Staff

Director of Bands: Megan Christian

Megan Christian oversees the different facets of the Bearden Band program including the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Band, Indoor Drumline, Winter Guard, Jazz Band, and small ensembles. During her tenure the Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band have consistently received superior ratings. Prior to this appointment, she has held positions as the assistant director at Bearden High School, the assistant director at Hendersonville High School, and the director at Hawkins Middle School.

While attending the University of Tennessee she received a Bachelor of Music degree in both Music Education and Music Performance. Through her experience at UT she studied with Dr. Shelley Binder, internationally with flautist Louis Moyse, and participated in masterclasses with Jim Walker and John Barcellona. She studied conducting with Dr. Ed Powell and Dr. Gary Sousa, and participated in conducting symposiums under the direction of Professor Paula Crider, Professor Michael Haithcock, and Professor Craig Kirchhoff.

Mrs. Christian is a member of ETSBOA, TMEA, NAfME, ASBDA, and Phi Beta Mu. She has been selected as Teacher of the Year at Bearden High School in 2021, 2013 and 2011, and has served as Band Chair for ETSBOA from 2012-2016, Fine Arts Department Chair 2009-Current, Fine Arts Representative on the Teacher Advisory Committee 2017-2020, PD Specialist for High School Instrumental Music 2018-Current, Tennessee Music Education Association’s State Band Chair 2018-2020, and is currently serving as President-Elect of ETSBOA. She resides in Knoxville, TN with her husband Joe and daughter Corinne.

Email: [email protected]

Assistant Director of Bands: James Wilson

James Matthew Wilson is the Assistant Director of Bands at Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mr. Wilson’s duties at BHS include directing the marching band, concert band, jazz band, assisting with the symphonic band, and teaching advanced placement music theory. He also designs the drill and composes/arranges much of the music for the marching band program. The Bearden Symphonic, Concert and Marching Bands have consistently received superior ratings during his tenure, including multiple ASBDA awards of distinction. Prior to his appointment at Bearden in 2008, he taught as band director at Heritage Middle School in Maryville, TN from 2006-2007.

Mr. Wilson holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Tennessee, having performed with the “Pride of the Southland” Marching Band. He is an alumnus of the Cincinnati Glory Drum and Bugle Corps where he performed as lead soprano bugle in 1999 and 2000. James studied conducting with Dr. Ed Powell and trumpet with Dr. Cathy Leach; and has taken masterclasses with numerous world-renowned musicians.

Mr. Wilson is a member of the National Association for Music Education, American School Band Director’s Association, and East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association. He works as a guest clinician and adjudicator for marching and concert band mediums as well as performing as a freelance trumpet player, composer, music arranger, and marching band drill designer. He lives in Knoxville with his wife Becky, daughter Adelia, and son John.

Email: [email protected]

Assistant Director of Bands: Karagen Peck

Karagen Peck, a proud alumnus of The Bearden High School Band program, is currently a general music teacher at Powell Elementary School and serves as assistant director of bands at Bearden High School. She holds a bachelor's degree in music education from the University of Tennessee where she studied French Horn with Dr. Katie Johnson. She also performed as a member of "The Pride of the Southland" Marching Band, and was appointed Squad Leader her junior and senior years. Mrs. Peck was a member of the University of Tennessee Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Horn Choir.

Mrs. Peck also served as an Ambassador for the University of Tennessee College of Music, Vice President of Sigma Alpha Iota, and President of the International Horn Society, UT chapter. Mrs. Peck has a true passion for teaching and performing, and an eagerness to share the joy of music with the next generation of musicians within her community.

Email: [email protected]

Colorguard Coordinator: Jacob Stanberry

Jacob Stanberry is a marching band program coordinator, adjudicator, and colorguard aficionado. Jacob has had the honor of participating in the marching arts since 2006 while marching in such ensembles as Sullivan Central High School (05-09), Spirit of Atlanta Drum Corps (10-12), Southeast Independent Winterguard (09-12,14), Carolina Gold (16-17), Cypress Independent World (2013) and Atlanta CV (18). Jacob is currently a DCA open class medalist, DCI two-time world Class finalist, and three-time WGI world finalist.

Mr. Stanberry has had the distinct honor of working with several high school and independent programs spanning from Texas to Tennessee. His goal for every program he works with is to create lifelong dynamic performers who can continue to educate and foster a love for the marching arts. In his spare time he enjoys reading, listening to as much music as he can, and singing in the Knoxville Gay Mens Chorus.

Percussion Coordinator: Drew Jones

Drew Jones resides in Knoxville, TN as an active performer and music educator. Mr. Jones studied music education at Middle Tennessee State University. While at MTSU, Mr. Jones studied percussion under Lalo Davila, Julie Davila, and Dr. Matt Jordan. He was an active performer with MTSU's "Band of Blue," Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Salsa Band, and Steel Drum Band. He also marched quads with Drum Corps International's Music City Drum and Bugle Corps and Winter Guard International's Audio Theater. Drew has taught percussion for Music City Drum and Bugle Corps as well as Audio Theater, and previously served as percussion director for several high schools in the middle Tennessee region.

Assistant Percussion Coordinator: Dr. Susannah Clabough

Percussionist and educator Susannah Clabough is currently the Assistant Director of Percussion with the Bearden High School Band in Knoxville, TN, and an adjunct percussion staff member at Western Carolina University. She has had the opportunity to perform with GRAMMY-nominated Sandbox Percussion, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, and Percussive Arts Society Tennessee Chapter’s Days of Percussion. She has also performed with the premier of several works for percussion. Tennessee. Dr. Clabough is frequently hired as a church musician throughout the state of Tennessee and has taught various percussion sections throughout East Tennessee, including Bearden High School and Halls High School in Knoxville, TN, and Seymour High School in Seymour, TN.

Promoting the work of composers from diverse backgrounds is central to her pedagogy and research, most recently with her dissertation project entitled “The Modern Snare: An Analysis of Repertoire for Snare Drum and Electronics by Underrepresented Composers.”

Dr. Clabough received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Memphis, a Masters of Music in Percussion Performance from Lee University and a Bachelor of Music Education from Carson-Newman University. Her primary teachers include Bill Shaltis, Andy Harnsberger, and Matt Weyer.

Assistant Colorguard Coordinator: Annie Stigall

Annie Stigall is the Assistant Colorguard Coordinator at Bearden High School. She is from Somerset, Kentucky and has worked for three years with the colorguard and visual design at Corbin High School.

Annie has performed for two years as a member of the Pride of Pulaski Independent Winter Guard and has been involved with band, indoor percussion, and winterguard for over half her life.

Annie is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands with a P-12 Music Education degree. As of 2024, she has finished her M.Ed. in Teacher Leadership and has begun working towards a Master’s in Learning and Behavior Disorders. In the past, Annie has worked with North Laurel High School, Pulaski County High School, McCreary Central High School, Corbin High School. She currently teaches Instrumental Music at Beaumont Magnet Academy. She loves music, and getting to share that love of music with her students.