Richard Canter
Director
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Richard Canter joined the Walnut Hills High School Instrumental Music Department for the 2015-2016 school year. He received his BA in Music Education ('00) from Bowling Green State University & Masters in Music Education ('06) from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While at Bowling Green State University, Mr. Canter was active in the BGSU Falcon Marching Band, serving as a Drum Major his senior year. Mr. Canter's previous teaching positions have included Director of Bands and Music Department Chair for the Finneytown Local School District (2000-2012) and Director of Bands for the Mariemont City School District (2012-2015). Mr. Canter grew up in the Cincinnati area and attended Ross High School.
Mr. Canter is sought after as a clinician, adjudicator, educational consultant and guest conductor. In 2018, he was appointed the music director of the Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has presented clinics on band pedagogy throughout the United States, including two presentations at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, and music education conferences in 28 states. Mr. Canter has been an advocate for music education throughout his twenty five years as a music educator, serving four years as District 14 President of the Ohio Music Education Association. His passion for helping students reach their highest goals in music led to creating the Scale & Rhythm Chunks program, a teaching tool that is used by bands throughout the United States and internationally. The Chunks program is endorsed by Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser as "exactly what is wanted and needed... an idea whose time has come." In 2023, the 3rd edition of Scale & Rhythm Chunks was released, including a collaboration with Patrick Sheridan, co-author of the Emmy-Award-Winning Breathing Gym® series. Mr. Canter's honors and achievements include the Mark S. Kelly Senior Marcher Award at BGSU, Finneytown Local School District Educator of the Year, and the Hamilton County "Celebrate Excellence" Award. As a composer and arranger, he has written solo and chamber works, composed and arranged music for concert band, choir, orchestra, and marching band. His composition, Mirage for flugelhorn and piano was selected as a winner of the MENC Music Composition National Competition and was premiered in Washington D.C. In 2022, he was inducted into the Arts Wing of the Ross High School Hall of Fame for his contributions to music education. Bands under Mr. Canter's direction have been invited to perform at the OMEA Professional Music Education Conference, as well as Indianapolis, Chicago, New Orleans, Walt Disney World, Washington D.C., and Paris, France and have consistently received top honors at Ohio Music Education Association Marching and Concert Band Adjudicated Events. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Ohio Music Education Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, ASCAP, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Kappa Kappa Psi. In 2024, Mr. Canter joined the esteemed roster of KHS America Academic Alliance affiliated educators, as an Educational Artist, representing Jupiter Band Instruments and the entire family of KHS educational brands. In addition to directing the Marching Blue & Gold, Mr. Canter teaches Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Junior Band, and the Walnut Hills HS Wind Ensemble. 513-363-8510 |
Andrew Peoples
Associate Director
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Andrew Peoples joined the Walnut Hills High School Instrumental Department for the 2017-2018 school year. He is originally from Ocala, Florida. Mr. Peoples received his BM in Music Performance from Stetson University ('03), MM in Music Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music ('05) and Education Licensure from Xavier University ('16).
Upon graduation from CCM, Mr. Peoples began a ten year career as a professional trombonist and educator. While performing nationally and internationally at music festivals and with professional ensembles, he maintained a private teaching studio of up to forty-five weekly students. This teaching experience encouraged him to follow a path to band directing. Prior to his appointment at Walnut Hills High School, Mr. Peoples served two years as Instructor and Assistant Band Director with the award winning William Mason High School Band, while also serving as Adjunct Professor of Trombone at Xavier University. In 2016 he had the honor of assisting Marie Speziale with a presentation on rehearsal techniques for young brass choirs at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. In addition to his work with the Walnut Hills Marching Band, Mr. Peoples directs Beginning Band, Intermediate Band and Symphonic Band and is the Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble Director at Walnut Hills High School. Under Mr. Peoples' direction, The Walnut Hills Jazz Ensemble has been a featured performing ensemble at local jazz festivals and was invited to perform at the Ohio Music Education Professional Conference in 2020. 513-363-8519 |
Marie Conti
Percussion Caption Head
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Marie Conti is a percussionist and educator originally from Akron, Ohio. As a performer, she has played with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Sō Percussion, The CCM Philharmonia and Wind Symphony, and around various communities in the Akron and Cincinnati areas. In 2022, she was the winner of the Three Arts Scholarship Competition. In addition to classical and marching percussion, Marie also plays several world music instruments including steel drums, Ghanaian gyil, and Northern Indian tabla. Marie has taught several different high school percussion sections throughout Ohio. She has also taught at several middle school band camps where she led the section in rehearsals and group lessons. Marie is currently pursuing a Doctorate at The University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music. She leads the CCM Philharmonia and Wind Symphony percussion sections and teaches Percussion Methods to undergraduate students. She is also the percussion teacher for the CCM Preparatory Department. Marie received her undergraduate degrees from The University of Akron in Percussion Performance and Music Education and her Masters degree from The University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music.
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Joshua Duebber
Visual Caption Head
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Joshua Duebber is a talented saxophonist and engineer from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is currently studying Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati and will be graduating in 2025.
In addition to his engineering pursuits, Joshua has taught private saxophone lessons to over 10 students and he currently serves as the Woodwind Caption Head at Walnut Hills High School. Joshua is highly involved in the CCM saxophone studio under the direction of Dr. James Bunte. He has been a part of various ensembles, including the CCM Wind Symphony, CCM Wind Ensemble, CCM Saxophone Ensemble, UC Bearcat Jazz Band, and Tertio Quartet. As a jazz musician, Joshua has been the lead saxophonist for the OMEA District 14 Honor Jazz Band, UC Bearcat Jazz Band, and the Cincinnati Youth Jazz Orchestra. In 2020, Joshua was also recognized as an OMEA All-State musician. In high school, Joshua was involved in several notable performances. He performed a concerto with the Walnut Hills High School Wind Ensemble and was a featured soloist for the Walnut Hills Marching Band. His skills as a musician and leader have also been recognized through his experience as a Band Captain. Joshua has put his engineering skills to use by designing various devices and equipment for saxophonists that he sells to local saxophonists. Joshua is also skilled in woodwind instrument repair and cleaning. In his free time, Joshua enjoys cooking, building legos, and composing/arranging music. |
Andrew Strawn
Woodwind Caption Head and Drum Major Instructor
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Andrew Strawn is an established young composer whose talent and dedication has already gained attention and respect within the musical community. His music is known for its romantic expression and highly polished orchestration, with topics often drawn from visual art and literature. He currently studies music composition at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) with Douglas Knehans, Michael Fiday, and Ellen Harrison; and saxophone performance with James Bunte and Carly Hood.
Andrew has received commissions from the CCM Concert Orchestra, CCM Wind Ensemble, CCM Saxophone Ensemble, UC Symphony Orchestra, UC Bearcat Marching Band, Ryle High School Wind Symphony, and many chamber ensembles and soloists. He was recognized as a finalist in the MakeMusic International Young Composers Contest, the National Young Composers Challenge, and the Essentially Ellington Student Composition/Arranging Contest. Additionally, he received a national award of excellence in the 2019 Kentucky PTA Reflections Contest and first prize in the 2023 Cincinnati SongSLAM for his work “Trapped in Mexico.” As a conductor, Andrew organized the Ryle Student Wind Ensemble which premiered and recorded three new works in 2021. He has also conducted the UC Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Youth Saxophone Ensemble, the Florence Community Band, and the Ryle High School Wind Symphony for his own works. Outside of music, Andrew is a Kentucky Governor’s Scholar and greatly enjoys both academic and fictional literature. |
Josiah Jobe
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Josiah Jobe is a performer and educator from Cincinnati, Ohio. He is currently studying music education with an instrumental focus in percussion at The University of Cincinnati- College Conservatory of Music. He has spent time performing with the CCM Wind Symphony, Concert Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. This is Josiah’s first season with the Walnut Hills Marching Blue & Gold. Additionally, he works at Sycamore High School, where he teaches Drumline. In 2022, Josiah served as the percussion director at Dayton Christian High School.
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Madeline Adams
Percussion Instructor
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Madeline Adams is a percussionist and music educator from Highland Heights, Kentucky. During the 2024 season, she will be a 3rd-year student at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music studying Music Education and Percussion Performance. Madeline, also known as Maddie, has played with the CCM Percussion Ensemble, Steel Band, Philharmonia, Concert Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble. She has finished her term as the CCM OCMEA Secretary and will be OCMEA President for the 2024-2025 school year. In 2023, Maddie was a Camp Counselor and Lifeguard at the renowned Interlochen Arts Camp. She has also had experience working with the Cincinnati Junior Youth Wind Ensemble and Southwest Region Orchestra.
Maddie attended Campbell County High School, where she played with the Campbell County Band of Pride for 5 years. During this time, the Campbell County Winter Percussion Ensemble competed in WGI Percussion World Championships twice, earning 1st and 3rd place medals in their class. She also played in the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra during her senior year. Maddie is very excited to spend her first season with the Marching Blue and Gold! |
Heather Graham
Color Guard Choreographer/Instructor
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Heather Graham joined the staff of the Marching Blue & Gold in 2021. Heather has been involved in the marching arts since age three, beginning with successful careers in baton twirling and rhythmic gymnastics and joining color guard at age 12. While performing and instructing in the color guard field, she obtained her Bachelors Degree in Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, with a minor in Biology.
Heather performed in DCI in 2010 with the Phantom Regiment, and in 2011 and 2012 with Carolina Crown. She marched with New Berlin Eisenhower, Velocity WG, and the Pride of Cincinnati WG. She serves as a Weapons Instructor and Choreographer for Miamisburg HS and is also the Director of Color Guard at University of Cincinnati. She has instructed or provided choreography for several programs including Carolina Crown, Boston Crusaders, Shadow Drum & Bugle Corps, Eisenhower HS, Whitnall HS, Franklin HS, West DePere HS, Sycamore HS, Northmont HS, Westerville HS, and Beechwood HS. Heather travels around the country helping instruct at clinics that offer fundraisers for many organizations. |
Conard LaPrete
Color Guard Instructor
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Conard LaPrete is currently a 4th year student at the University of Cincinnati, studying fashion design, business, and music. He went to Mason High School and was in their concert and marching band as a trombone/baritone player, along with being in their winter-guard program for 2 years. He then went on to join the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corp as a euphonium during the 2021-2022 seasons, and color-guard member in 2023. He is now a member of the Color Guard at the University of Cincinnati. Conard is very excited to join the Marching Blue & Gold for the upcoming season!!!
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