Kevin Welborn
Ensemble Coordinator

Kevin Welborn currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at The University of Alabama.  Mr. Welborn assists with all aspects of the university bands, including instruction and logistics of The University of Alabama Million Dollar Band marching band, conducting the Symphonic Band, instructing undergraduate conducting students, graduate seminars, and assisting with all other areas, directors, and operations.  Mr. Welborn previously served as The University of Alabama’s Associate Director of Athletic Bands from 2019-2022.  

Mr. Welborn recently served as the Director of Bands for the Avon High School Band in Avon, Indiana from 2022-2023.  The Avon High School Band is one of the most successful high school band programs in the country, having earned 17 World and National championships, and 57 state championships in the last three decades.  Recently, the Avon Wind Ensemble placed 3^rd at the 2023 ISSMA state concert band contest, 2^nd in the 2022 Bands of America Championship, and multiple state and national championships and accolades in related ensembles. 

Welborn also served as the Director of Bands for the Clinton Public School District in Clinton, Mississippi from 2015-2019 and as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Percussion from 2009–2015. Under Welborn’s leadership, the Clinton Band was a consecutive Bands of America regional finalist, earning first place in class, as well as first place caption awards at multiple BOA regionals.  In addition to multiple state sweepstakes awards and concert band accolades, the Clinton Indoor Percussion Ensemble was the 2013 WGI “Scholastic A” Class silver medalist, the 2014 WGI “Scholastic Open” Class gold-medalist champion, and a 2015 “Scholastic World” class 10th place finalist at the WGI World Championships held in Dayton, OH.  Prior to graduate school, Welborn served as an assistant band director at Kempner High School in Sugar Land, Texas from 2006-2007.

In addition to holding bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education/conducting from The University of Southern Mississippi, Welborn is currently pursuing a PhD from The University of Alabama.  Kevin is an alumnus of the Carolina Crown and Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps, playing snare drum for both organizations. He was on the percussion staff at The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016-2018. Prior to that, he served as the percussion caption head for the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps from 2009-2012, a percussion staff member for the Troopers in 2007 and 2008, as well as a consultant for the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle corps in 2004 and 2005.

Mr. Welborn also currently serves as one of the Associate Music Ensemble Coordinators for The Bluecoats Drum Corps, as well as adjudicator, clinician, and leadership speaker for bands and organizations throughout the country.  He enjoys spending time and traveling with his wife, Karen, who works full-time with a law firm, while she also designs and teaches color guard and band visual concepts for multiple organizations including being on colorguard staff at The University of Alabama.  Kevin and Karen also run a design, consulting, and leadership business for marching and concert bands across the country.

Marc Whitlock
Ensemble Specialist

Mr. Marc Whitlock has spent thirty years as a band director and is currently a school principal. As a music educator, his prior appointments include being a band director for Marian Catholic High School in Illinois, Hebron High School in Texas, and for Discovery Middle School and the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Michigan. During his time as a band director his bands earned consistent superior ratings at band festivals, commissioned several new band compositions, was awarded the Mark of Excellence from the Foundation of Music Education, earned the Texas UIL Sweepstakes Award, fourteen state marching band championships, eight Bands of America national class championships, and three times was named the Bands of America Grand National Champion. His bands were also selected for multiple performances at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival and for the Presidential Inauguration.

Mr. Whitlock was formerly the music manager for the Broadway production of Blast!, which won a Tony award and an Emmy award. He also served as the first Chief Judge for WGI Winds and for decades has been involved with many award-winning ensembles as an instructor, designer, and consultant.

Mr. Whitlock has been actively involved with many award-winning ensembles for over four decades and has been in demand as an educator/designer/consultant/ for many groups, including the Blue Stars, The Cadets, Carolina Crown, The Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Star of Indiana, and the Troopers. Many of the drum corps he has worked with have been DCI Finalists, recipients of the Jim Ott High Brass Award, and have been crowned the DCI World Champions. Most recently, he served as the Music Coordinator and Brass Consultant for the Cadets.

Mr. Whitlock has also started his own company to service the design, consultation, and educational needs of bands and other marching ensembles.  His company, “On The Marc”, strives to help concert and marching programs reach that next level of achievement and is accepting clients for this upcoming season.

Marc is excited and honored to be a part of the staff for the 2024 edition of The Academy! Here’s to a great season!

Derek Fields
Ensemble Specialist

Derek Fields is the Director of Bands at Fort Walton Beach High School in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. He previously served as the Assistant Director of Bands and Percussion from 2011-2020 under the leadership of FBA Hall of Fame Director, Mr. Randy Folsom. He is also a graduate of the Fort Walton Beach Viking Band under the direction of Randy Folsom.  

Derek oversees all band activities which includes two concert ensembles, a jazz ensemble, two color guard ensembles, percussion ensemble, steel band, and the Viking Marching Band. All performing ensembles at Fort Walton consistently earn superior ratings at concert, marching and jazz assessments. The Viking Band is known for performing the highest level of wind band literature throughout each year. As one of the larger programs in the area, the Viking Band prides itself on regular student representation in All-State ensembles, All-County ensemble and other collegiate honor ensembles, as well as 54 consecutive years performing at FBA State-level Concert Music Assessment.

Many alumni go on to participate in the Florida State University Marching Chiefs, University of Florida’s Gator Band, Troy University, University of Alabama Million Dollar Band, Auburn Marching Band, as well as many alumni who continued in music through U.S. Military Service Bands.  

Derek has a Bachelor of Music Education degree with an emphasis in percussion from the University of Southern Mississippi. At USM, he studied with Dr. Thomas Fraschillo and Dr. John Wooton. 

He has over 13 years of teaching experience both as a music educator and a percussion and ensemble technician for many world class programs across the Drumcorps/WGI activity and high school programs as well. Derek was a performer with the Madison Scouts from 2005-2006 and the Cadets from 2007-2008, then went on to teach with the Troopers 2009-2012, Madison Scouts 2013-2014, Cadets 2015-2016, iNov8 Winter Percussion 2017-2018, and Boston Crusaders 2018.

Derek is an active Florida Bandmasters Association member and has served as District Secretary and District Chair. He is also an active adjudicator of both solo, chamber and concert ensembles throughout Florida. His professional affiliations include the Florida Music Educators Association and Florida Bandmasters Association.  
Derek lives in Florida Walton Beach with his wife Jamie and daughter Lyla.