Director Bio & Band Awards
Our Bands at Ligon-
Guest Clinicians-
Dr. Evan Feldman, Director of Bands UNC Chapel Hill
Peter Boonshaft, Clinician Hoftsra University
Richard Floyd, Clinician
Cheryl Floyd, Clinician
Brian Balmages, Composer
Dr. Arris Golden, Michigan State Assistant Director Bands
Dr. Wendy Mathews, Trumpet, and Music Education Professor Wayne State
Dr. Mark Norman, Clinician UNCSA
Dr. Thomas Taylor, Jazz Education Professor, NCCU
Jim Ketch, Jazz Educator UNC-Ch
Dr. Wes Parker, Jazz Education Professor, NCSU
Dr. Andy Smith, Tuba
Dr. Ron Carter, Jazz Educator
Steven Bryant, Composer
Ed Kiefer, Composer Clinician
Wendy Higdon, Creekside Middle School
Andrew Brough, Creekside Middle School
Krista L Siachames, Percussion*
Lisa Burn Trumpet/All Brass, Jazz
Justin Berry, Saxophone
Tony Granados, Clinician
Robin Gorham, Clinician
Marianne Breneman, Clarinet
Roz Finley, Oboe Bassoon
Phillip Riggs, Clinician
Ellye Walsh, Flute
William Coye, Double Reeds
Jimmy Gilmore, Clarinets
Brendan Vincent, Clinician, Hunter Elementary
Kelly Roudabush, Saxophones
Maria Serkin, Horn NC School of the Arts
Scott Sweeney, Trombone
Jesse Rackley, Euphonium Clinician
Casey Sagolla-Slamp, Percussion
Peter Boor, Trumpet Retired Band Director NJ
Susan Fritts, Flute and Director of Bands at St. Timothy's
* Ligon Alum
AWARDS
2023-2024
NC East Central District MPA
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Grade IV- V Music
Straight Superior Ratings all A's 100%
Symphonic Band Superior Rating - Grade II Music
Straight Superior Ratings
NC Central Region Jazz MPA
Jazz Ensemble
Straight Superior Rating - all A's 100%
Little Blues Jazz Band
Straight Superior Rating - all A's 100%
Jazz Combo
Straight Superior Rating
NC East Central District Solo and Ensemble MPA
TBD
All-State Band-
6 students selected
All-State Jazz Band-
4 students selected
All District Band-
39 placements 36 students 12/14 all state eligible, 9 1st chairs
All-Region Jazz Band -
17 students were selected (highest in the region)
All County Band-
32 students selected (2nd highest in the county)
Ms. Todd was chosen to conduct the Forsyth Winston Salem All County Middle School Symphonic Band 2023
Ms. Todd was chosen to conduct the Marywood University Middle School Celebration at the Honor Band Festival in Scranton, PA 2023
Ms. Todd was chosen to conduct the SC Region 3 Middle School Symphonic Band 2024
Ms. Todd was chosen to conduct the University of South Carolina High School Honor Band 2024
2022-2023
Music for All Mid-Atlantic Regional Concert Festival
Invited Ensemble, College Park MD
Wind Ensemble
NC East Central District MPA-
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Grade IV Music
Straight Superior Ratings all A's 100%
Symphonic Band Superior Rating - Grade I/II Music
Straight Superior Ratings
NC Central Region Jazz MPA
Jazz Ensemble- Straight Superior Rating
NC East Central District Solo and Ensemble MPA
11 Superiors and 7 Ensembles Chosen to Perform in the Showcase Performance (highest in the district for middle and high schools)
All-State Band-
5 students selected
All-State Jazz Band-
6 students selected (highest in the state)
All District Band-
38 students selected
All-Region Jazz Band -
18 students were selected (highest in the region)
All County Band-
41 students selected (highest in the county)
Ms Todd was Awarded by the School Band and Orchestra Teachers Magazine Dec 2022 " 50 Directors Who Make A Difference"
Ms Todd was chosen by the NBA (National Band Association) Aug 2023 to write a pedagogy article on teaching beginning trumpet.
Ms Todd was chosen in the summer of 2023 by composer, Tyler Grant Teaching Series On Tone
Ms Todd was chosen in the summer of 2023 to lead the NC Professional Development on Best Practices in Wilson NC and Morganton NC
Ms Todd was chosen to conduct the NC Western All District Middle School Symphonic Band 2023
Ms Todd was chosen to conduct the NC Eastern All District Middle School Symphonic Band 2023
Ms Todd was chosen to direct the Mid Tennessee Middle School All State Jazz Band 2023
2021-2022
NC East Central District MPA-
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Grade III Superior
NC Central Region Jazz MPA- Superior Rating
All-State Band-
5 students selected
All-State Jazz Band-
6 students selected (highest in the state)
All-Region Jazz Band -
14 students selected (highest in the region)
All-District Band-
26 students selected (highest in the district)
All County Band-
did not take place
2020-2021
NC East Central District MPA-
Cancelled
NC Central Region Jazz MPA
Cancelled
All-State Band-
3 students selected
All-State Jazz Band-
6 students selected
All-Region Jazz Band -
17 students selected
All District Band-
19 students selected
All County Band-
cancelled
2019-2020
Performance at the 73rd Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago - Jazz Band
Invitation to Perform at the 29th Music For All National Concert Festival in Indianapolis- Wind Ensemble
NC East Central District MPA-
Cancelled
NC Central Region Jazz MPA
Cancelled
All-State Band-
7 students selected (2nd highest in the state)
All-State Jazz Band-
9 students selected (highest in the state)
All-Region Jazz Band -
17 students selected (highest in the region)
All District Band-
35 students selected (highest in the district)
All County Band-
35 students selected (highest in the county)
2018-2019
Invitation to Perform at the 73rd Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic - Jazz Band
Invitation to Perform at the 29th Music For All National Concert Festival- Wind Ensemble
NC Central District MPA-
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Grade IV and V Music Straight Superiors, 28 A's 100%
Symphonic Band and Intermediate Superior Rating - Grade III and II- Straight Superiors
NC Central Region Jazz MPA
Jazz Ensemble- Superior Rating, Straight A's
All-State Band-
5 students selected
All-State Jazz Band-
5 students selected (highest in the state)
All-Region Jazz Band -
14 students selected (highest in the region)
All District Band-
20 students selected
All County Band-
29 students selected
2017-2018
Southeastern Region Concert Festival Invited Ensemble, Atlanta GA
Wind Ensemble
NC Central District MPA-
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Grade IV and V Music Straight Superiors, 28 A's 100%
Symphonic Band and Intermediate Superior Rating - Grade III and II- Straight Superiors
Beginning Band Superior Rating- Grade I straight Superiors
NC Central Region Jazz MPA
Jazz Ensemble- Superior Rating, Straight A's
All-State Band-
5 students selected (highest in the state)
All-State Jazz Band-
7 students selected (highest in the state)
All-Region Jazz Band -
17 students selected (highest in the region)
All District Band-
24 students selected (highest in district)
All County Band-
35 students selected (highest in the county)
2016-2017
World Strides On Stage Chicago Symphony Hall
Wind Ensemble- Superior Rating
NC Central District MPA-
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Grade IV Music Straight Superiors, 28 A's 100%
NC Central Region Jazz MPA
Jazz Ensemble- Superior Rating
Straight A's
All State Band-
2 students selected
All State Jazz Band-
7 students selected (highest in state)
All Region Jazz Band -
7 students selected (highest in region)
All District Band-
17 students selected
All County Band- 27 students selected
2015-2016
World Strides On Stage Williamsburg -
Wind Ensemble- Superior Rating, Best in Class- High and Middle School Divisions, Gold Award, Highest Score of all Concert Bands(high school and middle)
Jazz Ensemble- Superior Rating, Outstanding Soloist, Gold Award
NC Central District MPA-
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Straight Superiors, 28 A's 100%
Jazz Band- Superior Rating Straight Superiors
Ligon Wind Ensemble -NC- Music Education Conference Performance
All State Band-
4 students selected
All State Jazz Band-
8 students selected (highest in state)
All Region Jazz Band -
13 students selected (highest in region)
All District Band-
21 students selected (highest in district)
All County Band-
21 students selected
2014-2015
Festival Disney -
Wind Ensemble- Superior Rating, Best in Class- High and Middle School Divisions, Gold Award, Highest Score of all Concert Bands(high school and middle)
Jazz Ensemble- Superior Rating, Outstanding Soloist, Silver Award
Central District MPA-
Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Straight Superiors, 27 A's and 1 B = 99.1
All State Band-
4 students selected
All State Jazz Band-
8 students selected (highest in state)
All Region Jazz Band -
12 students selected (highest in region)
All District Band-
21 students selected (highest in district)
All County Band-
28 students selected
2013-2014
Heritage Music Festivals -
Wind Ensemble- Superior Gold Rating, Adjudicators Award, Best Band/Orchestra of the Day- High and Middle School Divisions, Invitation to Perform at Gold Level
Jazz Ensemble- Superior Gold Rating, Outstanding Soloist
Central District MPA- Wind Ensemble Superior Rating - Straight Superiors, Symphonic Band Excellent Rating
All State Band- 1 student selected
All State Jazz Band- 1 student selected
All Region Jazz Band - 8 students selected
All District Band- 19 students selected
All County Band- 23 students selected
2012-2013
Southern Stars Music Festival- Gold Superior Rating Wind Ensemble, Gold Superior Rating Jazz Band
Central District MPA- Wind Ensemble Excellent Rating Grade IV
All State Band- 1 student selected
All State Jazz Band- 3 students selected
All District Band- 15 students selected
All Region Jazz Band- 5 students selected
All County Band - 16 students selected
Our Director at Ligon
Renee E. Todd- Band Director
Ms. Todd is currently in her 13th year as Director of Bands at Ligon GT Magnet Middle School and 32nd year of teaching music. Under the direction of Ms. Todd, the Ligon Band program has grown to over 200 band members, with three wind bands and two jazz ensembles achieving superior ratings at both local and national music festivals.
Ms. Todd and the Ligon Jazz Ensemble recently performed at the prestigious 73rd Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in December 2019 and the Ligon Wind Ensemble was invited to perform at the 29th Music For All National Concert Festival in March of 2020 which they performed Livestream from their school. Ms. Todd was recently honored in 2020 to receive the Band Director of the Year Award from the newly formed NC East Central Band Directors Association and in 2019 to receive the Award of Excellence from the Central District Band Directors Association. In both 2020 and 2019 the National Band Association awarded Ms Todd with a Citation of Excellence Award given to those individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of bands. In 2018 she received Jazz Educator of the Year from the NC Central Region Jazz Educators and in 2016 she was awarded Band Director of the Year for the NC Central District.
In 1993, Ms. Todd received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Maryland College Park, where she studied under John Wakefield, Emerson Head and L Richmond Sparks. While in college Ms. Todd was the drum major and trumpet section leader of the Mighty Sound of Maryland Marching Band and recipient of the Otto Sibenachen- Most Outstanding Musician in the top wind band at Maryland.
Before her appointment at Ligon, Ms.Todd was nominated Teacher Of The Year at both Dillard Drive Elementary and Wendell Middle Schools. She has served as site host for the NC Central District Band Music Performance Adjudication and Wake County Public School System All-County Band as well as served on the board for the Central District Band Association and is currently the Clinic Chair for the Central Region Jazz MPA and on the Central Region Jazz Board.. Ms. Todd is a member of the National Association for Music Education, American School Band Directors Association, National Band Association, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and Tau Beta Sigma.
As an active guest clinician and conductor, Ms. Todd has served or is scheduled as a clinician with NC Bandmasters Association District Middle School Bands including the Western, Northwest, Eastern, Southeastern, Central, and South Central All-District Bands. Ms. Todd has conducted several Junior Bands at UNCG Summer Music Camp, as well as the Eastern, Central and Western Region Middle School Jazz Bands, and the North Carolina Area Independent Schools Honor Band. She has served or is scheduled as a guest clinician for the Chatham, Cleveland, Davidson, Durham, Guilford, Johnston and Forsyth All-County Bands and will serve as the conductor for the Region IV Honor Band in Charleston, South Carolina this spring. Ms. Todd is an active freelance trumpeter as well as a private instructor in the Triangle area.