KEVIN M. GERALDI is Director of Instrumental Ensembles and Associate Professor of Conducting at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he conducts the UNCG Symphony Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Casella Sinfonietta, and teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting. With UNCG ensembles, he has performed in Dvořák Hall in Prague, Czech Republic, the Music Center at Strathmore in Bethesda, MD, at the national CBDNA conventions in Austin, TX, and Greensboro, NC, and at the American Bandmasters Association convention in Norfolk, VA. Previously, he taught at Lander University in Greenwood, SC and in the public schools of Westchester, IL, and was assistant conductor of the Central Illinois and Michigan Youth Symphonies.

Dr. Geraldi appears regularly as a guest conductor and he maintains an active schedule as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the country. Committed to promoting contemporary art music, he has commissioned and premiered numerous compositions and collaborated with composers including Philip Glass, Christopher Theofanidis, Joel Puckett, Steven Bryant, Carter Pann, and John Mackey. He has collaborated with artists including Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Lynn Harrell, Dmitry Sitkovetsky, and Lindsay Kesselman. He has published several articles in leading scholarly journals on topics that reflect his interest in the history and performance practice of chamber music for winds, brass, and strings.  His recordings with the Minerva Chamber Ensemble, Casella Sinfonietta, and UNCG Wind Ensemble are available on the Equilibrium and Centaur Records labels.

A devoted advocate for music education, Dr. Geraldi conducts dozens of clinics annually with high school orchestras and bands and honors ensembles throughout the country, presents frequently at music education conferences, and has published articles for music educators on concert programming and effective rehearsal strategies.

Dr. Geraldi holds the Doctor of Musical Arts and Master of Music degrees in conducting from the University of Michigan, where he studied with H. Robert Reynolds and Michael Haithcock, and the Bachelor of Music Education degree from Illinois Wesleyan University, where he studied with Steven Eggleston.  His other conducting teachers include Gustav Meier, Kenneth Kiesler, Daniel Hege, and Rossen Milanov.  He has also participated as a conducting fellow in workshops with Pierre Boulez, Paul Vermel, William Henry Curry, and Frederick Fennell.  Dr. Geraldi is a recipient of the Thelma A. Robinson Award, presented by the Conductors Guild and the National Federation of Music Clubs, and the Outstanding Teaching Award in the UNCG School of Music.  He is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, the Conductors Guild, the College Orchestra Directors Association, the College Band Directors National Association, the National Association for Music Education, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and is a National Arts Associate of Sigma Alpha Iota.

Brad McMillan, a native of Elizabethtown, NC, is the Ensembles Manager and Marketing Coordinator for the UNCG School of Music and serves as Associate Director and Office Manager for the UNCG Summer Music Camp. In these capacities, he coordinates marketing efforts including graphic design, social media, photography, web design, and publicity for the School of Music. In addition, he assists with special projects including hosting the 2013 National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association and the 2016 European Concert Tour of the UNCG Wind Ensemble through the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy. Brad co-administers the Carolina Band Festival and Conductors Conference and the Southeast Honors String Festival, two annual events which offer honors ensembles for high school students and career development workshops for teachers. Each October, he assists with the planning, promotion, and execution of the Music Open House, a “day in the life” event for prospective students and their parents. As Associate Director of the UNCG Summer Music Camp, Brad oversees the office operations, from student enrollment to staff recruitment and payroll to graphic design. He has studied at UNCG and Indiana University for degrees in Saxophone Performance. Brad has performed with the wind ensembles and orchestras of UNCG and IU, the Columbus (IN) Philharmonic, the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra, and local theatre companies across the Piedmont Triad.

Since 1982, Dr. John R. Locke has served on the UNCG School of Music faculty as Director of Bands, Director of Summer Music Camps, conductor of the Wind Ensemble, and conducting teacher. He holds the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from West Virginia University and the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Illinois. Prior to his arrival in North Carolina, Dr. Locke held teaching positions in music at West Virginia University, Southeast Missouri State University, and the University of Illinois. He has conducted band performances throughout the world including National Conventions of the MENC, CBDNA, ABA, the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., the Strathmore Center in Washington, DC, Lincoln Center in New York City, Dvořák Hall in Prague, Innsbruck, Bologna, and Rome, Italy. Twice, the UNCG Wind Ensemble earned critical acclaim from The Washington Post newspaper following concert performances in the nation’s capital. Under Locke’s leadership, the UNCG Wind Ensemble has released 21 commercially available compact discs including fireworks! which was a Grammy Entry List 2011 CD in two categories, “Classical Album of the Year” and “Best Orchestral Performance.” In addition, he has guest conducted the U.S. Air Force Band, U.S. Army Field Band, U.S. Navy Band, “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, the Dallas Wind Symphony, as well as numerous university bands including University of Illinois, Iowa, LSU, Alabama, Florida, West Virginia, Idaho, Georgia, Nebraska – Omaha, Long Beach State, Troy, Bowling Green, South Florida, Furman, Youngstown State, Boise State, Morehead State, Eastern New Mexico, Washburn, Kennesaw State and numerous all-state honor bands and intercollegiate bands. Dr. Locke has served as Editor of The North Carolina Music Educator and has published articles on band and wind ensemble literature in the Journal of Band Research and in Winds Quarterly. He is Past-President of the North Carolina Music Educators Association representing 2,200 members. Dr. Locke is a recipient of Phi Mu Alpha’s Orpheus Award and has received the National Band Association Citation of Excellence on three occasions. He is a National Arts Associate of Sigma Alpha Iota. In 1989, Dr. Locke was among the youngest conductors ever to be elected to membership in the prestigious American Bandmasters Association. In 1994, he received the Phi Beta Mu International Fraternity Outstanding Bandmaster of the Year Award, presented at the Mid-West International Band Clinic in Chicago. Dr. Locke is Past-President of the Southern Division of College Band Directors National Association and hosted the Southern Division Convention at UNCG in February 2000. In 2002, Dr. Locke was nominated for the O. Max Gardner Award, the highest award in the 16-campus UNC System. He also received the “Outstanding Music Teacher Award” in the UNCG School of Music in 2003. In 2005, Dr. Locke was elected President of the American Bandmasters Association and received the Albert Austin Harding Award from the American School Band Directors Association. In 2007, he received The Old North State Award from NC Governor Mike Easley “for dedication and service beyond excellence to the state of North Carolina.” In 2009, Locke became Editor of the Journal of Band Research, the premiere scholarly band publication in the world begun in 1962. In July 2012, Locke was honored by NC Governor Beverly Perdue with The Order of the Longleaf Pine Award, the highest civilian honor in North Carolina. In 2014, Locke was named the Marion Stedman Covington Stedman Distinguished Professor of Music at UNCG. At UNCG, Dr. Locke is the founder and director of the Summer Music Camp program, now the largest university music camp in America, enrolling over 2,000 students annually and served by a staff of 170 professionals. He is also the founder of the Carolina Band Festival and Conductors Conference. Since 1977, he has administered summer music camps for over 65,000 students. He is in constant demand as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for band festivals throughout the United States and Canada.

Originally from East Tennessee, Pamela L. Klena participated in numerous All-East Honor Bands and All-State Honor bands on euphonium. For her undergraduate studies, Pam attended Lee University in Cleveland, TN from 2004-2009. There she received her Bachelors degree in Music Education and studied conducting with Dr. David R. Holsinger. During her time at Lee University, Pam served as librarian, vice president, president, and student conductor of the Lee University Symphonic Band. During her five years in The Lee University Symphonic Band, a music ministry ensemble, Pam was honored to have performed, conducted, and led master classes in both Jordan and Brazil. She also served on the committee that founded a state-recognized beginning band program at a low-income elementary school in Cleveland, TN.

Upon graduation from Lee University, Pam was appointed Director of Bands at Trinity Christian School in Sharpsburg, GA. From 2009-2013, she taught all general music courses, beginning band, middle/high school bands, and conducted the school musical. In addition to taking students to participate in the Georgia All-State Band, she also served as coordinator and director for the Georgia Independent School Associate All-Select Middle School Honor Band and Chorus. From 2013-15, Pam completed her Masters of Music with an emphasis in Wind Conducting at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan where she studied with John E. Williamson. She also conducted the University Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Wind Ensemble, and assisted with the Central Michigan Marching Chips. In 2015, Pam was appointed Instrumental Director of the Fairview United Methodist Church Music Ministry and also the associate conductor of the Knoxville Christian Arts Ministry, a music ministry ensemble (composed of full choir, orchestra, drama, and dance) that performs concerts in prisons. Pam has been an active member in the Georgia Music Educators Association and the Georgia Independent School Association, an active participant in the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. She also was selected in 2015 to present her literature review, “Toward Resolving Gender Inequities in the Field of Wind Conducting” at the Michigan Music Conference. Pam is also a proud member of Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

Pam is currently in her third year of an Instrumental Conducting DMA program here at UNCG. She serves as a conductor the University Band, Casella Sinfonietta, Wind Ensemble, and Symphonic Band.

J. Benjamin Jones, a native of Gastonia, is currently earning the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Wind Conducting at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he studies with Dr. John R. Locke and Dr. Kevin M. Geraldi. Ben holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from The University of South Carolina (2008) and a Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting from UNCG (2018). Prior to his graduate studies at UNCG, Ben taught in the public-school system of North Carolina as the Director of Bands at Ashbrook High School in Gastonia. Under his direction, the Bands of Ashbrook received consistent superior ratings at the North Carolina Music Educators Association Music Performance Adjudication Festival and at marching and concert band competitions throughout the region. During the eight years of his tenure, the band program grew from 49 to 125 members and regularly placed students into collegiate music programs across the Southeast. 

While at UNCG Ben has served as the co-conductor of the University Band and Symphonic Band, and guest conducted with the Wind Ensemble and Casella Sinfonietta. He has also performed with the Trumpet Ensemble and has served as a graduate teaching assistant with the undergraduate conducting classes. Ben is an active guest clinician and adjudicator and has worked with bands throughout the Carolinas in both Marching Band and Concert Band settings. As an advocate for music education and building leaders in school music programs, Ben has presented leadership training workshops for a number of high school programs, and worked with young music educators throughout North Carolina. He is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, CBDNA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Carolina Perez is currently pursuing a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting at The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where her primary teachers are John Locke and Kevin Geraldi. In 2012, Ms. Perez completed the Bachelor of Music Education degree from UNCG, graduating summa cum laude. Ms. Perez was a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and a recipient of the “Thomas J. Stone Award for Outstanding Musicianship.” Prior to returning to school, Ms. Perez served as the Director of Bands at Eastern Randolph High School for four years and as Band Director at East Union Middle School and Forest Hills High School for two years. Bands under Ms. Perez’s direction have earned consistent Superior and Excellent ratings at concert and marching band festivals throughout North Carolina. While teaching, Ms. Perez worked to cultivate strong student leaders (including training young Drum Majors to conduct with proper technique) and led and participated in several commissioning projects to foster new concert band works for young students.