrees include a Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition, a Master’s in Studio Writing and Production and a PhD in Composition with a cognate area in Conducting and Wind Band Literature.

In addition to his academic experience, Dr. Sharp is a professional composer, arranger, orchestrator and musician. He has extensive experience as a professional trombonist, having served for 13 years as a bandleader and sideman for The Walt Disney World Company. As an arranger/orchestrator, he has provided music for many noted clients including the Disney parks worldwide, Universal Studios, SeaWorld, The Boston Pops, The Dallas Brass, and the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. He has also written pieces for several service bands including the famed USAF Airmen of Note, who recorded his arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan” on their 1999 CD, Invitation.

Dr. Sharp is also active as a composer and arranger of music for the scholastic market. He currently has over 200 published works in the catalogs of Alfred Music Publishing, The FJH Music Company, Inc., Jalen/Matrix Publications and several others. His compositions and arrangements have been performed multiple times at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, and he is a nine-time winner of the ASCAPlus Award.

An experienced adjudicator, Dr. Sharp has judged for several organizations including The Florida Bandmasters’ Association, The United States Scholastic Band Association, All-Star Music Festivals, Heritage Music Festivals, The Indiana State School Music Association, The Florida Marching Band Coalition, Bands of America and Drum Corps International. He has served on numerous occasions as the conductor/clinician for All-County concert and jazz groups throughout Florida.

Monty R. Musgrave, D.M.A., recently retired as the band director at New Covenant Schools in Lynchburg, a position he held for four years. Prior to moving to Virginia, Dr. Musgrave taught in the public schools of Florida for thirty years, eighteen years as a band director, and twelve years as the Music Supervisor for Volusia Co. Schools in Daytona Beach. Dr. Musgrave’s bands, both at the middle and high school levels, were recognized for the musical excellence. 

His bands consistently earned “superior” ratings at district and state festivals. As a supervisor, Dr. Musgrave served as a mentor, curriculum writer, and teacher trainer for more than 250 music, dance, and theatre instructors. Dr. Musgrave maintains a busy schedule as a clinician, adjudicator, conductor, composer, and consultant. He holds degrees from The University of Florida, Florida State University, and Louisiana State University.