Chris Brown - Director of Bands
Biographies
Will Sechrist - Director of Percussion
Ryan Summers- Assistant Director
Mr. Brown has been the Director of Bands at Lake Norman High School since the school’s founding in 2002. Under his direction, the Lake Norman Bands have grown from an original 40 members to include over 170 students participating in three concert ensembles, the Marching Wildcats, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble and various student-coordinated small ensembles. Although still a relatively young program, the bands at Lake Norman have built a reputation for excellence and innovation,
consistently receiving high ratings at both concert and marching festivals. In 2007, the band received and accepted an invitation from the Lord Mayor of London to participate in the 2009 New Year's Day
Parade. Prior to his appointment at LNHS, Mr. Brown was the Director of Bands at Effingham County High School in Springfield, Georgia.
Mr. Brown is a native of Asheville, North Carolina. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina in 1993, where he was named as an honor student teacher. Mr. Brown earned a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia in 1996, serving as a graduate assistant with the UGA bands, as well as principal trumpet in the Wind Symphony and lead trumpet with the UGA Jazz ensemble. He has performed with the Ringling
Brothers Circus, Alan Vizzutti, Bobby Shew, and Bill Watrous, among others. From 1989-1991, Mr. Brown was a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, and credits this experience as the deciding factor in his becoming a music educator.
Mr. Brown remains active as a clinician, writer, and adjudicator, and still performs when possible. He is an Eagle Scout (class of 1986), and is proud to have been included in “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” on numerous occasions. His professional affiliations include MENC, NCMEA,
and the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. He and his wife Beverly reside in Mooresville, NC with their sons Bayden and Canon.
Ryan Summers is originally from Hendersonville, NC. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music from Appalachian State University. He is currently the Band Director at Brawley Middle School, as well as the Assistant Director for the Lake Norman High School Marching Band, in Mooresville, NC. Ryan spent six years as a full time member of the brass faculty of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2008, he became a Brass Consultant, for the thirteenth time, World Championship Finalist corps. He is also an alumnus of the corps, having marched in both the Baritone and Contra sections. The 2008 season marks his 12th year of involvement in the Drum & Bugle Corps activity. Ryan is a member of the North Carolina Music Educator’s Association, MENC, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He, his wife Zaneta, and daughter Alana live in Statesville, NC.
William Sechrist is a native of Charlotte and has lived in North Carolina his entire life. A graduate of Independence High School, he went on to receive his Bachelor's Degree in Business, with a concentration in Real Estate and Urban Analysis, from Appalachian State University. While attending ASU, William spent 5 years as a Tenor player for the ASU drumline, 2 of which he also served as
percussion captain. This is William's 6th season as the Percussion Instructor for the LNHS Wildcat Band. During this time, the LNHS Drumline has grown from 6 to 21 members. In his free time, William works as a real estate Broker with RE/MAX at the Lake. William and is wife Cathy live in
Mooresville.
