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Matthew Thomas
Matthew Thomas
Matthew Thomas is the current assistant director of the Westford Academy Ghosts Marching Band. He has been an active member of the marching arts community since 2009, participating and teaching in numerous marching bands, indoor percussion ensembles, and drum corps, primarily playing the Tuba. He has taught marching band as the visual caption head in Randolph, MA, a field instructor in North Plainfield, NJ, and spent many years teaching at his award-winning alma mater Morris Knolls High School.
Mr. Thomas completed his Bachelor's degree in Music Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst in 2017. There, he focused his applied music study in clarinet under Michael Sussman and Romie DeGuise Langlois. Mr. Thomas is currently pursuing his Master's degree in Music Education from Kent State University, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2022 with a concentration on beginning band curriculum.
As a teacher, Mr. Thomas currently teaches elementary general music in Arlington, MA, and has previously taught elementary music, chorus, and band in Randolph, MA. In the summertime, he teaches sixth-grade band and 4th-12th grade clarinet lessons at the Mt. Tabor Summer Music Camp in Parsippany, NJ, where he has been for the past nine years.
Rebecca Shepherd
Rebecca Shepherd
Rebecca Shepherd is the current coach of the Westford Academy Color Guard. She began her guard journey in 8th grade, when she joined our very own WAMB and quickly discovered her true calling as a guard member. After switching from flute to guard on day one of band camp 2009, she spent five years with the WACG, graduating class of 2014.
Rebecca’s college years gave her the privilege of performing in the University of Connecticut Marching Band (UCMB). During her time with the UCMB, she performed at iconic venues such as Fenway Park, Yankee Stadium, MetLife Stadium, the St. Petersburg Bowl Game, and many more. Upon completing her Bachelor's degree in Accounting in 2018, she embarked on a successful career as a staff accountant at a prominent software company's headquarters. Today, she holds the position of senior accountant at the same company, where she has built a strong foundation and expertise in her field.
After graduating from UConn, Rebecca began coaching the Westford Academy Color Guard in 2018. She was thrilled to return to her alma mater and share her passion for color guard with the next generation. In 2024, Rebecca joined the New England Pride Colorguard, rekindling her love for performing and learning new skills.
As a color guard enthusiast, Rebecca is always looking for ways to improve and grow as a member of the community. With over 15 years of experience in color guard, she is excited to share her knowledge and passion with others through coaching and performance.
Sarah Hovey
Sarah Hovey is the current woodwind caption head for the Westford Ghosts. Since discovering a love for the marching arts in 2010, she has participated and taught in various ensembles while marching clarinet and saxophone. Mrs. Hovey graduated with a degree in Music Education from UMass Amherst in 2018, where she played clarinet in award winning ensembles as well as being a drum major for the UMass Marching Band. Since then, she has taught general elementary music, choir, and beginning instrumental students and was the assistant band director for the San Leandro Marching Band in San Leandro, CA.
Mrs. Hovey currently teaches general music and choir in Dedham, MA.
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