- 2025 VRMF Judges -
Chris Alexander
Chris Alexander
Chris Alexander
Chris Alexander began his career in pageantry with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, where he performed as a member of the brass section from 2002 through 2005. He served on the brass instructional team at The Cavaliers for an additional 4 years, 2006 thru 2009, before accepting an offer to lead the visual team at Santa Clara Vanguard
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Chris Alexander began his career in pageantry with The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps, where he performed as a member of the brass section from 2002 through 2005. He served on the brass instructional team at The Cavaliers for an additional 4 years, 2006 thru 2009, before accepting an offer to lead the visual team at Santa Clara Vanguard
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From 2010 through 2016, Chris served as Visual Caption Manager at Santa Clara Vanguard, leading both visual instruction and full-ensemble coordination. At the conclusion of the 2016 season, Chris stepped aside to start a family and take a larger role in his businesses outside of pageantry, but he has continued to engage with the marching arts as a clinician and adjudicator for ensembles throughout the United States.
Today, Chris serves as Managing Partner of Artha Capital, through which he leads business ventures in energy and agriculture. He resides in Edmond, OK with his wife Cassandra, and their two young children, Henry and Eleanor.
David Bertman
Chris Alexander
Chris Alexander
David Bertman, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Cheer and Dance plays a huge and very public role at the University of Houston. Overseeing more than 450 students makes him a roving ambassador on campus and in the Houston community. He is the conductor of the Moores School of Music Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and
David Bertman, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Cheer and Dance plays a huge and very public role at the University of Houston. Overseeing more than 450 students makes him a roving ambassador on campus and in the Houston community. He is the conductor of the Moores School of Music Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and he teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting and assists in the coordination of the wind studies program. Bertman is co-author with Eddie Green and John Benzer of the Ensemble Musicianship Series published by Hal Leonard.
Prior to his tenure at UH, Bertman was Associate Director of Bands at Haltom High School in the Birdville ISD for thirteen years. Working with Greg Hull, Cindy Lansford, Tony Smith and Ben Maughmer, the band received numerous awards, including the 1993 Texas 5A Honor Band and an invitation to perform at the 1993 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic.
Bertman earned his BM in instrumental music education from the University of Oklahoma, under the tutelage of Gene Thraikill, William Wakefield and Roland Barrett, and his MM in conducting from the University of Houston, where he studied with the legendary Eddie Green. As a faculty member of the University of Houston, he received the Bill Yeoman Award in 2003, the UH College of Liberal Arts and Social Science’s Alumni Faculty Award in 2004, the Moores Society Faculty of the Year Award in 2005 and the Houston Alumni Association Faculty Impact Award in 2010. Bertman was also the brass caption head for the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps from 2001-2009, leading them to two Jim Ott brass trophies and four World Championships. He is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, the College Band Directors National Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association.
Albert Lo
Chris Alexander
Albert Lo
Albert Lo is the Director of Instrumental Music Ensembles at the Austin Community College District and the resident Conductor/Artistic Director for the Valley Wind Symphony. Dr. Lo completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at The University of North Texas in Denton, Texas where he was under the tutelage of Professor Eugene Migliaro Cor
Albert Lo is the Director of Instrumental Music Ensembles at the Austin Community College District and the resident Conductor/Artistic Director for the Valley Wind Symphony. Dr. Lo completed his Doctor of Musical Arts Degree at The University of North Texas in Denton, Texas where he was under the tutelage of Professor Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Professor Dennis Fisher, and Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he received his Bachelorette of Music Degree from Northern Illinois University and his Master of Art Degree from Western Illinois University. Previous to his appointment as the Director of Instrumental Music Ensembles at Austin Community College, Dr. Lo served four years as the Director of Bands for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Brownsville and one year as the Director of Orchestra. Dr. Lo also served as the Director of Bands at Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas from 2001-2008. Under his direction, Churchill High School continued their tradition of excellence, placing in the finals at consecutive Texas 5A State Marching Contests, Bands of America Regionals, and The Bands of America Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, IN. The Churchill winter percussion line is the 2003 Winter Guard International World Class Indoor Percussion Champions and the color guard was a consistent Winter Guard International World Class finalist at the Nationals in Dayton, Ohio. Both Churchill Jazz Ensembles have been awarded Outstanding Jazz Ensembles at the Northern Colorado Jazz Festival in Greely, CO, the North Texas Jazz Festival in Addison, TX as well as the Harlingen and Fiesta Jazz Festivals. The Charger Band was selected to participate in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA. in 2006 and performed in the 50th anniversary celebration of Hawaii’s Statehood in 2008. The Wind Symphony has placed consecutively at the TMEA Honor Band Area competitions, and all four concert bands have received sweepstakes at the University Interscholastic League Concert and Sight-Reading Contest. All bands have been awarded “Best in Class” at various national concert festivals throughout the country. In addition to his career as a music educator in the public schools, Dr. Lo was a brass instructor and Caption Head for the nationally renowned Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. He is currently an adjudicator for Drum Corps International, Music for All, Texas University Interscholastic League, as well as other Judges’ Associations throughout the United States and Asia. Mr. Lo is an active clinician and guest conductor who has taught, conducted and performed in concert and jazz ensembles throughout Europe and Asia. Dr. Lo is a two-time Teacher of the Year recipient and was awarded Certificate of Recognition by the Texas Academy of Math and Sciences at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. He is a member of College Band Directors National Association, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity, Texas Music Educator Association and Texas Bandmasters Association.
Dr. T. André Feagin
Dr. T. André Feagin
Dr. T. André Feagin
Dr. T. André Feagin serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Central Washington University, where he leads the university’s comprehensive band program, conducts the Wind Ensemble, and heads the graduate wind band conducting program. Under his leadership, the CWU Wind Ensemble has gained national and international r
Dr. T. André Feagin serves as Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music at Central Washington University, where he leads the university’s comprehensive band program, conducts the Wind Ensemble, and heads the graduate wind band conducting program. Under his leadership, the CWU Wind Ensemble has gained national and international recognition, including performances at the 2022 CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Conference and the 2024 WASBE International Conference in Gwangju, South Korea.
He has been recognized for his excellence in teaching at CWU. In 2024, he received the Outstanding Tenured/Tenure Track Faculty Teaching Award from the College of Arts and Humanities. In 2023, he was honored with two President’s Diversity Awards for his efforts in fostering equity and belonging. As Dean Fellow of Student Success in the College of Arts and Humanities, he focuses on student mentorship, academic achievement, and community engagement.
Dr. Feagin has appeared as a guest conductor with numerous All-state, honor bands, and professional bands and orchestras throughout the United States, Canada, Central and Southwest Europe, and Southeast Asia. As a clinician/presenter, he has been invited to speak on conducting, diversity and inclusivity in music education, and leadership at numerous music educators’ conferences across the United States and around the globe. In 2022 he presented at the 19th WASBE International conference in Prague, Czech Republic.
He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from the University of Arizona School of Music.
Dr. Feagin's experience in Drum Corps International and the marching arts spans over two decades. His previous appointments include serving as brass caption head for the Santa Clara Vanguard and The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. He has served as a member of the brass staff for the Boston Crusaders and Carolina Crown, and is the former executive director of the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps. He served four years as conductor of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. From 2009-2015 and in 2018, Dr. Feagin served on the educational staff of the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, leading the organization as head director in 2013, 2014, and 2018. As an adjudicator in the marching arts, Dr. Feagin works with some of the nation’s top pageantry associations including Bands of America and Winter Guard International.
Taylor Smith
Dr. T. André Feagin
Dr. T. André Feagin
Taylor Smith is currently a freelance educator (private lessons, masterclasses, clinics) in Houston, TX. In 2009, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Taylor has been active in Drum Corps International as a previous performer with Carolina Crown and as a brass staff member of Troopers, C
Taylor Smith is currently a freelance educator (private lessons, masterclasses, clinics) in Houston, TX. In 2009, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Taylor has been active in Drum Corps International as a previous performer with Carolina Crown and as a brass staff member of Troopers, Cavaliers, and Carolina Crown helping them achieve 4 Jim Ott High Brass Awards and the 2013 DCI World Championship. Since 2020, he has been a part of the Brass Staff of the Santa Clara Vanguard and currently is the Brass Caption Manager.
Prior to being a freelance educator, Taylor taught in Sapulpa, OK; Austin, TX; Sugar Land, TX; Richmond, TX; and most recently taught at Pearland Junior High West in Pearland, TX during their performance at the Music For All National Concert Band Festival. His bands have previously earned first division ratings at the Texas University Interscholastic League Marching Band Evaluation and Concert and Sightreading Evaluation.