World Class

Festival of Symphonic Winds

Adjudication Panel

Mr. Mike Puckett

A Proud Alumni, Michael received both a Bachelor of Music in Music Education &Tuba Performance and a Master of Music (Instrumental Conducting) from Georgia State University.

Currently serving as principal tuba and associate conductor with the Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra, Mr. Puckett continues to perform with multiple jazz & symphonic groups in the Atlanta area. He has been a freelance tubaist in the Atlanta area for over 43 years, touring with Clyde Beatty/Cole Brothers Circus, Henry Mancini and Johnny Mathis.

Retired from the Clayton County School System in 2003, Michael taught at North Clayton Junior High School, Forest Park High School, and Mount Zion High School (Jonesboro). During his teaching career he received numerous awards; among them the National Winner of the 1981 ASBDA Stanbury Award, Teacher of the Year: North Clayton Junior High School, and election into the John Philip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor.

He currently is active as an adjudicator, clinician, conductor, consultant and soloist. Michael has been married for 43 years to the former Gina Sanderson. They have two adult children, Joel Puckett (composer) and Natalie Puckett Evans (United Way, Atlanta).

Mr. Gregory Drane

Gregory Drane, a native of Miami, Florida, earned bachelor’s degrees in music education and music performance (saxophone) from Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach. Florida. Holding a master’s degree in music education from Penn State, he has completed his coursework toward a Ph.D. in Music Education, also at Penn State.

Drane directs the Penn State Marching Blue Band and oversees the Athletic Bands program including the Fall Athletic Band (volleyball band), the Pride of the Lions (POTL) basketball pep bands, and the Power Players Hockey pep band. He is active as an arranger and marching band drill designer.

In addition to his duties with the Athletic Bands program, he assists with conducting concert bands and is an instructor for music courses offered to non-majors for general arts credit.

Mr. Jack Eaddy

Jack A. Eaddy, Jr., a native of Orangeburg, SC, is the Band/Music Education Instructor at the University of South Carolina where he assists with the Carolina Band, other athletic bands and conducts a University Band. Mr. Eaddy also teaches classes in the music education department. Prior to his appointment at USC, Mr. Eaddy served as Director of Bands of Oak Ridge High School in Orlando, FL, where he directed all aspects of the band department.

Mr. Eaddy is currently pursuing a Doctoral of Musical Arts in Wind Conducting from the University of North Texas. He holds a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from the University of Georgia, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida State University.

As a doctoral conducting associate, Mr. Eaddy conducted all concert groups. He also assisted with the Green Brigade Marching Band, and directed the UNT Grammy Nominated Funky Fresh Basketball Band. At Oak Ridge High School, Mr. Eaddy developed a flourishing program that was recognized throughout the state of Florida for maintaining the highest standards in spite of the challenges that many of its students experienced. Mr. Eaddy received the Florida Music Educators Association Tom Bishop Award that recognizes a director in the state of Florida who has turned a program around, making a positive difference in a short amount of time.

Mr. Ryan Borger

Ryan Borger has been directing the Cambridge High School Band Program since the school opened in the Fall of 2012. In addition to the marching band, Mr. Borger directs the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and two Jazz Ensembles. Every year, the band program has received superior ratings at every level of evaluation. The jazz program has been featured at the University of Central Florida Jazz Festival and have opened for Joe Gransden’s Big Band. The Marching Band has been recognized as a regional finalist in both Florida and Ohio as well as performing in the 2014 London New Years’ Day Parade.

Mr. Borger earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and began his teaching career at Kettering Fairmont High School. From there he led the band program at Miamisburg High School before moving to Georgia to take on new challenges. He was Director of Bands at Milton High School 2007 -2012 before accepting the opportunity to start the Band Programs at Cambridge High School.

Mr. Borger is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, Georgia Music Educators Association, Jazz Educators Network, and Central States Judges Association. In March of 2011, he was inducted into Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Directors Fraternity.