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, 2023 and 2025. 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 and selected for the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2025.

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 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.

Zachary Larimer

Associate Director of Bands

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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.

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 19 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.

TBD

Visual Instructor

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.