Staff

Dalton Hawkins 

Band Director

Dalton received a Bachelor of Science in Multidisciplinary Studies with an emphasis in Music Education from Tennessee Tech University. He received his teaching certification from Welch College. Dalton also received a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Tennessee Tech University. 

Dalton began his marching career with the White House High School Band of Pride in 2006 where he performed in the front ensemble, as well as on bass drum and snare drum. He also marched in Station Camp Indoor Percussion in 2011 on snare drum. Dalton continued his marching career with the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagle Marching Band where he marched snare drum from 2011-2015. Dalton also marched one season with Chattanooga Independent in 2014 on bass drum. 

He has served as a percussion instructor for White County High School, Stone Memorial High School, Dekalb County High School, Station Camp High School, White House Heritage High School, and Liberty Creek High School.

Has has served as the band director at Shafer Middle School and Liberty Creek Middle School.

Dalton is also a designer, arranger, and composer for Dalton Hawkins Music as well as Synced Up Designs. 

He currently resides in White House, TN with his wife Meredith, his son Deacon, and their cat Tucker.

Dalton also proudly endorses Innovative Percussion as an Educational Artist. 

Natalie Martin 

Woodwind Caption Head

Emery Herrmann 

Brass Caption Head

Chandler Franco 

Front Ensemble Caption Head

Chandler Franco is a professional vibraphonist that composes and teaches. 

He studied at Tennessee Tech University achieving a bachelors in music performance. While studying at TTU he started private lessons with Jerry Tachoir in the field of jazz vibraphone. 

Chandler has marched with Music City Drum and Bugle Corps as well as Equinox Percussion. 

Currently Chandler plays in a band called Vibe Check, gives clinics about vibraphone fundamentals and jazz vibraphone fundamentals, and is currently composing music. 

​Chandler also proudly endorses Innovative Percussion as an Educational Artist. 

Ashton Namynanik 

Percussion/Battery Caption Head

Ashton received his Master of Music in Percussion Performance from Belmont University in 2019. He also holds a Bachelor's in Music Education from Tennessee Tech University. 

Ashton served as the front ensemble and battery tech for the Station Camp Thundering Herd from 2017-2023. Ashton has also been the percussion instructor for the Austin Peay State University Governor's Own Marching Band since 2020. He began arranging for the percussion section in 2021.

Ashton began his marching career at White House High School where he was in the front ensemble as well as played tenors. He also marched with Station Camp Indoor Percussion in 2011 on tenors. Ashton continued his marching career at Tennessee Tech with the Golden Eagle Marching Band from 2012-2016. There he would be the tenor captain and the drumline co-captain.

He currently resides in Springfield, TN with his wife Ashley, his daughter Madeleine, and their dogs Shadow and Bella.

Ashton also proudly endorses Innovative Percussion as an Educational Artist. 

Hope Smalley

Color Guard Caption Head

Matt Tichenor

Visual Caption Head/Color Guard Instructor

Chris Warpool

Woodwind/Brass Instructor

Eliot Hinson

Woodwind/Brass Instructor

Justin Averill 

Brass Instructor

Dudley Merriam 

Front Ensemble Instructor/Audio Technician

Dudley graduated with a degree in Music Engineering at the University of Miami in 2023. Currently living in Nashville, TN, he works as an Freelance Audio Engineer and Technician for 242 Concepts. He is also a front ensemble tech at Atlanta Quest. 

​He was a performing member in the Front Ensembles of Atlanta Quest and most recently the Bluecoats, where he was a winner of the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award. 

Courtney Vail 

Front Ensemble Instructor

Will Poarch 

Battery Instructor

Allen Kennedy 

Drum Major Instructor