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Brian Drake
Brian Drake, a Maryland native, is currently a
band director at Westminster High School. Since 2001, he has been responsible
for the direction of the concert bands, jazz band and marching band. He also
serves as the coordinator for the music theory and history programs. During his
tenure at Westminster High School all three concert bands have received
consistent superior ratings at District Festival. They have also received
straight Superior ratings at the state level. The jazz band has also received
high praise for their performance on the county and state level. While serving
as band director, the marching band was the first in Maryland to become a
semi-finalist at the Bands of America (BOA) Grand National Championships
(2004). He was also a part of their historic 1st place win at a BOA Regional
Championship (2003) and their victory at the Tournament of Bands (TOB) Group 4
Atlantic Coast Championships (2002). The Westminster High School Music
Department was awarded the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) and the
Maryland Music Educators Association (MMEA) award for the Exemplary Music
Program in 2003. In 2002, 2004, & 2005 Mr. Drake was nominated as the
Outstanding Teacher of the Year for Carroll County Public Schools. He was also
nominated for the MENC/MMEA Outstanding Music Educator Award (2003). Recently,
he was been nominated for the 2002, 2003, 2004 & 2005 editions of Who's Who
Among America's Teachers.
Mr. Drake also holds a band director position at Johns Hopkins University. He is
responsible for the direction of the Wind Ensemble and the Pep Band. The
instrumental music program has attracted much attention recently for its
noticeable improvement both on stage and in the stadium. The JHU Pep Band is
the first and foremost lacrosse band in the NCAA. Carrying on a long tradition,
they never miss a game, traveling as far as the Carrier Dome in Syracuse or as
short as M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. They have been seen perennially
under Mr. Drake's leadership on ESPN and ESPN2 during the NCAA Lacrosse
Championships.
A graduate of The Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University,
Mr. Drake received both a Performer's Certificate for trumpet and a Bachelor's
Degree in music education in the spring of 1998. He continues his graduate
studies at Towson University and Peabody Conservatory in the field of music
education.
Mr. Drake has studied trumpet with highly respected musicians including Adel,
Sanchez, Steven Hendrickson, and Langston Fitzgerald, III. Susan Slaughter of
the St. Louis Symphony gave him significant praise for his solo performance of
the Haydn Trumpet Concerto. Mr. Drake has performed with several local
orchestras including the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony
Orchestra, and the Hopkins Symphony Orchestra. He also received positive
reviews from the Washington Post for the "fine sense of style" he displayed at
a Kennedy Center chamber performance.
As a conductor, Mr. Drake participated in master classes for Randall Craig
Fleisher at a rather young age. Later, he continued his conducting interests as
he studied privately with Dr. Harlan Parker of the Peabody Conservatory. For
two years he served as the wind conductor for the Frederick Regional Youth
Orchestra. For many years, Mr. Drake has served as a technician, clinician,
festival judge, award-winning arranger, and commissioned composer for several
schools in the Baltimore and Washington area. His works have been performed in
concert by the Peabody Conservatory Chamber Winds and the McDaniel College
Concert Band. He continues to work with youth ensembles in order to cultivate
the interest and admiration of music that he gained from his teachers. Mr.
Drake is a member of National Association of Music Education (MENC), Maryland
Band Directors Association (MBDA)
Contact: bpdrake@k12.carr.org,
WHS Music Dept (410) 751-3630 x 262
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