Jim Daughters, Director
Chris Hedges, Assistant
Jeff Carwile, Woodwinds
Amanda Freeman, Woodwinds
Matt Chandler, Woodwinds
Tim Kennedy, Brass
Mark McCafferty, Percussion
Audrey Kidder, Student Intern

Jim Daughters is a graduate of the University of Kentucky where he was a graduate teaching assistant with the university bands.  Jim earned a Masters Degree in Instrumental Conducting and Music Education from UK under the tutelage of Richard Clary, George Boulden, and David Sogin, and earned a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the same institution.  Mr. Daughters began his teaching career in 2003 at Henderson North Middle School in Henderson, Kentucky and returned to his hometown and Conner Middle School in Hebron, Kentucky in 2005.

The band program at Conner Middle School includes 300 students and seven full-time performing groups.  The Conner Middle School Bands have been recognized regionally and nationally. In 2010, the CMS Symphonic Band was awarded a National Wind Band Mark of Excellence Award with Kentucky Commendation and was invited to perform at the 2011 Festival of States in Washinton, D.C. The Symphonic Band performed at the 2008 Kentucky Music Educators Association State In-Service Conference and performed again as a demonstration group in 2010.  In 2007 and 2010, the Symphonic Band was invited to perform at the University of Kentucky Middle School Band Invitational in Lexington.  Each year since 2006, a Conner Middle School band has been named an Exemplary Performance Group at the District 6 Large Ensemble Festival Assessment.  The bands at Conner Middle have consistently placed a large number of students in the Northern Kentucky Select Band and have students performing with the Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble at CCM. For their latest project, the Symphonic Band commissioned a piece by world-renowned composer John Mackey which will be premiered in the spring of 2011 at Northern Kentucky University.

Mr. Daughters has been a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator for regional honor bands, concert and marching band festivals.  His professional affiliations include KMEA, MENC, NBA and an honorary induction in Kappa Kappa Psi. Jim is also a Kentucky Colonel and received the 2007‐2008 “Middle School Teacher of the Year” Award from District 6.  Jim serves as the music department head at Conner Middle School for the over 700 students involved in sixteen performing groups.

Tim Kennedy risides in Southgate, Kentucky with his wife, Vicki.  Tim holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and a Master of Music Degree from Morehead State University.  Mr. Kennedy has been named Outstanding Educator at South Laurel High School and Bellevue High School, twice awarded KMEA Distinguished Music Educator Award, Member of the KMEA State Board of Directors for eight years, and was president for KMEA District 8, 10, and 6 – each for 4 years.  Tim has taught band from 6th grade through university for 30 years and have been a private lesson instructor for 35 years.  He has performed with the Jay Bressart Band, Glenn Campbell, The Gentlemen, The Temtations, Dolly Parton, Diana Ross, Southern Jazz Orchestra, TiVo Jazz Combo, and the Fillmore Wind Band.  Tim is a member of NKBDA, KMEA/MENC, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, KJE, and JEN.

Jeffrey Carwile is originally from Winchester, Virginia. He received a Bachelor of Music in Clarinet Performance degree from West Virginia University (1987), a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance and Pedagogy degree from the Florida State University (1989), and an Artist Diploma in Clarinet from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (2011). In addition, Jeff is finished with all coursework for his Doctor of Musical Arts degree (from CCM) and is in the process of studying for his qualifying exam and writing proposals for his documents.

Jeff has more than twenty years of pedagogical experience throughout West Virginia, Florida, California, Ohio, and Kentucky.  In addition to teaching at Conner Middle School, Jeff currently teaches at Beechwood High School, the Erich Kunzel School for Creative and Performing Arts, Highlands High School, and Buddy Rogers Music.  During the summer, he teaches clarinet and music theory at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Northern Michigan. He was recently appointed Adjunct Professor of Clarinet at both Northern Kentucky University and  the College of Mt. Saint Joseph (both starting Fall 2011).  Students and parents are encouraged to visit his online studio athttp://carwile.musicteachershelper.com

Jeffrey is an active performer in the region, specializing in chamber music via a wind quintet named Dulcet5 and a reed trio named the Tritones. He is a long standing member of the New Sousa Band and just returned from a tour of seven cities in China. Upcoming performances can be found via his newly constructed (and still under construction) website, http://www.jeffreycarwile.com

Mark McCafferty holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Music Performance from Morehead State University, where he studied with Frank Oddis and Brian Mason.  Mark teaches a number of private lesson students and works with the percussion section at Scott High School, the percussion at Grant County, and Conner Middle School.  He judges marching competitions whenever the opportunity arises, as well as Solo and Ensemble Festivals.  Mark currently performs with the  Filmore Wind Band.  E-mail him  with any questions or requests for information you may have.