Jason Schayot

Jason Schayot is in his tenth year of teaching in the Georgetown Independent School District. He is the Director of Bands for Georgetown ISD and his responsibilities include directing the GHS Wind Symphony, assisting with the GHS Marching Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic Band and coordinating the GISD band program grades 6-12. Mr. Schayot also is the director of the pit orchestra for school musicals & co-directs the GHS Full Orchestra.

Before coming to Georgetown High School, Mr. Schayot was the Band Director at Forbes Middle School and Associate Director at Benold Middle School. Prior to coming to Georgetown, he was the Band Director at Giddings Middle School in Giddings, Texas. Mr. Schayot holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Southwestern University. Mr. Schayot’s wife of ten years, Molly, is a Montessori Guide at the Community Montessori School in Georgetown. They have three children: Mary Grace , Evelyn and Willa.

E-mail: schayotj@georgetownisd.org

Amanda Mariño

Amanda Mariño is the Assistant Band Director at Georgetown High School. Throughout her career she has instructed various students in music ranging from beginners to collegiate members. Her instructional experience extends throughout the nation including Texas State University, Churchill High School, Bowie High School, Harlingen High School, Seguin High School, Austin High School, and Corbett Middle School. Ms. Mariño is in her third year with the Georgetown High School music program as Director of Jazz Studies, Director of the Eagle Marching Band, Conductor of the Wind Ensemble, and instructor of Instrumental Ensembles.

Amanda has a strong affiliation with Drum Corps International (DCI). She is currently on Brass Staff with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. She has also spent her summers as a Visual Consultant for Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps out of San Antonio, Texas. Though her primary instrument is Saxophone, Ms. Mariño played Euphonium with Capital Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and started her corps career on Baritone with Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps. Through these experiences, she has worked with many top educators throughout the country.

Ms. Mariño received her Bachelor Degree in All-Level Music Education from Texas State University-San Marcos in 2007. She studied Wind Conducting with John Stansberry, Howard Hudiburg and Dr. Rod Schueller. From 2005-2006, Amanda served as the Visual and Field Coordinator for the Bobcat Band while attending Texas State. In 2006 the Bobcat Marching Band was one of five university ensembles in the United States selected for video presentation of superior marching at the College Band Directors National Association Conference in Ann Arbor, Michigan on March of 2007.

Ms. Mariño is an active clinician, performer and adjudicator in the United States. She is also a contributor to the Texas State University Bobcat Marching Band Handbook as Editor and Writer of marching fundamentals. Her professional affiliations include Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, International Association of Jazz Educators, and Sigma Alpha Iota. Amanda Mariño currently lives in Austin, Texas where she continues to educate and instruct students of all levels.

E-mail: marinoa@georgetownisd.org

Jed Leach

This will be Jed Leach’s second year as the Percussion Director for Georgetown ISD. He oversees all percussion studies from grades 6-12, as well as teaching marching percussion, percussion ensembles, concert percussion, and assists with Jazz band. Mr. Leach received his BM in Music Education from Morehead State University in Morehead, KY under the tutelage of Frank Oddis and Dr. Brian Mason.

While attending Morehead State, Mr. Leach performed throughout the United States, China, and Brazil with the MSU Percussion Ensemble and Symphony Band. His additional performances with the MSU Percussion Ensemble include being featured at the North American Brass Band Association Conference, the KMEA Conference, and a PASIC 2003 new music showcase.

Mr. Leach is also an alumnus of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois. He marched in the tenor line in 2001 and played marimba in the front ensemble in 2002, finishing in the top 6 in DCI both years.

As an educator, Mr. Leach was previously the Percussion Director at the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan. During his time there, the PCMB placed first in the state marching competition and placed 9th in the BOA Grand Nationals competition. Under his direction, the Plymouth-Canton Indoor Drumline placed 6th and 10th places in WGI Scholastic World Finals in 2007 and 2008, as well as winning the MCGC State Indoor Drumline Championships both years. Mr. Leach has also taught with the KMEA State Champion Lafayette High School band in Kentucky as well as other high school programs before teaching in MI.

Mr. Leach is a member of the Percussive Arts Society and is a proud Artist/Educator for Evans Drumheads, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, and Pearl Drums and Adams Musical Instruments.

E-mail: leachj@georgetownisd.org

Amy Frost

Prior to teaching at Georgetown, Amy was the Director of Bands at Stapley Jr. High in Mesa, AZ. She filled the position mid-year following her return from Japan where Amy was performing with the stage show “Odyssey”, an all-female cast of brass, percussion and dancers. In Odyssey, Amy played trumpet and piccolo trumpet. A native of Arizona, Amy grew up in Scottsdale,AZ and graduated from Arizona State University with her BM in Music Education in May 2008. She has been playing trumpet for 15 years and has taught private trumpet lessons through out the Phoenix Valley for 5 years. Amy has been heavily involved with the DCI activity for 7 years, having performed with the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps from 2003 to 2006; Amy was the DCI Individual & Ensemble Trumpet Champion in 2006. Currently she is in her second years as the trumpet tech and the Breathing Gym specialist for the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. Amy has also spent some time with the Santa Clara Vanguard Cadet Corps, Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, both as an instructor, and the Santa Clara Vanguard A-Corps as a brass intern. Amy is very excited about joining the staff at Georgetown and looks forward to continuing the excellent education that is already established within the program!

E-mail: frosta@georgetownisd.org

Jeff Otto

Mr. Jeff Otto has taken the position at Georgetown HS as the Percussion tech assisting Mr. Leach and more specifically teaching the pit for the 2008 GHS Drumline fall season. He will also be taking over the private lesson studio for Georgetown ISD – all students of Mr. Gil are encouraged to call or email Mr. Otto immediately to set up your lesson schedule for the upcoming year.

Mr. Otto is currently completing his doctorate in percussion performance at the University of Texas at Austin. Before moving to Austin, he received his master’s degree from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York, where he was the graduate teaching assistant to Gordon Stout, and his bachelor’s degree from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas under the direction of Kevin Bobo.

In addition to his studies over the last three years, Mr. Otto performs regularly with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and the Austin Lyric Opera Orchestra, and was just recently placed on the sub-list of the New World Symphony Orchestra in Miami, Florida. He has also performed in concert with Dr. Tom Burritt at the Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar and was a soloist with the UT Graduate Percussion Quartet at the 2006 PASIC.

E-mail: Jeff Otto

Rick Scruggs

Rick Scruggs is in his ninth year of being the director of the Georgetown High School Colorguard. He began teaching the group in the fall of 1998 until the spring of 2001. He returned to Georgetown in 2004, and has continued directing since. In his time at Georgetown HS, the colorguard has now spawned a successful winterguard program, most recently in 2007 winning the silver medal at the Texas Colorguard Circuit State Championships, and in 2008 winning the bronze medal.

Mr. Scruggs graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a degree in dance performance and education. He has studied different forms of dance including ballet, hip hop (studying in studios in London and the US), improvisation, and modern/contemporary (various clinics and workshops including ones led by Mia Michaels from the television show ‘So You Think You Can Dance’). In 2001, he joined the Circle Of Friends Dance Company, and performed in a MLK Celebration alongside the Harlem Boys choir. In 2005, Mr. Scruggs became one of the full time dance teachers at Georgetown HS where he teaches both Dance I and II classes.

Mr. Scruggs began his colorguard career as a freshman in high school along with being a member of the percussion section. Proficient in flag, rifle, sabre and dance, he has been involved with the color guard activity for 20 years.

His past performing experience includes the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, Nolan World Winterguard, Millennia Open Winterguard, Southwest Texas Bobcat Band, and the Circle of Friends Dance Company. In 1997, during his age-out year with the Cavaliers, he became the Drum Corps International I&E Flag Solo Champion at the DCI World Championships in Orlando, FL. He also won three State Solo and Ensemble titles in the Texas Colorguard Circuit.

His teaching credits include WGI Finalist Millennia Winterguard, The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps (where he served as Caption Head), Southwest Texas Bobcat Band, and many high school programs within Texas, including UIL state marching band finalists and WGI regional finalists.

E-mail: scruggsr@georgetownisd.org

Colorguard Website : www.georgetownisd.org/ghs/scruggsr/colorguard.htm