 Thomas L. Chiera
Director of Bands
Thomas Chiera is a graduate of Bowling Green State University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education. Mr. Chiera currently is celebrating his 5th year of teaching. This is his first year as Director of Bands at Norton City Schools where he conducts the High School Symphony Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, middle school bands, and the 5th grade beginning band. Mr. Chiera also instructs the Music Theory and Appreciation course at the High School as well as Music Exploratory class at the Middle School. Prior to his tenure at Norton City Schools, Mr. Chiera was Assistant Director of Bands at Tipp City Exempted Village Schools for four years. In addition to his contribution to the Norton Music Department, Mr. Chiera is a member of many professional musical organizations, including Ohio Music Educators Association [OMEA], Music Educators National Conference [MENC], Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Music Fraternity and Bands of America [BOA]. He has performed with Miami Valley British Brass Band, Summit Choral Society Orchestra, Sinclair Community Band, and various small and large ensembles while attending BGSU. [Email
Mr. Chiera]
 Charles
A. Kaufman
Assistant Director of Bands
Charles Kaufman is a graduate of the University of Akron and Nova Southeastern University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. Mr. Kaufman currently is celebrating his 13th year of teaching. This is his 12th year as Assistant Band Director at Norton City Schools where he conducts the High School Symphony Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, middle school bands, and the 5th grade beginning band. Mr. Kaufman also instructs the general music courses offered at Norton Middle School. Prior to Norton City Schools Mr. Kaufman taught band, choir, and general music for the Fairport Harbor Local School District for one year. Mr. Kaufman previously served as Associate Director to the Norton Marching Band from 1988-1994 and as music director at First Presbyterian Church of Barberton for four years. Mr. Kaufman is an active member of the Ohio Music Educators Association [OMEA] and Music Educators National Conference [MENC]. [Email
Mr. Kaufman]
 Dennis
M. Oswald
Associate Director of Marching Band
Dennis Oswald is currently serving his seventh year as Associate Director of the Norton Marching Band. Mr. Oswald contributes a wide variety of services to the Norton Band program. He not only serves as a visual/marching and maneuvering tech, but also he handles much of the "behind-the-scenes" tasks before all activities. Mr. Oswald earned his Bachelor of Science in Education [Integrated Mathematics] degree from Kent State University in May 2004. Aside from his duties as Associate Director to the Norton Marching Band, Mr. Oswald is currently celebrating his 4th year as a mathematics educator. The 2007-08 school year marks Mr. Oswald's first year as a teacher at Norton High School, following three years of employment with Wadsworth City Schools. Mr. Oswald is an active member of the the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics [NCTM], the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics [OCTM], and the Kent State University Alumni Association. [Email
Mr. Oswald]
 Lisa
M. Stemple
Associate Director of Marching Band
Lisa Stemple is currently serving her 14th year as an Associate Director. A 1994 graduate of Norton High School, Ms. Stemple primarily works with the clarinet section throughout the season. In addition to working with the clarinet section, she completes much clerical work, such as maintaining drill sheets, organizing spreadsheets for shoe, t-shirt, and glove orders. Ms. Stemple earned her Bachelor of Science in Accounting degree from the University of Akron. Not only has she contributed time to the Norton Music Department, but Ms. Stemple also serves as a member of the Norton Board of Education. Aside from her duties at Norton, Ms. Stemple is employed by Moore, Stephens, Apple CPA and Business Advisors as a Senior Tax Associate.
Megan Arnica
Brass Caption Head
Megan Arnica is currently serving her
first year as brass caption head. Ms. Arnica is a 2005 graduate of Brunswick High School. She is currently attending Kent State University where she is majoring in Music Education, with an emphasis in trumpet. In addition to working with music students at Norton, Ms. Arnica also works with the Crestwood High School Scarlet Guard. During the 2006 indoor performance season, she was an active member of Matrix Indoor Drumline.
Ryan Corbett
Woodwind Caption Head
Ryan Corbett is currently serving his
first year as woodwind caption head. Mr. Corbett's bio is currently unavailable.
Rob Ferguson
Percussion Caption Head
Rob Ferguson is currently serving his second year as Percussion Caption-Head. Mr. Ferguson is the Executive Director and Program Coordinator of Matrix Indoor Drumline. He serves on the percussion faculty and is the assistant marching band director at Youngstown State University. In addition to his teaching, he is an active composer, arranger and designer in both the indoor and outdoor marching activities. Mr. Ferguson has been a guest soloist and clinician on marimba at many universities and high schools in Ohio, Indiana, Texas and Pennsylvania. Mr. Ferguson holds both his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Percussion Performance from Kent State University. He is currently an endorser for Innovative Percussion, a design/sales representative for M&I Dancewear, and is serving his third term as a percussion representative to Mid East Performance Association Board of Directors. Mr. Ferguson has been involved with the Norton Band in past years as a visual design consultant.
Andy Wozniak
Percussion Instructor
Andy Wozniak is currently serving his second year as Percussion Instructor with the Norton Marching Band. A 2005 Nordonia High School graduate, Mr. Wozniak comes to Norton with much experience as a percussionist. In 2003, he was a member of the Cleveland Youth Wind Symphony. Mr. Wozniak has been a member of the Matrix Indoor Marching Percussion Ensemble since 2004 and has been a member of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Toldeo, Ohio, since 2005. From 2005-06, he attended Bowling Green State University; however, Mr. Wozniak began attending Youngstown State University in 2006.
Ray Boggs
Colorguard Caption Head
Ray Boggs is currently serving his ninth year as the Colorguard Caption-Head and Designer for the Norton High School Marching Band. Mr. Boggs comes to Norton with 25 years experience in the colorguard arena. He has taught many area high school programs including Cloverleaf, Wadsworth and Brunswick High Schools. Mr. Boggs is the executive director of Collage Winter Guard program that floors both Independent A and Independent Open guards. This will be Collage's 17th year in competition. During this time under Mr. Bogg's leadership, Collage has been state champions three times, Midwest Regional Champions, and a semi-finalist and finalist at the WGI World Championships. He is also a winterguard designer for Vermillion High School. Mr. Boggs currently holds his Masters in Education and teaches fifth grade in the Barberton City School District.
Sarah Ratka
Colorguard Instructor
Sarah Ratka is currently serving her second year as Colorguard Instructor with the Norton Marching Band. A 2001 Brunswick High School graduate, Ms. Ratka comes to Norton with much experience in the performing arts. From 2001-2006, she was a member of Collage Winterguard from Akron, Ohio. This year marks Ms. Ratka's seond year as an instructor on the Collage staff. From 2001-03, she attended the Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C). In 2003, Ms. Ratka began studying theatre at Kent State University, and she graduated with a degree in Theatre Arts in December 2006.
Stacy Childers
"Art In Motion" Co-Liason
Stacy Childers is currently serving her sixteenth year as Adviser and Booster Liason to Norton's Art In Motion Marching Band Invitational. She joined the Norton Band staff as an instructor in 1989, after serving as colorguard instructor at Chippewa High School for several years prior. Ms. Childers assisted the marching band visually, through marching and maneuvering, until retiring her duties as Associate Director to the marching band in 2006. She (along with Mr. Oswald) continues to serve as the contest adviser and liaison for the annual “Art In Motion” Marching Band Invitational hosted by Norton. Ms. Childers has spent the last 25 years as a professional bowler with the Women’s Professional Bowling Association. She is currently employed by S & V Industries.
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