John C. Carmichael, Associate Professor of Conducting and Director of Bands, is an adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician throughout the United States. He conducts the USF Wind Ensemble and the USF Symphony Band.

Carmichael served as Director of the 2007 Festival of Winds, a high school student recruitment tool for the USF School of Music. In previous years, he conducted high school band performances at the Festival, and in the Tournament of Roses Parade, Tri-State Band Festival, NBA National Convention, and Southern Division MENC Conference.

He led the Lakeland High School Band for two appearances at the Mid-West International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and received the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor. Polk County Teacher of the Year, Carmichael received the key to the city of Lakeland and two Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association.

He conducted highly acclaimed wind ensemble performances at both the Moscow Conservatory and the Russian Officers Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Metropolitan Orchestra for the Carolina Ballet. He founded the Furman Civic Wind Ensemble, which produced two widely distributed compact discs. Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia awarded him the prestigious Orpheus award in Spring 1993.

Carmichael belongs to the American Bandmasters Association, National Band Association, WASBE, CBDNA, KMEA, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Phi, Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, ASBDA, Phi Beta Mu, and the Conductors Guild.

He earned his BME at Florida State University, his MA at the University of South Florida, and a PhD in Music Education from Florida State University.

Matthew McCutchen is the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Florida. In addition to directing the University’s Marching Band, the “Herd of Thunder” (HOT), he also conducts the Symphonic Band, oversees the Concert Band, and teaches courses in conducting and music education.

Dr. McCutchen earned a Ph.D. in music education with an emphasis in instrumental conducting from The Florida State University where he served as a graduate assistant for the entire band program. He earned a master’s in conducting from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and a bachelor’s in music education from Furman University.

McCutchen has extensive public school experience from the ten years he spent teaching middle and high school in both Georgia and Virginia. In addition, he served on VCU’s faculty as an adjunct professor of percussion and conducting after completing his degree there and while teaching at Atlee High School in Hanover County, Virginia.

McCutchen is an active guest conductor, clinician, adjudicator, and performer who has had articles published in the “NBA Journal”, the official publication of the National Band Association, as well as in the “Teaching Band Through Performance” series. He serves on the National Band Association/William D. Revelli Memorial Band Composition Contest committee, and was co-founder of the Commonwealth Winds; an ensemble comprised of teachers and professional musicians in Richmond, Virginia. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Beta Mu, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

He and his wife, Nash, currently reside in Tampa, FL.

Bryan Braue is the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of South Florida. In addition to working with the “Herd of Thunder” (HOT) Marching Band, he also coordinates all aspects of the “Rumble” Pep Band and “Horns Up” Show Band, serves as a guest conductor for the University Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, conducts the Concert Band, and teaches courses in music education. Outside his teaching responsibilities, he serves as the Admissions Director for the School of Music, as well as the Executive Director for the USF Summer Music Camps, Festival of Winds (High School honor band), and Symphonic Celebration (Middle School honor band).

Mr. Braue earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Stetson University while studying under Dr. Bobby Adams. In 2006, Mr. Braue became the Director of Bands at Clearwater High School where his teaching responsibilities included the Marching Band, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Braue also served as the District Chairman for the Florida Bandmasters Association District IX, and was Chairman for the Pinellas All-County Secondary Bands. From 2011-2013, Mr. Braue attended the University of South Florida, earning a master’s degree in instrumental conducting while studying under Dr. John Carmichael, Dr. Matthew McCutchen, and Dr. William Wiedrich. As a Graduate Assistant he worked for the USF Athletic Bands and served as a guest conductor for the University Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Braue is an active clinician, guest conductor, and adjudicator throughout the state of Florida. He is a member of the Florida Music Educators Association, The Florida Bandmasters Association, The National Band Directors Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi and Sigma Alpha Iota.

Jason Bombaugh currently serves as the Academic Program Specialist and Office Administrator for the Herd of Thunder (HOT) Athletic Bands. He joined the HOT staff in August 2009. His responsibilities include managing the finances of the Herd of Thunder, facilitating the band’s travel, maintaining the HOT website, and acting as the Liaison between the HOT Bands and the USF Athletics Department.

Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education (B.M.E.) from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, FL (2003). His primary instruments are French Horn and Voice. He taught in the public school system for five years – four of those years at the high school level teaching Marching Band, Concert Band, Chorus, and Orchestra.

Jason is a member of Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, and Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity. He was also named as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006!

He resides in Riverview, Florida with his wife Michelle, their daughter Sydney, and their cocker spaniels Sundae and Rimsky.

Kevin von Kampen is the Percussion Director for the University of South Florida Herd of Thunder Marching Band. Mr. von Kampen graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and recently earned a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from USF. While attending USF, he served as a Graduate Assistant for the HOT Marching Band, conducted the Rumble Basketball Band, and assisted with teaching several music education courses including conducting and marching band methods.

As a performer, Kevin is active in solo, concerto, chamber, and large ensemble works. His marching experience includes the Cornhusker Marching Band Drumline and Dojo Percussion, an independent indoor drumline out of Omaha, Nebraska. In addition to his duties with the bands at USF and the HOT Drum Line, Kevin is also an active educator and clinician throughout the Tampa Bay area. His primary teachers include Robert McCormick, Al Rometo, Tony Falcone, and Dana Murray.

Jamie Dyer is the Color Guard Director at the University of South Florida. He resides in Tampa, FL where he is an elementary school teacher. He grew up in Pinellas County and graduated from Boca Ciega High School in 2002. After high school, Jamie joined the University of South Florida Marching Band as a music major and from there found his passion for color guard. He joined the USF Winter Guard in 2003 and stayed committed to this group until aging out in 2006.

Jamie has taught at many surrounding schools in both Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. He graduated with his Bachelor of Science degree in Exceptional Student Education K-12. Go Bulls!

Liz Bannon graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She is currently a 4th grade teacher in Hillsborough County. Liz was a member of the Herd of Thunder (HOT) Color Guard in 2004, and the USF Winter Guard from 2004-2008, serving in leadership as captain her last year. Liz was the director of Northside Christian Elementary, Middle, and High School guards from 2004-2013. She was also the director of USFII Winter Guard in 2013. She looks forward to keeping old traditions and adding on to make new traditions and memories in the program.

Stephen Alia has been designing crowd-pleasing drill for the Herd of Thunder since 2008. Stephen is a professional visual designer for the marching arts. As the owner of Stephen Alia Visual Design, LLC, his active visual design clientele includes college and high school bands from Florida, Indiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. In addition, he is a member of the design and instructional staff for the Medellin Gran Banda from Medellin, Columbia and the Artistic Director for the Horizon Performing Arts Association from Auburndale, Florida. From 2011-2013, Stephen served as Program Coordinator and Visual Designer for the Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, a Drum Corps International Open Class Finalist.

Stephen was a public school band director in central Florida for the seventeen years. Most recently, he served as the Director of Bands at Jere L. Stambaugh Sr. Middle School in Auburndale, Florida, directing the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Beginning Bands, and the three-time State Champion Stambaugh Color Guard. In addition, Stephen is a member of the music education faculty of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

Stephen was the Frostproof Middle/Senior High School Teacher of the Year in 2005 and has been listed in “Who’s Who of American Teachers” twice.

Stephen has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Central Florida, where he studied trumpet with Lyman Brodie and John Almeida. He performed as a member of the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps.

Stephen judges marching band as a member of the Central States Judges Association and indoor guard and percussion with the Florida Federation Judges Association. His professional affiliations include MENC, FMEA, FBA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

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