JUDGE BIOS
Phillip Riggs - Chief Judge
Phillip Riggs, 2016 Grammy Music Educator of the Year, retired after teaching more than 30 years in North Carolina. He is a music instructor emeritus at the NC School of Science and Math, Durham, NC. Phillip is a recipient of the Outstanding TeacherAward and the Exceptional Contribution in Outreach Award presented by the UNC Board of Education of Governors. Mr. Riggs was voted into the North Carolina Band Directors Hall of Fame(2023). Prior to joining the NCSSM faculty, he was the first fine arts chair at Ronald Reagan High School, Winston Salem, NC where he was the first faculty member inducted into the Reagan High School Hall of Fame, (Fall, 2015). Before assuming that position, Mr. Riggs taught in Davidson County for sixteen years. Phillip currently serves as a conductor/administrator with the World Adult Wind Orchestra Project (WAWOP) held in Austria each summer. He and his wife Carol are co-founders of the American Music Education Network. Mr. Riggs is a Past President of the NC Band Directors Association. He also served as chair of the North Carolina High School All-State Band (8 years), chair of the NCMEA Technology and founding chair of the NCMEA New Teacher/Mentor Program. He was the coordinator of the National Association for Music Educators, (NAfME) National Wind Ensemble at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (2011, 2012). He has also served as the Southern Division Representative on the NAfME Council for Band and the NC chair of the National Band Association. His professional affiliations include NAfME, NCMEA, NBA, and ASBDA. Phillip, a Conn-Selmer Educational Artist, is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States, Austria, and China.
David Robinson - Music Effect Judge
Mr. David Robinson is a native of Yorktown, VA and graduated from York High School. He received his bachelor in Music Education, from Shenandoah Conservatory of Music. He began his teaching career at Jordan High School in Durham, NC where he taught for 20 years. In 2006 he opened Panther Creek High Band program where he teaches Instrumental Music and is the Arts Department Chair. Since he has been the Director of Bands at Jordan High School and Panther Creek High School he has maintained a well-rounded music program. Panther Creek takes four concert bands (Grades VI/M, VI, V and IV) to MPA, and has received superior ratings with all four groups. The Marching Band consistently receives top honors for their performances. Panther Creek also has two indoor guards, indoor percussion, two jazz ensembles and jazz improvisation combo. All of the ensembles have a great tradition of success always maintaining a high standard of performance. Mr. Robinson performs regularly within the Raleigh and Durham community on Clarinet and Saxophone. He has conducted clinic bands for CDBA All-District bands, UNC-Wilmington honors band, as well as several all-county honors bands throughout NC. He was elected the North Carolina Central District “Band Director of the Year” in 1997, and has received North Carolina’s highest honor, “Award of Excellence” in 2000. Mr. Robinson was selected by School Band and Orchestra Magazine as the 2012 North Carolina representative of 50 Directors who make a difference. Mr. Robinson received his National Board Certificate in 2001 and renewal in 2012. In 2021 Mr Robinson was inducted into the North Carolina Band Directors Hall of Fame. His professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha: Professional Music Fraternity, and the Central District Bandmasters Association. Mr. Robinson’s greatest achievement was to be lucky enough to marry his wife Kim. They have been married for 29 years and have two beautiful and talented children: Taylor (29), and Ben (26).
Todd Dixon - Visual Effect Judge
Todd Dixon began his teaching career in North Texas in 1996 and recently retired as Director of Bands and Fine Arts Department Chair at Wylie High School, where he served from 2007–2024. Under his leadership, the Wylie band program earned consistent UIL First Division ratings, advanced to the TMEA State Honor Band Finals five times, and the Texas UIL State Marching Championships seven times.
The Wylie High School Wind Symphony has performed at Carnegie Hall (four times), Lincoln Center, Butler University’s Clowes Hall, the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas, and the 2017 Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference, as well as three appearances at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival. The Wylie Marching Band performed in the 2022 Dublin, Ireland St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and the program was named the 2023 Outstanding Texas Band Program by the American School Band Directors Association.
Mr. Dixon now resides in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with his wife of 29 years.
Brandon Pope - Visual Performance Judge
Brandon Pope brings over 20 years of marching arts instructional experience to the 2025 judges panel. He holds degrees in Music Education (BM) from East Carolina University and Instructional Technology & Design (MS) from UNC-Wilmington, along with a Technical Diploma in Media Production. Brandon has served as a Band Director in North Carolina and worked with programs across NC, SC, TN, and VA, with ensembles earning recognition at NC Bandmasters Association, USSBA, and Bands of America competitions.
Now an Instructional Technology & Design Professional at NC State University, Brandon continues to bridge education, performance, and technology. His background in teaching, program leadership, and competitive evaluation shapes his judging philosophy: delivering fair, constructive, and growth-focused feedback that supports both students and instructors.
Matt Penland - Percussion Judge
Matt Penland is a percussion performer, educator, and arranger based out of Washington, D.C. where he is a percussionist in the U.S. Air Force Band. Matt is currently a percussion arranger
for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps as well as several high school groups across the country. He spent the last several years as an instructor and lesson teacher at Thomas
Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, VA.
Displaying a comprehensive background in both classical and marching percussion, Matt's performance accolades include: 3rd Prizewinner of the TROMP International Percussion Competition, Top Prizewinner of the Atlanta Modern Snare Drum Competition, DCI Individual
and Ensemble Tenor Champion and PASIC Collegiate Tenor Solo Champion. He was also included alongside Jake Harpster on the album Nightflower, by Elliot Cole, released in 2019.
Matt has performed and given masterclasses at many universities and percussion symposiums including PASIC, and the International Percussion Festival in Seoul. He was a section percussionist with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago before joining the Air Force, and was also a Music Academy of the West percussion fellow. Matt has experience as an instructor at the Santa Clara Vanguard, George Mason University Indoor Drumline, and previously arranged music for Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, the Hawthorne Caballeros and Guardians Drum Corps.
Matt earned a Bachelor of Music Performance degree from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music Performance degree from Northwestern University. His teachers included She-e
Wu, Christopher Lamb, Vadim Karpinos, James Ross, Paul Rennick, Christopher Deane, and Mark Ford.
Matt proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Dynasty USA and Zildjian products.
Alex Alberti - Timing Judge
Alexander [Alex] Alberti lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. Alberti currently serves as the Artistic Director and conductor of the Triangle Pride Band, a local community symphonic and marching program. He formerly taught at Longleaf School of the Arts in Raleigh, North Carolina as the Director of Instrumental Music. At LSA, he taught Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, AP Music Theory, AP Psychology, Music History, and a contemporary a cappella ensemble, along with running the school's Indoor Marching Ensemble program.
Alberti received his Master's degree in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is an alumnus of Appalachian State University, where he holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education and a minor in Psychology. Alberti is an active researcher in the field of music education, contemporary vocal music, and music theory pedagogy, presenting his findings nationally at conferences such as NAfME, the College Music Society, and NCUR.
In his spare time, Alberti composes both choral and instrumental works, judges for the International Competition for Collegiate A Cappella and A Cappella Education Association, and participates in the semi-professional a cappella group, Triadic Vocals.
Bill Staub- Music Performance Ensemble Judge
William Staub is in his 14th year at East Carolina University and sixth year as Director of Bands. He oversees the band programs at ECU, conducts and directs the ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and teaches conducting and music education courses. Since arriving at ECU, Staub has conducted multiple world premieres including works by Pulitzer Prize winning composer Melinda Wagner, Grawemeyer winning composer Lei Liang and Guggenheim Fellow Ed Jacobs. Dr. Staub and the ECU Symphonic Wind Ensemble were invited to perform at the NCMEA convention in 2022.
Prior to becoming director of bands, Staub served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at ECU. Under his direction, the ECU Marching Pirates performed at a Carolina Panthers football game, the Superdome and Tropicana Field in addition to many exhibitions throughout North Carolina.
Dr. Staub came to ECU from Iowa State University where he served as Assistant Director of Bands with duties including assisting with the Cyclone Marching Band and conducting the Symphonic and Concert Bands. Staub has also taught public school in Austin, Texas at Grisham Middle School. While there, he co-conducted the Grisham Middle School Symphony Orchestra at their performance at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention.
In addition to his formal teaching positions, Dr. Staub is highly in demand as a clinician, adjudicator and conductor. His residencies have included the University of Akron, Michigan State University, New Mexico State University, UNC-Wilmington, Duke University, the University of Georgia, Western Washington University, and the University of Puget Sound. In 2010, he participated in the West Point Conducting Workshop where he guest conducted the West Point Band in concert. In 2017, Staub served as one of the conductors for the World Youth Wind Orchestra Project in Schladming, Austria. Since 2015, Dr. Staub has served as conductor of the Symphonic Band at the New England Music Camp in Sidney, Maine.
Staub received his Doctor of Musical Arts from Northwestern University, where he was a conducting student of Mallory Thompson; his master’s degree in conducting from Michigan State University, where he was a student of Kevin Sedatole; and his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University, where he studied euphonium with Sam Pilafian and conducting with Gary Hill. In 2018, Dr. Staub received the ECU Alumni Association Outstanding Teaching Award. In 2019, he received the East Carolina Creed faculty award for Integrity. Staub is a member of NCMEA, CBDNA, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Kappa Phi and is an honorary member of Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Mark Whitfield - Music Performance Individual Judge
Dr. Mark Whitfield is an active performer, educator, and clinician originally from eastern North Carolina. He is currently serving as Director of Athletic Bands at High Point University in High Point, NC. Prior to his appointment at HPU, Dr. Whitfield held teaching positions at NC State University, Northeastern State University (OK), East Carolina University, Jackson State University (MS), and spent time teaching public school in North Carolina.
Mark has performed with a variety of ensembles throughout the country and around the world, including The North Carolina Symphony, the Andrew Thielen Big Band, the North Carolina Brass Band, the Ringling Brothers & Barnum and Bailey Circus Band, the Midtown Men, the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, and Mac McAnally & the Coral Reefer Band. Dr. Whitfield gave the European premiere of Frank Gulino’s Concerto No. 1: The Journey (a piece he researched extensively for his doctoral capstone project) with the North Carolina State University Wind Ensemble at the Royal College of Music in London in the summer of 2023. He was an original cast member of the Mason Entertainment Group production Blast! The Music of Disney, serving as Music Manager and performing on trombone and euphonium to sold-out crowds in Tokyo, Osaka, Shiga, and Nagoya in 2016. He was also a member of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from 2005-2009, serving as Drum Major from 2007-2009.
Mark earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in Trombone Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Southern Mississippi, Master of Music in Trombone Performance from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Bachelor of Music in Music Education from The University of North Carolina at Wilmington. Dr. Whitfield is a Yamaha Performing Artist, and is proud to perform exclusively on Greg Black Mouthpieces. He holds memberships in the International Trombone Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Stephanie Stewart - Colorguard Judge
Stephanie Renell Stewart is from the Atlanta, Georgia area and has been involved with marching arts programs across the country for 30 years. She is currently working with Paramount Winter Guard. Her experience also includes Carolina Crown Winterguard, Phantom Regiment Winterguard and various high schools in the area. Stephanie began her teaching career with FFCC colorguards such as the Knights, Cypress Creek High School, Freedom High School and Seminole High! She has worked with drum corps including Carolina Crown, Phantom Regiment, Boston Crusaders, Madison Scouts, and Santa Clara Vanguard. She is currently a judge with the Gulf Coast Judges Association. She is a consultant for color guards across the country and leads clinics for instructors seeking to improve their approach to show design, instructional development and creating a positive culture within their teams.