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JUDGE BIOS
Phillip Riggs - Chief Judge
Mark Beamish - Music Effect Judge
Ralph Stewart - Visual Effect Judge
Ralph currently lives in Alpharetta, GA. He is a graduate of East Carolina University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. Ralph marched in the brass section of Carolina Crown from 1991-1993, and served as Drum Major from 1994-1996. Ralph joined the visual staff of Boston Crusaders in 2000 and was their visual designer in 2005. In 2006, he returned to Carolina Crown, working with the visual team until 2008.
He has also served as the visual designer for Teal Sound, the visual caption head for the Blue Stars, and most recently as visual designer for the Colts and the Phantom Regiment. He’s been an active judge and clinician for many indoor and marching band circuits for over 20 years, and is a designer for bands, guards, and indoor percussion programs throughout the US.
Ian Jeffrey - Visual Performance Judge
Ian Jeffrey was born, raised, and currently resides in Richmond, Virginia where he holds the General Music Teacher position at Gayton Elementary School in Henrico County. Ian received his degree in Music Education at Virginia Commonwealth University and graduated in the spring of 2017.
Ian's marching experience began at the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from 2012-2015. He was the tuba section leader for the 2013 and 2014 seasons and the horn sergeant for his age-out year in 2015. He also marched WGI at George Mason University as a cymbal player during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, where he held a section leader position.
Ian’s teaching experience in the marching arts began at Deep Run High School in 2012. He taught at the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps from 2016-2019 with his last year there as the Assistant Visual Caption Head. Ian also taught at the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps as a visual instructor from 2020-2021. Ian also has some experience in education with WGI where he held the position of Visual Manager at the George Mason University Indoor Drumline from 2016-2020. He has taught and designed for a few local indoor drumlines throughout the Richmond area.
Currently, Ian writes drill and choreography for multiple schools around the country. He is also the wind and battery choreographer for Panther Creek High School.
Ian brings a wide variety of concepts, pedagogy, and approaches to visual adjudication. He believes his various experiences in the marching arts will allow him to be successful in adjudicating today’s performing ensembles.
Oliver DeLotto - Percussion Judge
Oliver DeLotto is an active performer, educator, and percussion arranger. A native of Virginia, Oliver was introduced to the piano at an early age. He transitioned his focus to percussion after being exposed to competitive drum corps. His performance career as a marching snare drummer includes the Hawthorne Caballeros, Glassmen, Carolina Crown, Bluecoats, and the George Mason University Indoor Drumline. Oliver has also performed with groups such as the Winds of the Blue Ridge, Washington City Choir, GMU Percussion Group, UT Percussion Ensemble, UT Wind Ensemble, Hong Kong Wind Philharmonia, and the Dallas Winds. From 2011-2018 Oliver worked as a percussion teacher and arranger with Cave Spring HS, South County HS, Fairfax HS, and Chantilly HS in Virginia, as well as various programs in the central and North Texas areas.
Oliver graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from George Mason University and a master’s degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Texas at Austin. He most recently served as the Percussion Director at Tarpon Springs Leadership Conservatory for the Arts in Tarpon Springs, FL from 2021-2024. In addition to public school teaching, Mr. DeLotto was on the battery staff at the Colts Drum & Bugle Corps from 2016-2019, Rhythmic Force Percussion in 2018, and Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps in 2021. Oliver is a performing artist with D’Addario & Co. and Sabian Cymbals, but most importantly, is a proud husband and father.
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.
Wes Parker - Music Performance Ensemble Judge
Dr. Wes Parker is an active clinician, adjudicator, trombonist, and guest conductor who has worked with middle school, high school, and collegiate jazz ensembles throughout the Southeast. He has directed numerous All-State and All-Region honor bands in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee, and is in demand as both a jazz and classical trombonist. As a Teaching Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at North Carolina State University since 2006, Dr. Parker directs multiple jazz ensembles, coaches jazz combos, and teaches jazz history and jazz improvisation.
Parker’s trombone playing has been heard in jazz ensembles and orchestras throughout the United States. As an active freelance musician, he has shared the stage with such artists as Aretha Franklin, Idina Menzel, Placido Domingo, Branford Marsalis, Ellis Marsalis, Michael Feinstein, Josh Groban, Regis Philbin, the Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller Orchestras, the Temptations, and the Pointer Sisters. Parker performs regularly in the North Carolina Opera and Carolina Ballet Orchestras, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, and is a member of the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra.
Under Parker’s direction, the Jazz Program at NC State has grown to offer three big bands and four jazz combos, has performed multiple times at the annual North Carolina Music Educators Association conference, and the advanced jazz combo will soon release its second studio album, For the First Time Again. His bands have hosted and performed with such notable jazz musicians as Bobby Shew, Jiggs Whigham, Wayne Bergeron, Jeff Coffin, Michael Dease, Terrel Stafford, Harry Watters, Chris Vadala, Bryan Carter, Marcus Roberts, Tim Armacost, and Arturo O’Farrill. The NC State Jazz Orchestra recently performed at The Midwest Clinic in December 2022, and was excited to be the first collegiate ensemble to represent the state of North Carolina in the 76-year history of the conference.
Dr. Parker in an Outstanding Teacher Award winner at North Carolina State University and has received a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association. Prior to his appointment at NC State, he served as an interim professor of trombone at The University of Southern Mississippi, and spent time teaching public school in Mississippi and Oklahoma. Dr. Parker holds a degree in Music Education from Tennessee Tech University, and both his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Trombone Performance and Pedagogy from The University of Southern Mississippi.
Michael Larkin - Music Performance Individual Judge
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 over 25 years. She is currently working with Carolina Crown Drum Bugle Corps and Paramount Winterguard. She has worked with other groups including Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts, and Santa Clara Vanguard. She has also been involved with many high school programs.
Her experience also includes Carolina Crown Winterguard, Phantom Regiment Winterguard and the Knights. Stephanie is currently a judge with the Gulf Coast Judges Association and judges across the country during fall and Winterguard seasons.