Meet the…
Wando Band
Directors
and Staff
Bobby Lambert, Director
Bobby is the Director of Bands at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Originally from Cherokee, North Carolina, Mr. Lambert attended college in North Carolina and the University of Massachusetts receiving degrees in music education and saxophone performance.
From 2001 until 2013, Mr. Lambert was the assistant band director to Greg Bimm at Marian Catholic High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois where he enjoyed great success in both the marching and concert arena. In 2005, he founded the school-wide leadership program, designing the curriculum and coordinating its implementation for over 1200 students with over 50 faculty members. Since 2013, Bobby has led the popular Drum Major Institute for Bands of America drawing over 600 students each year from across the country.
In 2014, Bobby joined the faculty of Wando High School in Mt Pleasant SC. Along with colleagues Lanie Radecke and Jeff Handel, The Bands Of Wando have continued to excel regionally and nationally in marching, concert, and small ensemble mediums. The marching band, led by an incredible staff, has garnered additional state championships, two BOA Regional Championships, and three, top-eight BOA Grand National appearances. Mr. Lambert’s ensembles have accepted invitations to perform at the USC Band Clinic (2017), the SCMEA State Convention (2018), Charleston Music Festival (2019), and the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (2019). Wando continues to have the highest number of students in Region and All-State bands than any other school in the state and has multiple students at various summer camps including Tanglewood and national ensembles including BOA Honor Band/Orchestra of America.
In addition to serving as a consultant with several programs and districts across the country including Nebraska, Florida, and California, Bobby has also served as guest conductor for honor bands in several states including Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Illinois. A partner with Dynamic Marching LLC., Bobby designs content for their online classes as well as co-hosts the podcast, That Band Life.
Mr. Lambert’s professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, ASBDA, MENC, and Phi Mu Alpha. He has been honored with an induction to the Marian Catholic Fine Arts Hall of Fame in 2013 and voted a Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator in 2009 as well as the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2023. Mr. Lambert lives in South Carolina with his wife Alysia, who is a choral director, and their daughters, Maria and Olivia.
Lanie Radecke, Associate Director
Lanie Radecke is in her sixteenth year of teaching and twelfth as Associate Director of Bands at Wando High School. A native of Elberton, GA, she is a 2001 graduate of the University of Georgia, where she received her Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education. In 2006, she earned a Master’s of Music in Music Education from the University of South Carolina.
During Mrs. Radecke’s tenure, the Wando High School Band program has performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (2007), the University of South Carolina Band Clinic, received the Sudler Flag of Honor presented by the Sousa Foundation (2007), placed over fifty students in the South Carolina All State band each year, named Grand National Finalist each year of their participation and has been South Carolina 5A Marching Band Champions. Under her direction, Wando’s Concert Band 1 was selected to perform at the 2016 SCMEA Convention and the State Concert Festival.
Prior to coming to Wando, Mrs. Radecke served as the Associate Director of Bands at Central Gwinnett High School (GA) and as Director of Bands at Carolina Forest Middle School where the program became an Outstanding Performance Award (OPA) recipient for the first time.
While under her direction, students have consistently participated in individual and ensemble events at the regional, state, and national level achieving top honors in each. She is recipient of the National Band Association’s Certificate of Merit for Marching Excellence and the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence. Mrs. Radecke has been a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony (GA), Northwinds Symphonic Band (GA), Charleston Wind Ensemble, Palmetto Concert Band, and Charleston Wind Ensemble.
She remains active as a private teacher and serves as adjudicator and clinician. Her professional affiliations include, South Carolina Music Educators Association, NAfME, Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi, International Clarinet Association and the National Band Association.
Mrs. Radecke resides with her husband and their amazing daughter!
Andrew Blair, Associate Director
Dr. Blair is a conductor, percussionist, and composer originally from Charlotte, NC. He graduated with Honors as a NC Teaching Fellow, Sudler Trophy winner, and Instrumental Performer of the Year from Western Carolina University with a BSEd in Music Education. Dr. Blair taught for 8 years on the middle school, high school, and collegiate levels before beginning his graduate work at the University of Georgia.
At UGA, he was awarded the first-ever awarded dual Master of Music degree in conducting and percussion, and graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts in Percussion and Composition in the Spring of 2023. While at UGA, Dr. Blair served as a graduate teaching assistant in the conducting, percussion, and band areas, where he taught and assisted across all three programs. He also worked as one of the arrangers and instructors of the University of Georgia Redcoat Band, as well as conducted, wrote for, and performed in all the bands and orchestras of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music.
Dr. Blair is also a published composer and arranger, with his works being performed by outstanding ensembles and performers across the United States each year, including recent performances at the Midwest Clinic, CBDNA Regional conferences, Bands of America Regional Championships, and at halftime of two College Football National Championships.
As a professional percussionist, Andrew is equally at home in the concert, jazz, chamber, theatre, worship, and electronic realms. During his tenure at UGA, Andrew was fortunate to get to play and record on premiere performances of John Mackey’s Places We Can No Longer Go, and recorded as the drumset soloist on Kevin Day’s Pulitzer-nominated Concerto for Wind Ensemble. Dr. Blair has held chairs as a timpanist and percussionist of the Augusta Symphony (GA), Gwinnett Ballet (GA), Union Symphony (NC), and Carolinas Wind Orchestra (SC), and now performs as a member of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
Andrew lives in Ladson, SC with his wife Dr. Molly Blair (Ph.D- Music Education), their son Ben (3 y.o.), and their two dogs Chaco and Fritz.
Tim Cole, Visual Caption Head
A native of the San Francisco Bay Area, Tim relocated to Mount Pleasant to join the visual team as marching coordinator at Wando in 2005. He is an alumnus of the Blue Devils drum & bugle corps where he performed from 2001 to 2003. Since 2000, Tim has taught numerous camps and clinics all over the country and has also been of visual adjudicator for both marching band contests and Drum Corps International. His travels as a performer, clinician and judge have brought him through 40 states as well as Canada and Japan. Tim is a lifelong fan of the San Francisco Giants.
Brian Winn, Color Guard Director
Brian Winn, a native of Rock Hill, SC, is a choreographer, teacher, dancer, and scholar. He began his performing experience in the marching arts playing trumpet and performing in his high school winter guard. He then went on to march in the color guard at Capital Regiment in 2004 and Phantom Regiment in 2006 and 2007, where he aged out. In the winter seasons, Brian performed with Étude Winter Guard and Phantom Regiment Winter Guard. Brian has served as the director of Étude Winter Guard since 2013. He has also had the honor of teaching and designing for various programs including WGI Finalists Marvin Ridge High School, East Lincoln High School, Tampa Independent, and BOA Grand National Finalist Dobyns Bennett High School. Brian also served as an at-large member on the Executive Board for the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association. During his summers, Brian taught on the color guard staff at the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps and the Crossmen, where he has served in various roles such as movement instructor, choreographer, and caption head. He is now on staff at Carolina Crown and River City Rhythm where he is a choreographer and movement specialist. Through the marching arts, Brian discovered a passion for dance and thus went on to receive his degree in Dance Education from Winthrop University. He has performed professionally with Plexus Dance and Caroline Calouche & Company, where he trained, performed, and taught aerial dance as well as contemporary dance. Additionally, he was cast in Martha Graham’s Panorama where he had the honor of working with former Graham dancer, Kim Jones. As a public school dance educator, Brian taught middle and high school in both North and South Carolina. He was on the dance faculty at Andrew Jackson High School and Northwest School of the Arts in Charlotte, NC where his teaching was focused in contemporary dance technique, improvisation, and dance composition. Brian also holds an MFA in Dance Choreography from the University of North Carolina Greensboro where he was a Graduate Teaching Assistant and Graduate Teaching Fellow. As a teacher, he aims to foster an inclusive community where individuals feel empowered through diverse approaches and perspectives on dance. Brian is thrilled to join the teaching faculty at Wando High School as the dance teacher and director of color guards. He looks forward to becoming a part of the communities of Mount Pleasant and Charleston County with his partner Zane and dog Lexi.
Michelle Romano, Administrative Assistant
Michelle Romano bio coming soon!
Dr. Justin Clarkson, Brass Caption Head
Justin Clarkson is a native of Columbia, South Carolina and a graduate of Irmo High School. Upon graduating, he attended Louisiana State University and pursued a Bachelor of Music degree. In 2008, after finishing his BM, Dr. Clarkson moved to New York City to work towards a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music where he studied with members of the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera. Dr. Clarkson finished his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in 2013 at Stony Brook Universityunder the guidance of Alan Baer, Principal Tubist of the New York Philharmonic, and Mike Powell, trombonist of the American Brass Quintet.
Dr. Clarkson currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Tuba/Euphonium and Brass Methods at Charleston Southern University and Brass Coordinator for the award winning Bands of Wando. Most recently, he was asked to join the faculty at College of Charleston as Adjunct Professor of Tuba. In addition to his teaching responsibilities he is also Principal Tubist for the North Charleston Pops! and a Substitute Tubist for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic, Albany Symphony, and Hilton Head Symphony. Dr. Clarkson is also proud to have been selected to join the faculty at Louisiana State University’s Stately Oaks Chamber Winds and Percussion Camp in the summer of 2016. When time permits he also serves as a member of the board of directors for the newly formed Charleston Wind Symphony.
Dr. Clarkson can be heard on two of POA’s recordings under the Sony label (Travieso Carmesi and Mi Alma Mexicana). Dr. Clarkson is also a soloist in Revueltas’ Sensemaya on the first album, Mi Alma Mexicana. He is also a founding member of two equally successful brass quintets, M5 and Vector Brass (formerly Trinity Brass Quintet). M5 was in residence at the Bravo Vail Valley Music Festival in 2010 and can be seen performing on WQXR’s the McGraw Hill Young Artist Showcase. The other, Vector Brass, was the the fellowship quintet for the Aspen Summer Music Festival in 2008.Dr. Clarkson was also a member of the World Champion Cavalier Drum and Bugle Corp. in 2006 (Machine). He currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina with his wife, and soprano, Katherine Matthews Clarkson. He is a Miraphone Artist and his teachers include Alan Baer, Dr. Joe Skillen, Mike Powell, Seth Orgel, and Warren Deck.
Zane Franco, Color Guard Choreographer & Technician
*Pic and Bio coming soon!
Will Frankenberger, Visual Tech
Will Frankenberger has been involved in the marching arts for over 10 years as a performer, choreographer, instructor, and judge.
As a Chicagoland native, Will has taught several groups around the area in cluding lake Park High School, LaPorte High School, Lake Central High School, Lincoln-Way North High School and Waubonsie Valley High School. He currently serves on the choreographer for several scholasic and independent Winter Guard International units, including several class finalists.
Will has performed with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps (2006, 2007), Independence Winter Guard (2005, 2007) and Orion World Winter Guard (2008). He also proudly serves the Midwest Color Guard Circuit as the Contest Director and will serve as an equipment judge in the 2016 season.
Professionaly, Will has degrees in Musical Theater and Adult and Community Education and works as the Director of Risk Prevention for Delta Zeta Sorority.
John Houston, Visual Tech
*Pic & Bio coming soon!
Chris Alaniz, Percussion Staff
Chris Alaniz is a native of Central Illinois, working with numerous groups in the Midwest area. Before leaving Illinois Chris was the Percussion Caption Head at Normal West Community High School in Normal, Illinois under the direction of Lisa Preston. As a well-rounded Percussionist and Adjudicator, Chris has taught a variety of ensembles from the Midwest to the East Coast involved in WGI, CIPA, OIPA, CWEA, MEPA, IMEA, BOA, DCA, and DCI. As Chris worked his way down to South Carolina he became the assistant to Kurry Seymour the Director of Percussion at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC. He was on staff with 2010 WGI gold medal winning Palmetto Percussion from Central South Carolina (2010-2015). He also worked with Carolina Gold Senior Drum and Bugle Corp (2002,2003), High Percussion Caption Award (2002). Chris was also on staff with Coastal Surge Drum and Bugle Corp (2014). He has had the opportunity to work with many bands in the Lexington, Dorchester, Berkeley and Charleston County school districts. Chris joined The Bands of Wando in 2019. Chris Alaniz is a Vic Firth Educational Artist, and endorses Zildjian Cymbals.
Omar Carmenates, Percussion Staff
Omar Carmenates is currently the Professor of Percussion at Furman University in Greenville, SC where he oversees all aspects of the percussion program including classical, jazz, and world percussion studies. He holds a Doctor of Music degree from Florida State University, a Master of Music Degree in Percussion Performance from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Central Florida. Under his direction, the Furman University Percussion Ensemble has become known for its performances and recordings of ecoacoustic music, helping promote Furman’s standing as one of the nations academic leaders in sustainability.
In addition to his duties at Furman, Omar is an avid participant in the pageantry arts whose work can be seen and heard around the globe. While currently serving as an adjudicator for WGI Sport of the Arts, he has also served as a composer/arranger for the Cadets, the Boston Crusaders, the Spirit of Atlanta, and the Beatrix (Hilversum, Holland) Drum & Bugle Corps and has also acted in various teaching capacities at the Phantom Regiment, the Spirit of Atlanta, and the Boston Crusaders. Additionally, he has been the percussion arranger for high school programs across the United States including the Bands of America Grand National Champion Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble.
Omar is a proud endorser/artist for Grover Pro Percussion, Vic Firth, Inc. Remo Drumheads, Sabian Cymbals, and Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments.
Vincent Talbert, Percussion Staff
Vincent Talbert, a native of Ninety-Six, SC, is a percussionist and highly involved music educator who values relationships, community, and excellence through music. Vincent holds a BM in Music Education from the University of South Carolina as well as a M.Ed from Western Governors University.
He is currently in his tenth year as the steel band director at River Oaks Middle School in North Charleston, SC. As the director of the ROMS Bobcat Steel Band, he teaches 6 steel bands daily with over 175 students participating throughout the year. He currently serves on the education committee for the National Society of Steel Band Educators.The Bobcat Steel Band, under his direction, have been featured performers at the North Charleston Arts Festival (2014-16), Coastal Carolina Fair (2019), and Disney Performing Arts Showcase (2015-16).
The Bobcat Steel Band have also been consistent participants at the Steel Festival at the SC Day of Percussion and NSSBE SC Festival of Steel earning multiple Superior Ratings in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Jay Bocook, Arranger
A native of Clearwater, Fla., Jay Bocook is recognized internationally as a composer, arranger, conductor and educator. Bocook’s work has been performed at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta and the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2003, his music transcriptions of noted film composer John Williams were premiered by the U.S. Marine Band in a concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. An encore performance with Williams and the “President’s Own” took place in 2008. In addition, Bocook was a contributing arranger to a musical called “CyberJam” that opened to rave reviews in 2003 at London’s Queens Theater. His arrangements were also featured in “Mix,” which opened in 2008 in Japan. In 1982, Bocook was appointed director of bands at Furman. He left the school in 1989 to pursue other opportunities, but returned in 2000 as director of athletic bands. He has served as assistant conductor of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra and remains a principal composer and arranger for Hal Leonard Corporation, where he has published over 600 compositions and arrangements. He is the music arranger for the 10-time World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2009, Bocook was inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame. He is also a member of the American Bandmasters Association.
Andy Ebert, Drill Designer
Andrew Ebert is a full-time designer and clinician for the marching arts-based out of Greenville, SC where he lives with his wife and two children. He has a degree in secondary education from Western Michigan University.Andrew began his marching career with the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps in 2000 and aged out of the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004. Following his age-out season, he joined the staff of the Carolina Crown. Since 2005, Andrew has worked with Carolina Crown, the Madison Scouts, and the Troopers in a variety of roles. 2019 will be Andrew’s third year with the Crossmen, serving in the role of Visual Designer. Outside of drum corps, Andrew has been a part of programs all around the country including state champions, BOA Regional champions, BOA Grand Nationals class medalists and champions, and BOA Grand National Finalists. Andrew is also involved within WGI Percussion, most notably as a Co-Founder and designer for Redline Percussion starting in 2008 and more recently as a member of the design team with Infinity Percussion.
Adam Vernon-Young, Music Staff
Adam Vernon-Young serves as an Director of Bands at Laing Middle School of Science and Technology, one of the primary feeder schools for Wando High School. He received his Master of Arts in Teaching degree from the University of South Carolina, where he also previously received his Bachelors in Music Theory, as well as an Undergraduate Performance Certificate in Bass Trombone. This is Mr. Vernon-Young’s third year on staff with the Bands of Wando. He works primarily with the brass section of the marching band, as well as assists with the jazz programs. During his time at Carolina, Adam accumulated numerous performance and teaching credits, including playing with the USC Wind Ensemble, conducting one of the University Bands, and serving as a Graduate Assistant for two seasons with the University’s Marching Band. Other performance credits include being a finalist at the American Trombone Workshop National Solo Competition, and two years marching with the World Class Drum and Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown. Mr. Vernon-Young is a regular instructor, consultant, and guest conductor with various groups across the Southeast, working with high school marching and concert programs, as well as University ensembles. Additionally, he serves on the brass staff with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from Lacrosse, WI. He is also an avid arranger and composer, and writes for numerous competitive high school groups, as well as for the University of South Carolina’s own “Mighty Sound of the Southeast.” His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, and both alumni and honorary membership in the Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
Hannah Reese – Weapons Tech for Color Guard
*(Pic & Bio coming soon)