Our Educators

Ross Taylor is currently in his sixth year of teaching, and his 5th with Clarkston Community Schools. Prior to coming to Clarkston, Mr. Taylor taught for one year in Concord, MI. Along with teaching middle school band and orchestra, Mr. Taylor is an assistant director of the High School Marching Band and director of the CHS Percussion Ensembles. In addition to teaching in Clarkston, he taught Redline Percussion for four years and the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps for one year. He is also an educational artist with Innovative Percussion Inc.

He received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Michigan State University and Master of Music in Music Education degree from Central Michigan University. He was a member of the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from Rosemont, IL for 4 years and served as a drum sergeant during his last season. He was also a member of NorthCoast Academy from Saginaw, MI for 5 years and served on the leadership team for 3 years. Mr. Taylor is an active member of MSBOA and MCBA, having served on executive boards with both organizations.

Along with teaching music, Mr. Taylor designs shows and writes music for several groups across the country. In his free time, he enjoys reading, kayaking, and spending time with his wife Lindsay.

Michael Peterson has been teaching choral music for 25 years. His first three years were in Reese Public Schools as a general music teacher grades first through sixth grade and choral director of the Middle and High School Choirs. He has spent 15 years at Clarkston Community Schools directing the High School, Junior High, and Middle School Choirs overseeing 5 daily choirs, and the music director of the annual musicals. He also spent 6 years as Director of Choirs at Walled Lake Northern High School. While there he directed 4 daily choirs, and was the producer and music director of the annual musical. Musicals he has been the music director include Bye Bye Birdie, Guys and Dolls, Les Miserables, Oklahoma, Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins and Hairspray. While at Clarkston his choirs have performed in New York City, Chicago, St. Louis, and internationally at the Tuscany Choral Festival held in Montecatini Terme, Italy. He was the MSVMA District IV manager 2018-2019. Michael received his Bachelor of Music Education with a conducting emphasis, studying with Dr. Nina Nash-Robertson at Central Michigan University. He then returned there later to get his Masters of Music in Voice Performance, studying with Mr. Timothy Caldwell. He is an inaugural member of M.E.M.E. (Michigan Educators Male Ensemble) that promotes male singing in schools. He has been married for 25 years to Kate Peterson and has 2 daughters, Grace and Madeline, both graduates of Clarkston High School.

Mr. Harris is in his 15th year of teaching in the Clarkston School District. He loves teaching band at Clarkston Junior High School. He also teaches the Clarkston High School Jazz Band and is an Assistant Director of the 160 member Clarkston High School Marching Band.

He received his Bachelors of Music Education degree from Central Michigan University and Masters of Public Administration with an emphasis in Educational Administration from the University of Michigan-Flint. His main instrument in college was the trombone and he performed in many concert bands, jazz bands, the Chippewa Marching Band, orchestra, pit orchestra, jazz-bone, and trombone choir while at Central Michigan University. His wife Katie is also a music teacher in Clarkston. They have one wonderful daughter and one terrific son.

Michael Lewis is in his twenty-sixth year of teaching instrumental music. After teaching two years in the Ubly Community School District, he became the Associate Director of Bands in Clarkston, a position he held for nine years. Mr. Lewis is currently in his fourteenth year as Director of Bands at Clarkston High School where he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Symphonic Wind Ensemble and is director of the Marching Band. Under his direction, the Clarkston High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble has performed at the Michigan Music Conference, the American School Band Directors Association National Convention, Carnegie Hall, the Central Michigan University Concert Band Symposium and the Western Michigan University Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music.

Mr. Lewis received both his Bachelor of Music Education Degree and Master of Music Education Degree from Central Michigan University. He studied bassoon with Mary Beth Minnis, saxophone with John Nichol and conducting with John Williamson.

As an active member of the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), Mr. Lewis served as President, Vice President for Band and Orchestra, and Treasurer in District IV. At the state level of MSBOA, he served as chairman of the Music Education Committee and is currently serving as a member of the Music Selection Committee. Mr. Lewis regularly adjudicates both district and state Solo and Ensemble and Band and Orchestra Festivals. Mr. Lewis was both a Clarkston Foundation Teacher of the Year Nominee and has twice been the Band Teacher of the Year for District IV of MSBOA. He has been a member of the American School Band Directors Association since 2001.

Joseph Richards is the director of the 6th, 8th, 9th, Symphony, and Chamber Orchestras. For his first 4 years, he was teaching 5th grade orchestra in the Troy School District, and now has begun his 5th year here in Clarkston. He completed his undergrad at Adrian College and just finished his master's at the University of Michigan. Mr. Richards is also the conductor of the Flint Youth Philharmonia at the Flint School of Performing Arts. In addition to this, he is a regular substitute violinist in the Traverse Symphony Orchestra at Interlochen Center for the Arts. When Mr. Richards is not teaching, he enjoys exercising, writing music/composing, fishing, hunting, playing golf, and cooking.