BRASS INSTRUCTORS

Craig has degrees in trumpet performance from Yale School of Music (MM) and Furman University (BM). He recently won the Second Trumpet position in the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra and performs frequently with the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Spartanburg Philharmonic, GSO Brass Quintet, Greenville Jazz Collective Big Band, Project X Big Band, Flat Rock Playhouse, Foothills Brass Band, as well as the Asheville Symphony, and South Carolina Philharmonic. Craig is experienced in a number of musical styles, having performed in symphony orchestras, chamber ensembles, swing bands, jazz combos, Broadway musicals, salsa bands, rock bands, polka bands, and more. Past highlights include performances at New York City’s Lincoln Center with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, Broadway shows on local stops, Ringling Bros Circus, opening band for Wilco, Battle of the Bands winner at the renowned Toad’s Place in New Haven, and orchestras with Johnny Mathis, Andrea Bocelli, Edwin McCain, and Bela Fleck. Craig currently teaches trumpet at the SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities, Converse University, and is a brass instructor for Greenville County’s ARMES program. In the past, he has also taught courses at Furman University and served as Director of Jazz Bands for another university. In addition to his trumpet life, Craig is a portrait artist specializing in oil painting and charcoal drawing, roaster for his coffee company Two Giants Coffee, and has released two albums of original music. 

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Jason Ray joined the Hillcrest Middle School Band program in 2022, serving as co-director of bands with Mr. Christian Scott. Since that time, the bands have continued to earn straight Superiors in all local and regional contests as well as earning the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award each year. Mr. Ray has also founded various percussion ensembles at Hillcrest Middle since his arrival, including grade level groups and an honors group that meets outside of regular school hours. He was recently named the Hillcrest Middle School 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year.

Prior to his appointment at Hillcrest, Mr. Ray served as Director of Bands at Beck Academy in Greenville, SC (2018–2022). During his tenure at Beck, he doubled the size of the sixth-grade band in his first year, founded the Symphonic Band, and led the ensemble to a Superior with Distinction rating in Grade III literature.

Before his work in Greenville, Mr. Ray was Director of Bands at Seneca Middle School (2015–2018), where he directed both the Symphonic Band and Jazz Band. Under his leadership, the program earned consistent Superior with Distinction ratings at state and regional contests and received the SCBDA Outstanding Performance Award each year of his tenure. Mr. Ray began his professional career as Assistant Band Director at Dutch Fork Middle School (Irmo, SC) in 2012 with Alyssa Haley, where their ensembles achieved numerous accolades, including multiple Superior ratings at the SCBDA Concert Performance Assessment.

Mr. Ray earned his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Furman University in 2012 and completed his Master’s degree in Educational Leadership, also from Furman, in 2023. While at Furman, he was an active member of The Paladin Regiment, the Furman Wind Ensemble, and the Furman University Jazz Band. He is a member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA) and the South Carolina Music Educators Association (SCMEA), and currently serves SCBDA as Site Chairman for the Greenville CPA Site. In addition, he performs as a trumpet player with the Poinsett Wind Symphony in Greenville.

Now in his 15th year of teaching, Mr. Ray is supported by his wife, Alex, and their daughter, Rosalyn. Outside of teaching and performing, he enjoys spending time with his family and playing video games. His favorite Star Wars character is Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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Hello! My name is Jeff Purcell, and I am so excited to be the low brass instructor for the ARMES Southern Site at Hillcrest Middle School. I currently serve as the Orchestra Director at Fisher Middle School. I have also assisted with the Woodmont Band of Pride as a marching technician and a coach for the Greenville County Youth Orchestras' Sinfonia and Philharmonic ensembles. Prior to South Carolina, I was the Band/Orchestra Director at Young Women's Leadership Academy in Fort Worth, TX.

I am a native Texan hailing from the Dallas/Fort Worth area. I graduated with my Bachelor's in Music Education from Baylor University in 2014. I studied trombone under Jon Bohls and Brent Phillips. I have been playing for over 20 years in various settings and truly enjoy it! I look forward to working with our wonderful low brass students this year!

Questions? Mr. Purcell can be reached via email at gpurcell@greenvile.k12.sc.us

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Jordan Chase is a French hornist hailing from Upstate South Carolina. Active as a performer and teacher, Jordan enjoys working to help train the next generation of musicians and works to inspire others with his playing. He holds a Bachelor's of Music Education from Furman University, a Masters of Music in Performance from the University of Georgia, and is currently ABD from his Doctoral Studies with the University of Georgia, in Performance. While at the University of Georgia, he worked with the bands, the library system, and the Horn Studio, working to help plan successful workshops, such as the Southeast Horn Workshop in 2024.

As a performer, Jordan is active in Upstate South Carolina. He is a substitute musician with the Greenville Symphony, Spartanburg Philharmonic, South Carolina Philharmonic, Augusta Symphony, and the Asheville Symphony. He is deeply involved in the communities in the Greenville and Spartanburg areas, playing in many community groups such as the Hub City Winds and the Foothills Brass Band. He is an active soloist, performing most recently with the Foothills Brass Band.

As a teacher, Jordan is currently working in the Greenville School District with the ARMES program. This involves teaching middle schoolers after school, to further their music learning and abilities outside of the classroom. He is the Adjunct Lecturer of Horn at Clemson University, teaching private lessons to the horn students at the University.

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