Ron Forsh is a native of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina where he grew up in a musical family. He and his siblings were in band together at Myrtle Beach Middle and High Schools. Under the direction of Dale Hair, Ron served as the Band President at Myrtle Beach High School (MBHS) for 2 years (1994-1996). Forsh graduated from MBHS in 1996 to pursue a career in music education.

In 2003, he graduated with honors from Winston-Salem State University (WSSU), performing in many ensembles including marching, concert and jazz bands. Mr. Forsh received his Master’s Degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) in 2008. His degrees are in music education, with a concentration on flute performance. Forsh performed in the Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps in 2010 & 2011 before joining their percussion staff. The corps won 1st place overall at the 2012 Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championships.

His teaching career started at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) in 2003. Since then, Mr. Forsh has taught at all levels in many districts including a stint with the New York City Department of Education, where he started a band program at ACCION Academy in the Bronx (NY). He continues to teach students privately as well.

Forsh is currently the band director at Clemmons Middle School (CMS) in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The band program at CMS is thriving under his leadership. Enrollment has increased by nearly 32% since his arrival. His students qualify for honor bands at the county, district and state levels. Forsh has led his ensembles to Superior ratings consistently at concert band festivals. In 2025, he was recognized as a finalist for Teacher of the Year at CMS.

Mr. Forsh adjudicates marching band competitions and is a sought-after clinician across the Carolinas. He has conducted All-County Bands in Forsyth, Surry, and Yadkin Counties (NC). He’s also conducted the Piedmont Honor Band (NC) several times. During the summer, Forsh teaches middle school band at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA).

In addition to his time in the classroom, Mr. Forsh has contributed to the teaching profession by serving as a District President for the North Carolina Music Educators Association (NCMEA). He was elected Member-At-Large at the 2025 NCMEA Professional Development Conference and remains on the organization’s executive board. Forsh has supervised student teachers from WSSU and UNCG. His leadership is evident as he facilitates professional learning team meetings for the Forsyth County Band Directors Association (FCBDA). He also serves as FCBDA Site Host and Auditions Chair. Forsh has published articles and reports for the North Carolina Music Educators Journal as well as The Bronx Times (NY).

Mr. Forsh became a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in 2024, with a certification in Early Adolescent Young Adulthood music. He has been recognized as Band Director of the Year in Forsyth County (NC) and Teacher of the Year by the United Way. He lives in Winston-Salem with his family where he enjoys exercising, writing music, reading and coaching basketball. Forsh is a proud member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Alice Adkins Aldredge is a member of the North Carolina Bandmasters’ Association Hall of Fame and is a retired member of the North Carolina Bandmasters Association where she served as President from 2015-2016. Currently the Director of Middle School Bands at Charleston County School of the Arts in North Charleston, South Carolina, she is also National Board Certified and holds professional membership in the prestigious American School Band Directors Association and Phi Beta Mu Fraternity.

Alice has over 36 years of experience teaching middle and high school bands in North and South Carolina. Before relocating to SC, she was the director of bands at Northwest Cabarrus Middle School and assisted at Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord, NC. Other teaching experiences include nine years working as the Director of Bands at Croatan High School and Broad Creek Middle School in Newport, NC. During her tenure at Croatan, the program garnered national recognition at Bands of America and Winter Guard International Championship events. Additionally, she served as the Director of Bands at Scotland High School, a flagship program for the Southeastern District and was selected to perform at the North Carolina Music Educators Conference. Her bands have consistently received superior ratings and she has regularly placed students in region and all-state bands.

Mrs. Aldredge is an active clinician and adjudicator for marching and concert bands in Texas, Mississippi, Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Additional personal accolades include NCBA Award of Excellence for the Southeastern District and Teacher of the Year awards from Carver Middle School and Northwest Cabarrus Middle School.

Mrs. Aldredge resides in Hanahan SC with her husband, Tripp, and her son Greyson is studying music education and saxophone performance at the University of South Carolina.

Bob Buckner became a part of Bands of America/Music for All in 1979 when his Sylva-Webster High School Marching Band from Sylva, NC became “Grand National Champions”. The next year he became a clinician for Marching Bands of America “Weekend with an Expert” and Summer Symposium and has continued his involvement for 40 years. Bob has served BOA as both a Board of Advisors and Adjudication member. He directed the Bands of America Honor Band in the Tournament of Roses Parade and Bandfest in 2013 and 2017. He was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame in 2004.

Bob’s teaching career continued as Director of Bands at East Tennessee State University in 1987 and in 1991 he assumed the role of Athletic Band Director at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC and he remained there until his retirement in 2011. During his tenure at WCU the “Pride of the Mountains” was presented with the highest honor that a university marching band can receive: The Sudler Trophy in 2009. And in 2011 the “Pride of the Mountains” represented WCU and the state of North Carolina at the Tournament of Roses Parade and Bandfest in Pasadena, CA. Bob also received the Paul A Reid Distinguished Service Award for WCU faculty in 2003 and, in 2004, he was chosen by the Music Educators National Conference as a Lowell Mason Fellow. He was also honored by the state of North Carolina in 2011 when Governor Perdue presented him with the state’s highest honor to one of it’s citizens: the “Order of the Long Leaf Pine.” That same year his local newspaper, “The Mountaineer” named Bob as one of it’s “Hometown Heroes.” In 2013, Bob was inducted into the NC Bandmasters “Hall of Fame” and in 2014, he was selected by the College of Fine and Performing Arts at WCU in the first class of Distinguished Alumni “in recognition for significant contributions to their profession.”

In addition to Bob’s teaching career he has been involved with the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps (writing field shows for 20 years), “Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, “Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.” And in 2009 he received the Award for Excellence in Marching Music Education from Drum Corps International and MENC. He also served as a special consultant to the Walt Disney Company, where he started their popular “Future Corps” which performed in Epcot Center for 20 years and he served on the Board of Advisors for “Magic Music Days.” In 2015, Bob designed and taught a drill program used by “Pershing’s Own,” The United States Army Band, as part of the Army’s “Spirit of America” program.

Bob continues to serve as a consultant with Pygraphics, Inc. He was selected by MENC as the first director (2007 and 2008) for the United States Army All-American Marching Band and continues as their drill designer. His professional affiliations include the NC Bandmaster’s Association and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Bob continues to serve the band world and music programs through his business, United Music Enterprises, a music consulting and marching show design firm. Bob and his wife Donna reside in Waynesville, NC. They are the proud parents and grandparents of their adult children and their six grandchildren.