• BAND DIRECTOR - GENA NIX

    Gena Inglis Nix, a graduate of Jacksonville State University, was a member of the Leadership Staff in the Marching Southerners as Drum Major from 1997 to 1999. Gena is currently in her 25th year as a band director. She is in her fourth year as band director at Ohatchee High School. Previous years of teaching experience include J.B. Pennington High School in Blountsville, Alabama; Northwest Whitfield Middle School in Dalton, Georgia; and Gaston High School in Gadsden, Alabama.

    Gena is an active member of the Music Educators National Conference, Alabama Music Educators Conference, Alabama Bandmasters Association, and Sigma Alpha Iota. In 2022, Gena was inducted into the Rho Chapter of Phi Beta Mu. Gena served ABA District 2 as Chairman and Vice Chairman from 2019 to 2022. Under her leadership, her bands have received superior ratings in the areas of marching and concert bands. Her marching and concert bands have continued success in receiving superior ratings in festivals and competitions. Gena has been an active adjudicator for marching bands throughout the Southeast. Gena, along with her Dad, Gene Inglis, retired band director, presented “GRIT... Gaining Resources in Teaching Smaller School Bands” at the Midwest International Music Conference in Chicago, IL in December 2016.

    Gena is married to Jonathan Nix. Jonathan is the head football and wrestling coach at Pleasant Valley High School in Jacksonville, AL. They have two beautiful daughters: Taylor is in her senior year at Jax State University majoring in Secondary Education/ELA. Emma is a junior at Pleasant Valley High School.

     

    CHOIR TEACHER and BAND INSTRUCTOR - CARRIE MAEGER

    Mrs. Carrie Maeger is a graduate of Albertville High School and Jacksonville State University. She was in the band and choir during high school and college. She has taught Pre-K through 6th grade General Music and 7th through 12th grade Choir. She is beginning her 14th year of teaching. She is the Choir Teacher at Weaver High School and Ohatchee High School and is excited about beginning her fifth year here. She is the Music Minister at Cherry Street Baptist Church in Attalla. She is married to Tim Maeger. Mrs. Maeger is excited to see her returning students, meet her new ones and can't wait to be involved in the music they learn and make this year!

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    WOODWIND INSTRUCTOR - HALEY MILLER

    Haley Miller is thrilled to be the Woodwind Instructor for the Ohatchee Marching Indians for the 2024 marching season! This will be her fourth year working with the program, and she is looking forward to another amazing year!
     
    Haley currently serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant with the Jacksonville State University Bands. She is from Semmes, Alabama, and graduated from Mary G. Montgomery High School in 2019. In 2023, Haley graduated summa cum laude from Jacksonville State University with her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education. Throughout her undergraduate degree, Haley studied Clarinet under Mr. Mark Brandon. She is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Music Education at Jax State while serving the university bands through her teaching assistantship. 
     
    During her undergraduate studies, Haley was involved in many ensembles, such as: Head Clarinet Section Leader for the Marching Southerners, Chamber Winds, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, JSU Clarinet Studio, and the JSU Civic Symphony. Haley student taught at Ohatchee High School during the Spring of 2023 under the direction of Mrs. Gena Nix. She expects to graduate with her Master of Arts in Music Education in the Spring of 2025. 
     
     
     
    HIGH BRASS INSTRUCTOR - BRODY HESTER
     
    Hello! My name is Brody Hester, and I am so excited to be the high brass instructor for Ohatchee’s band camp this year! I am going into my fourth year of college and am a music education major. I graduated from Ohatchee, where I marched and became drum major for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. I am going into my fourth year with the Marching Southerners and had the honor of being selected as a section leader for the upcoming season. I cannot wait to see what the Marching Indians can do this year! 
     
     
     
    LOW BRASS INSTRUCTOR - DEVON WILSON
     
    My name is Devon Wilson, and I am the low brass instructor for the Marching Indians. I graduated from Ohatchee in 2022, where I was deeply involved in the music program. Since graduating, I have returned every summer to instruct the student musicians. I am excited to continue supporting our talented students and watching them achieve their goals!
     
     

    PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR - GENE INGLIS

    Gene Inglis, a graduate of Jacksonville State University, has been working as a music educator for forty-nine years, retiring July 1, 2022.  His first position was at Scottsboro Junior High School in Scottsboro, Alabama. Mr. Inglis then moved to Rome, Georgia, where he served for six years at West Rome Junior High School, twelve years at West Rome High School, and eleven years as Director of Bands for Rome City Schools. While in Georgia, Mr. Inglis also served as adjunct percussion instructor for Berry College from 1980-2003. Mr. Inglis served nineteen years as Director of Bands for Saks High School in Anniston, Alabama. He currently serves as a part-time music consultant, conductor and adjudicator.

    Mr. Inglis’s professional honors include Teacher of the Year at West Rome Junior High, 1976; Outstanding Band Director Award for the State of Georgia, presented by the American School Band Directors Association, 1983; Teacher of the Year at West Rome High School, 1990 and Saks High School 2022; recipient of the “Legion of Honor” presented by the John Philip Sousa Foundation and the National Band Association at the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, IL, 2002; nominee to the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame, 2004 & 2010; “Citation of Excellence'' presented by the National Band Association, 2007 & 2012; Alabama recipient for the “50 Directors Making a Difference” in Band and Orchestra Magazine, 2007; Alabama Music Educators Association’s “Outstanding Music Educator Award,” 2013; System representative to the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame, 2015.  Presenter at the Midwest Clinic 2016 and AMEA Conference 2021.

    Gene is married to the former Shenley Back of Gadsden, Alabama. They have one son, Tony, and two daughters, Gena Nix & Allison Brown. They are the grandparents to six grandchildren: Taylor and Emma Nix, TJ and Mason Brown, Claire and Kinley Inglis.

    I am honored to work alongside my daughter and the Marching Indians!

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    MAJORETTE INSTRUCTOR - KAITLIN THOMPSON

    Hello Ohatchee! My name is Kaitlin Thompson. I have the pleasure of being your Ohatchee Marching Indians Majorette Instructor for the third season. I have twirled since I was 6 years old, and I was a majorette at Oxford High School for four years. I am also the majorette instructor for Pleasant Valley High School Marching Band. I have been coaching majorettes for 9 years. I have my own studio, Sunshine Valley Twirling, which opened in the Fall of 2023. Coaching these twirlers is my passion, my pride, my joy, and one of the biggest blessings of my life. Majorettes are not the only thing that my heart beats for. I have four beautiful children that keep me on my toes every single day! I work full-time at Jacksonville State University as the Administrative Associate for the Vice Provost for Student Success. To say that we are busy is an understatement, and to have the opportunity to serve your community is something that I will forever be extremely grateful for. I can not wait to see what this year holds! Roll Tribe Roll!

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    DANCE LINE INSTRUCTOR - TORI WILLIAMS

    Hello everyone! My name is Tori Williams, and I am beyond excited to be the dance instructor for this season! I am a Thompson High School graduate from Alabaster, Alabama. I was a varsity Thompson Warriorette from 2017 to 2021. Before the high school dance team, I was a competitive dancer at two different studios in my hometown. I have been dancing for 17 years and still currently dance and serve as a group leader for the Marching Ballerinas at Jacksonville State University. As well as dancing, I am majoring in political science at JSU. As you can probably tell, dance is my passion and something I find joy in. Watching others grow through their journey as a dancer is a true blessing and something I wouldn’t trade for the world. I cannot wait to see what this year brings and watch these dancers grow throughout the season!

     

    COLOR GUARD INSTRUCTOR - SYDNEY VAUGHN

    Sydney Vaughn is proud to be the Ohatchee Marching Indians Color Guard Instructor! Sydney has been active in guard for seven years and is currently spinning in her 13th season. Her roots began in color guard at Rome High School as a freshman, spinning with the Rome High School Color Guard from 2018-2022 as well as the Rome High School Winterguard from 2020-2022. Sydney currently attends Jax State University, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She has been a member of the Marching Southerners Color Guard weapon line since 2022 and will be starting her third season with them in 2024! Sydney has also spun with Edge Independent Open for the 2023-2024 winter seasons. This summer, she was given the opportunity of spinning with the Atlanta CV Drum nd Bugle Corps for their 2024 production, Civilization.

    Color guard has been a huge part of her life and she can't wait to work alongside the Ohatchee Guard, building their skills and confidence to a level where they love guard as much as she does. Sydney is excited to see what this season has to offer for them!