Mr. Joshua Stevenson has been the Director of Bands at Mooresville High School since the summer of 2016.  Prior to his appointment, Mr. Stevenson was the Director of Bands at David W. Butler High School, where he conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and the Marching Band.  From 2005-2008, Mr. Stevenson was the Assistant Director of Bands at Mooresville High School, where he taught 7th through 12th grade band, and was the Music Director and Conductor of the Lake Norman Orchestra, an all-volunteer community-based musical arts organization located in Mooresville, NC.  From 2011-2014, Mr. Stevenson was the Director of the Charlotte 49ers Basketball Band at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.  In 2012, he was one of three conductors selected to participate in the Young Conductor Mentor Project sponsored by the National Band Association, and in 2013, Mr. Stevenson was selected by his peers as Butler High School's Teacher of the Year.  Mr. Stevenson holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Appalachian State University and a Master of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  While at Appalachian State University, Mr. Stevenson was drum major of North Carolina's Band of Distinction, and performed with the Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble I, and the Trombone Choir. Mr. Stevenson's professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, American School Band Directors Association, North Carolina Music Educators Association, South Central District Bandmasters Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Gamma Beta Phi, and Kappa Kappa Psi.  He is also an Appalachian State University Chancellor's Scholar. 

Contact:  joshuastevenson@mgsd.k12.nc.us

Mr. Cory Gudger joined the Mooresville music department in the fall of 2014.  He is a graduate of East Lincoln High School in Denver, NC, where he was selected to be a member of the 2009 Army All-American Marching Band in San Antonio.  Mr. Gudger received his Bachelors in Instrumental Music Education from Appalachian State University.  While at Appalachian State, Mr. Gudger played mellophone for two years, then served as Rehearsal Assistant for the North Carolina Band of Distinction.  When not marching, Mr. Gudger performed with ASU's Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Philharmonia as a horn player. 

Contact: corygudger@mgsd.k12.nc.us

Mr. James Smallwood holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from James Madison University.  James is a graduate of Virginia High School in Bristol, VA.  While at James Madison University, Mr. Smallwood performed with Virginia's Finest, the Marching Royal Dukes, and was saxophone section leader for two years.  He performed with the James Madison Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble.  Mr. Smallwood has taught band and chorus at Abingdon High School, Haysi High School, and Twin Springs High School in the state of Virginia, and the last twelve years at Olympic High School in Charlotte, NC.  Mr. Smallwood lives in Cornelius with his wife Sarah, daughter Charlotte, and dog Barley.  The family enjoys hiking, traveling, and attending James Madison University football games. 

Contact: jamessmallwood@mgsd.k12.nc.us

Chris Hardesty is in his 16th year as a music educator and is currently the Band Director at Mooresville Middle School. Prior to this appointment, Chris taught at Northwest Cabarrus High School, Marvin Ridge Middle School where he co-directed the 6th-7th-8th grade bands and other performing ensembles offered within the band program. He was also an assistant director with the Marvin Ridge High School Band.

Chris graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) from East Carolina University. Expanding his instructional opportunities, Chris has worked as a technician/consultant with several notable bands throughout North Carolina including: Croatan High School (Newport), East Carteret High School (Beaufort), Green Hope High School (Cary), Northwest Cabarrus High School (Concord), and Butler High School (Matthews).

During his drum corps career, Chris marched with the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (2005) and the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2007). Chris has previously taught as a visual technician with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps and is excited to start another year with the organization.

Contact: christopherhardesty@mgsd.k12.nc.us

Mr. Gray joined the Pride in Motion Staff in 2019 as a Color Guard technician and has served as Color Guard director since the winter of 2024. Before working at MHS, he was the color guard technician at William A. Hough High School and Cuthbertson High School.

Hailing from Mooresville, Mr. Gray is a lifelong Blue Devil. He is a 2016 graduate of MHS, and his roots with Pride in Motion run deep, with his father, brother, and sister being alums. He played tenor saxophone in high school and marched color guard in high school and with the Pride of Niner Nation Marching band at UNC Charlotte. From 2017 to 2020, he performed with Étude Winter Guard and has appeared in WGI finals thrice.

Mr. Gray holds a B.A. in History with a focus in Secondary Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He has taught at MHS since 2022, teaching World History, United States History, and the Color Guard class. In addition to teaching and marching band, he is the advisor to the MHS Chapter of The National Honor Society. Mr. Gray was selected as the Mooresville Graded School District Beginning Teacher of the Year for 2023.

Mr. Gray is excited to be back home at MHS and looks forward to giving back to the program! 

Contact: williamgray@mgsd.k12.nc.us

Justin Brewer is a native of the Charlotte, NC area, and currently resides in Davidson, NC.  He attended Appalachian State and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where he completed his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.  He has been involved in marching percussion since 2006, and has been teaching since 2009.  He has worked with various programs including Butler High School (2009-2016) Mooresville High School (2016-present), South Mecklenburg High School (Winter 2016), Ardrey Kell High School (Winter 2017-2018), Nation Ford High School (Winter 2018-2019), and the inaugural season of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Drum line (2013).  He has performed with Palmetto Percussion between 2010-2013 and has been involved with various Independent Indoor Percussion ensembles from 2014 to present, including Palmetto Percussion (2014-2016), Civitas Independent (2014, 2017-2019), and Paradigm Percussion (2020).  He currently sits on the Board of Directors for Equinox Percussion, a Percussion Independent World Ensemble out of Georgia.  In his free time, he likes to competitively run, backpack, weld, and graphic arts. 

Contact: justintbrewer@gmail.com