Dr. Joshua D. Blair
Director of Bands
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Ms. Rachel Rosen
Associate Director of Bands
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Traci Durrance
Principal
STAFF
Dr. Joshua D. Blair
Director of Bands
Joshua D. Blair received his undergraduate degrees in political science and music from Stetson University in 2004. While at Stetson University Dr. Blair performed and studied under the baton of Dr. Bobby Adams. He completed his Master of Music degree with concentrations in instrumental conducting and saxophone performance from the University of South Florida in 2007 and received his Ph.D. in Music Education with a cognate in Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Florida in 2018. Dr. Blair has studied saxophone with Professor Jim Bishop, Dr. Jonathan Helton, Professor Valerie Gillespie, and conducting with Joseph Kreines, Dr. William Wiedrich, and Dr. John Carmichael.
Dr. Blair has taught at Sarasota High School, Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts, and Walter L. Sickles High School where he was responsible for the marching band, concert bands, jazz band & combos, percussion &
chamber ensembles, and AP music theory. Under his direction these ensembles received numerous superior ratings and performed at Carnegie Hall in 2009, 2012, and 2024. While at Plant City High School, the band has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall (2016, 2020, & 2024) and performed for the Music for All Orlando Regional in 2022 and 2023. Under Dr. Blair's leadership, Plant City High School was awarded the Dr. William P. Foster Award of Excellence from the Music Education Alliance (College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, and Music for All) in 2023.
Dr. Blair has also served on faculty as saxophone professor at Florida Southwestern State College, guest conducted the Southwest Florida Youth Symphony, and played with the Florida Wind Band from 2009-2019. He is also a member of the Florida Music Educators Association, The Florida Bandmasters Association, The National Band Directors Association, The National Association for Music Education, The College Band Directors National Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Delta Sigma Phi.
Dr. Blair enjoys spending time with his wife and daughters, and playing golf.
Rachel Rosen
Associate Director of Bands
Rachel Rosen is a graduate of the University of Florida, where she received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a certificate in Music Performance. While at UF, she completed the University Honors Program and graduated with highest honors in her major. She played flute and piccolo in the Symphonic Band, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Gator Marching Band, where she served as the Piccolo Section Leader for two years. She has served of the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Orchestra at Plant City High School since 2022.
Ms. Rosen has worked with a variety of bands in Florida, primarily in the Hillsborough, Alachua, and Marion school districts. She regularly teaches at multiple band camps throughout the state. Her professional affiliations include the Florida Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, and Tau Beta Sigma.
Ms. Rosen enjoys cheering on the Gators, spending time with her friends and family, and playing with her cat, Connie.
Paul Gavin
Percussion Arranger
Paul Gavin is a drummer, teacher, composer, and arranger in the Tampa Bay area. Paul graduated in 2015 from the University of South Florida with a degree in Jazz Studies, with coursework in classical percussion and music education. Since graduating he has made his entire living playing, teaching, and writing music. This season Paul enters his fifth year as the percussion arranger for the Raider Regiment.
Yarnell Stallworth
Percussion Instructor
Yarnell is a 2004 graduate of Plant City High School and is excited to join the staff at his Alma Mater. After graduating from Plant City, Yarnell marched with the University of Central Florida Marching Knights 2004-2007 and worked as a cast member for Disney. He has marched with Teal Sound Drum & Bugle Corps (2007 & 2008) and served as drum captain in 2008, TCI Timber Creek Independent Indoor (2009), and Orlando Magic Rhythm & Blues Drum Line (2006-Present). Yarnell also plays snare for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drum line (2018-Present).
Yarnell has extensive teaching experience that includes 19 years teaching high school and served on the battery staff for Timber Creek Independent and Infinity 2.
Jason McLemore
Percussion Instructor
Jason McLemore is a 1997 graduate of Plant City High School and a veteran percussion tech with over 25 years of instruction experience. Schools where he’s instructed / consulted include: Escambia H.S. (Pensacola, FL while serving in the US Navy), Robinson, Alonso, and Blake H.S. (Tampa, FL) and of course right back here in Plant City. Along with his marching / concert percussion experience, he has over 20 years serving as CCM/worship drummer at Mission Hill Church in Temple Terrace and now First Baptist Church Plant City. For the last 18 years, Jason has served the community with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office as a detention deputy within the county jail system. In the little free time that he has, he enjoys spending it with his 3 kids and…still learning to play the drums.
Jake Hageman
Percussion Instructor
Jake is a 2023 graduate of Plant City High School and is currently attending HCC for a degree in business management. In 2023, Jake served as an accompanist for the middle school All-State Chorus. Jake has been building his experience in percussion for the past 8 years and freelances around the Tampa Bay area.
He maintains an active private studio for young percussionists in percussion and drum set.
Guard Instructor
Bonnie Vance
Bonnie Vance is a Plant City High School Colorguard alumni who is excited to return for her third year as a coach! She has been a performer for fifteen years, seven of which have involved colorguard. Bonnie spent two years as a proud member of the USF World Winterguard. She has been to WGI World Championships twice, both times placing in the top 25! She recently earned her Associate’s Degree in Psychology from Hillsborough Community College and plans to attend nursing school.
Megan Silvey
Guard Instructor
Megan is excited to join the Plant City High School colorguard staff with experience marching all 4 years in high school and three years with the University of South Florida's Herd of Thunder colorguard. During her time at USF she also spun 4 seasons with the USF Winterguard where she won an open class gold medal and spun 2 years in world class making semi-finals. Megan is also an alumnus of the Santa Clara Vanguard. She is thrilled to join the Plant City High School staff to share her knowledge and love of the art.
Jeremy Lynch
Visual Instructor
Jeremy Lynch is a 2000 graduate of Oakland City University with a B.S. in Biology and Chemistry Education. He has been teaching chemistry in Hillsborough County since 2001. In high school, he was a 5 year member of the marching band, where he played alto saxophone and was drum major. Jeremy has 15 combined years of experience as a marching tech between Durant High School (2001-2013) and Plant City High School (2022-present). He also continues to play alto saxophone in his church's orchestra in his ongoing battle to master all of the most ridiculous key signatures.
Russ McCollum
Brass Instructor
Russ McCollum is a native of northwestern Alabama and holds a degree in Instrumental Music from the University of North Alabama. He moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2011 and was a soloist with the Tampa Bay Thunder Drum and Bugle Corps in 2012 and 2013. He is currently Principal Trumpet for the Florida Wind Band. He has been a marching band instructor for East Lawrence, Russelville, Hatton, and Hueytown High School in Alabama; and Deane Bozeman and Plant City High School in Florida. He currently lives in Plant City with his wife, two daughters, and cat. His interests also include motorsports, astronomy, and singing.