Blythewood High School Band Staff

	The Staff


	Glen Funderburk Director of Bands	Glen Funderburk is presently in his first year as Director of Bands at Blythewood High School. Mr. Funderburk was previously the Director of Bands at Blythewood Middle School from 2000 - 2006. A graduate of Greenwood High School, Mr. Funderburk received his Bachelor of Music Education from Lander University in 2000. While at Lander, Mr. Funderburk was a featured saxophone soloist with the Lander University Concert and Jazz Bands. During college, he also served as an intern with the Greater Columbia Children's Choir and as Director of Youth Music at Grace United Methodist in North Augusta, South Carolina. Mr. Funderburk has taught musicianship classes for the University of South Carolina Summer Band Camp in 2002 and 2005, was a guest conductor at the University of South Carolina Summer Band Camp in 2004, and the Lexington School District Two Middle School Band Summer Camp in 2005. While at Blythewood Middle School, Mr. Funderburk served as the Assistant Band Director at Ridge View High School from 2000 – 2005 and was the Assistant Band Director at Blythewood High School during the 2005 - 06 School Year His professional affiliations include the National Band Association, the Music Educator's National Conference, the South Carolina Music Educator's Association, and the South Carolina Band Director's Association. Mr. Funderburk resides in Columbia with his wife, Christy, and their daughter, Ella.

	Jon Burbank Associate Director of Bands The Burbank Family	Jonathan Burbank is Associate Director of Bands and Director of Percussion Studies for Blythewood High School, Blythewood, South Carolina. Before moving to South Carolina in 2008, Mr. Burbank served as Director of Percussion at Hidalgo High School (Hidalgo, Texas, 2005-2008) and at Fairmont State University (Fairmont, West Virginia, 2003-2005). From 1996 through 2002, Mr. Burbank served as a percussion instructor with The Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps, winning DCI World Championships in 1998 and 2000, and DCI High Percussion Awards in 2001 and 2002. Mr. Burbank holds a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a Masters of Music Education from West Virginia University through an assistantship in World Music with Dr. Paschal Yao Younge. While studying and teaching at WVU, Mr. Burbank wrote for, and directed the Japanese Taiko Ensemble and Indonesian Gamelan Ensemble. As a performer, Mr. Burbank has traveled extensively throughout the United States as well as toured internationally in Mexico, Canada, England, France, Italy, Japan, Australia and South Korea. Professional affiliations include Percussive Arts Society, the Music Educators National Conference, the South Carolina Music Educators Association and the Vic Firth Education Team.

	Chase Morin Assistant Director of Bands Director of Bands at Longleaf Middle School	Chase Morin is the Band Director at Longleaf Middle School in Columbia, South Carolina. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree and a Certificate in Clarinet Performance from the University of South Carolina. While at USC, he performed in the University of South Carolina Wind Ensemble and the USC Opera Orchestra in addition to several chamber ensembles. He is also an active member of the Palmetto Concert Band and performed with the ensemble in 2008 at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. Morin has worked as a clinician and adjudicator in many middle and high schools in South Carolina and has assisted with the marching programs at White Knoll High School and Boiling Springs High School. His professional affiliations include the National Band Association, the Music Educator's National Conference, the South Carolina Band Director's Association, the South Carolina Music Educator's Association and the International Clarinet Association.

	Alanna Tate Assistant Director of Bands Director of Bands at Blythewood Middle School	Alanna Tate recently graduated from the University of South Carolina earning a Master’s degree in Music Education and focusing her studies on wind conducting. While at the University, she served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, working with the Carolina Marching Band, Basketball Pep-band, and assisting with undergraduate conducting classes. She also had the opportunity to guest conduct the USC Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and University Band. Prior to moving to South Carolina, Tate attended Louisiana State University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. At LSU she played clarinet in the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and Tiger Marching Band. From 2002-2007, she performed with the Acadian Wind Symphony in Lafayette, Louisiana and has been a member of the Palmetto Concert Band in Columbia since 2007. Her performance venues include Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Midwest Clinic in Chicago. Tate has worked as a guest clinician at many high school and middle school camps in Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina. Her conducting teachers include: Frank Wickes, Linda Moorhouse, James Copenhaver, and Rebecca Phillips. Her clarinet teachers include: Steven Cohen, Ron DeKant, Justin O’Dell, and Melissa Prosperie. Tate is currently the band director at Blythewood Middle School in Blythewood, South Carolina, where she directs the middle school band and assists with the high school program.

	Michelle Ortiz Director of Bands	Michelle Ortiz is the Director of Bands at Muller Road Middle School and Assistant Director of the Blythewood High School Marching Band in Blythewood, SC. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music with an emphasis in Music Education, Performance Certificate, and a Master of Music degree. Prior to teaching at Muller Road Middle School, Mrs. Ortiz was the director of bands at E. L. Wright Middle School. Under her direction, the E. L. Wright School Bands consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at South Carolina Band Directors Association concert festivals. During her tenure, Mrs. Ortiz has showcased her band program at festivals including the Dixie Classic Festival in Atlanta, GA and the SCBDA Jazz Festival in Newberry, SC. The E. L. Wright Honor Band also performed at the 2010 South Carolina Music Educators Conference in Charleston, SC. As a horn player, Mrs. Ortiz teaches privately and works as a clinician. She is an active member of the Palmetto Concert Band and performs professionally with various brass ensembles. In addition to her performance responsibilities, Mrs. Ortiz has taught and organized summer music programs including the University of South Carolina Music Camp and the Tri-District Arts Consortium. Mrs. Ortiz holds professional affiliations with the SCBDA, SCMEA, MENC, ΣAI, and KΚΨ. Mrs. Ortiz and her husband, Jason, reside in Columbia, SC with their two children, Evelyn and Adam.