Staff Members
Mark Spreen - Director of
Music
Mr.
Spreen recently completed a one year leave of absence while pursuing a musical
Doctorate. He has since returned and now holds the Director of Music
position recently opened due to David Naumann's retirement.
Spreen is a graduate of the University of Florida and has completed graduate courses at Florida State University and the University of Miami. He is a graduate of Riverview High School and is a former Kiltie.
Prior to returning to Sarasota, he directed the Lake Wales, Keystone Heights and Fernandina High School bands. His bands have consistently earned "Superior" ratings at the FBA festivals, and have performed in the National Cherry Blossom Parade, the pre-game and half-time shows at the Sugar Bowl and many other popular events.
Spreen is a member of the Florida Bandmasters' Association, and served as the former District 11 Chairman (2001 - 2002). He is also a member of the Florida Music Educators' Association, Florida Orchestra Association, and the Music Education National Conference.
Norm Vagn - Associate Director of Bands
Mr.
Vagn received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from
Northern
Illinois University in Dekalb, Illinois. He received his Masters
Degree in Wind Conducting from the
University of Kansas. As a
graduate assistant at KU, Norm was able to work with the concert bands,
rehearse and write drill for the
Marching Jayhawks, and conduct the KU
Basketball Band.
Vagn’s first 10
years of teaching experience was in McHenry County, which is an hour west
of Chicago. He taught for 5 years at Marengo High School, and the
past 5 years at Huntley High School. Mr. Vagn is a bass trombonist,
piano player, and has had church experience as a keyboardist/vocalist.
Vagn, his wife Melissa, and their boys
Zachary and Nicholas are excited
about the move to Florida and the many great opportunities that await
them.
MaryAnn Naumann - Guard Sponsor
MaryAnn Naumann has served the Kilties as
Guard Sponsor for several years. She is
a graduate of
S.U.N.Y. College at Buffalo and
S.U.N.Y College at Genesco
with a masters degree in Elementary Education, Advanced Teaching.
Mrs. Naumann is a former Color Guard of Iroquois Central School in Elma, New York. She is also a former guard instructor and choreographer for the Wayland Eagles Marching Band in Wayland, New York.
In addition to being Guard Sponsor, Mrs. Naumann teaches fifth grade at Gulf Gate Elementary School.
Chuck Evans - Percussion Instructor
Mr. Evans began teaching physics at Riverview High School
in 1998 and also assumed the role of the
Highlander Drum Corps arranger
and percussion director. In addition to teaching Instrumental Techniques I
- IV, he also teaches AP Physics with Calculus and Honors Physics, serves
as the Science Curriculum Coordinator, and serves as the Chairman
of Riverview's School Advisory Council.
Prior to coming to Riverview, Mr. Evans taught Math and percussion for two years at Wolfson High School in Jacksonville, Florida, and math and science for one year at Griffin Middle School in Tallahassee. Throughout the past twelve years, he has also worked as the percussion instructor, percussion arranger, and marching instructor for 16 different high schools from Florida, Alabama, and Illinois.
Mr. Evans graduated from Fletcher High School in Neptune Beach, Florida, and is a 1995 graduate of Florida State University, where he majored in Math and Interdisciplinary Science Education, minored in English, and received his BA degree with honors. In June of 2003, he received his Masters Degree in Teaching and Learning from Nova Southeastern University.
While at Florida State, he served as the percussion arranger and section leader for "Big 8", the Marching Chiefs' drumline, and was a member of the Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and the Tallahassee Winds. Mr. Evans is also an alumni member and past officer of Kappa Kappa Psi, a National Honorary Music Fraternity.
Mr. Evans is currently a member of and an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters' Association, and a member of the Florida Music Educator's Association. In addition, he is a performing member of the Sarasota Pops, and a principal player in the Sarasota Concert Band.
Charles Quarmby - Adjunct Instructor
Mr.
Quarmby has served the Kilties as an adjunct instructor for a number of
years. His outstanding credentials include former Director of
Instrumental Music for the
Manatee County School System,
Manatee
Community College,
Miami-Dade &
Brevard Community Colleges. He was
elected to the Florida Bandmasters' "Hall of Fame" in 1991.
Mr. Quarmby is a past president of the Florida Bandmasters and of the Florida Music Educators. He has completed more than forty years as an adjudicator of contest festivals in Florida and the Southeast States. We thank Mr. Quarmby for his guidance, patience and wisdom.
Alison Dietz - Highland
Dancer Instructor
Alison
Dietz is a graduate of the
University of Florida, where she majored in
psychology and minored in dance. She is a graduate of Riverview High
School and is a former Kiltie Color Guard and Highland
Dancer. As
principal dancer, she was the first person under Kay Criner's direction
to perform the sword dance on the drum.
Alison has been modeling and acting professionally since graduating from the University of Florida.
Becky Holahan - Highland
Dancer Instructor
Becky Holahan is a part time instructor for the Highland Dancers and has been teaching at Riverview for four years.
Mrs. Holahan is also a choreographer, actor and director at Venice Little Theatre, and teaches creative drama for young people at the theatre. Another position she holds is as a puppeteer for F.A.C.E., an organization which teaches 2nd grade children about disabilities through plays. Mrs. Holahan's daughter Angela, who graduated in 1993, was a Highland Dancer.
We thank the staff for their dedication and unending support of the RHS music program.¯