Mark Spreen - Director of Bands

Mr. Spreen received his Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the University of Florida and his Masters of Arts from Grand Canyon University.  He has also completed graduate courses at Florida State University and the University of Miami.  Mr. Spreen is the Past President of the Florida Bandmasters Association and has served as a member of the Board for the Florida School Music Association. He has served as the chairman of the Music Performance Assessment Committee and the Clinics Committee as well as District Secretary and District Chairman for the Florida Bandmasters Association.

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 Beach High School bands. His bands have consistently earned Superior ratings at FBA festivals and have performed in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland, the Hollywood Christmas Parade and the National Cherry Blossom Parade, the pre-game and half-time shows at the Sugar Bowl and many other popular events.

Mr. Spreen is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Music Education National Conference, and Phi Beta Mu.

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. 

Mr. 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 for 5 years at Huntley High School. 

Mr. Vagn is a bass trombonist, piano player, and has had church experience as a keyboardist/vocalist.  At Riverview High School Mr. Vagn is the Associate Director of Bands, teaches band, jazz ensemble, orchestra, IB Music, advises the RHS Chapter of Tri M and is a NeXt Generation teacher.  He is a member of the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and the International Association of Jazz Educators.

Chuck Evans - Percussion/Assisant Marching Director

Mr. Evans began teaching physics at Riverview High School in 1998 and has assumed the roleof the Highlander Drum Corpsdirector and assistant marching director since that time. In addition to teaching Instrumental Techniques I - IV, he teaches AP Physics with Calculus and Honors Physics, serves as the Science Curriculum Coordinator and works as the Master Scheduler for RHS. He is currently a member of and an adjudicator for the Florida Bandmasters' Association, and a member of the Florida Music Educator's Association.

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 / Physics Education.  Since joining the RHS staff, Mr. Evans has received a Masters Degree in Teaching and Learning and successfully completed the Educational Leadership program from Nova Southeastern University, and he has become a National Board Certified teacher in AYA Science / Physics.  While at RHS, Mr. Evans has twice been selected at the Teacher of the Year in 2003 – 2004 and 2008 – 2009, and he was honored as the Sarasota County Teacher of the Year for 2009 – 2010.

 

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.

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.

Kevin Wiegand - Bagpipe teacher

Kevin Wiegand of Sarasota, FL began teaching for the Kiltie Band February 2008.He began playing the bagpipes the age of 13 at Sarasota Middle School. While attending Riverview High School starting in 1998, he began regular tuition with Roddy MacDonald. Mr. Wiegand was the first bagpiper inducted into the National Music Honor Society.

Mr. Wiegand has competed all over the Eastern United States, Canada, and Scotland. As a member of the Southern United States Pipe Band Association (SUSPBA) he has successfully competed in all amateur levels and for three consecutive seasons was awarded overall SUSPBA Champion in Grade 1. He is currently a professionally ranked bagpiper and member of the EUSPBA (Eastern United States Pipe Band Association),and the SUSPBA.

He has won two awards for “Best new musical composition”; and as for some of his solo accomplishment include, successfully competing at the U.S. Piping Foundation in Newark Delaware, Sandy Jones Invitational in Charleston South Carolina, and the Metro Cup Invitational in Newark New Jersey.

Mr. Wiegand played with the Grade One pipe band, City of Washington for the 2004 season. During this time he competed at the North American Championships in Maxville Canada. He also traveled to Scotland to compete with the City of Washington Pipe Band.

He is currently a member of the Grandfather Mountain Highlanders Pipe Band, based out of Linville, NC. Where they successfully competed at the North American Pipe Band Championships, as well as in 2007 they won the EUSPBA Northern Championships for Grade Three.As of April 2008

Mr. Wiegand became the founding President and Pipe-Major of the City of Sarasota Pipe Band, a competitive and performance based pipe band. They are preparing now for there first competition season.