We are happy to announce the instructional staff for the brass track of Stars Academy – our virtual educational program for summer 2021! The brass instructional staff will continue to be led by Eric Gaudet, a seven-year Louisiana Stars staff member and caption head. Gaudet and his team has worked diligently to provide an effective and rewarding educational experience for young performers. He is joined by an all-returning staff of experienced educators.

 

Eric Gaudet

Caption Head

 

Eric Gaudet is a native of Thiboduax, Louisiana and currently lives in Lafayette Louisiana. He received his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He was previously the assistant band director at Comeaux High School. He is currently one of the directors at Edgar Martin Middle School in Lafayette Louisiana where he instructs students that range from 5-8th grade. He is also an active musician, adjudicator, and consultant in the community.

 

His drum corps experience started in 2011 as a member of the Glassmen Drum and Bugle corps in 2011 and 2012. He then went on to perform with the Santa Clara Vanguard during the 2013 marching season. Eric is very excited to start his 7th year with the Louisiana Stars and 3rd year as the Brass Caption Head.

 

Scott Tomlinson

Assistant Caption Head

 

Dr. Scott Tomlison is Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education at the University of Arkansas- Fort Smith. His duties include supervising student teachers, teaching methods courses, and conducting the Jazz Band and Brass Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at UAFS, Dr. Tomlison was the Coordinator of Music Education and Chair of the D’Angelo Department of Music at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. His responsibilities included teaching instrumental conducting, music education courses, and conducting the Mercyhurst Symphony Orchestra. He taught public school music for a total of nine years, including appointments at Poplar Bluff High School (Missouri), Gallatin Co. High School (Kentucky), Grant Co. High School (Kentucky), and Miami East High School (Ohio).

 

In addition to his Mercyhurst appointment, his previous collegiate experience includes Director of Bands at McPherson College and Manchester University. Dr. Tomlison has also served as Assistant Conductor of the University of Missouri Wind Ensemble and Concert Band, as well as drill writer for “Marching Mizzou” and the Murray State University Marching Band. While at Missouri and Murray State, Dr. Tomlison was active as a jazz performer and conducted the second and third jazz ensembles at both institutions. In 1985 and 1986 he marched with the drum corps, Star of Indiana, and became Brass Instructor and Brass Caption Head with Limited Edition from Columbus, Ohio (1989-1991). Most recently, he has served on the brass staff of the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps from Nashville, Tennessee (2011), 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from New London, Connecticut (2014-2017) and Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from Lafayette, Louisiana (2018-present).

 

His research interests include using recordings as models in the rehearsal setting, concert program development, and ensemble grading practices. Dr. Tomlison has presented sessions on these important topics at several state and national music education conferences. He is the co-author of the Middle School Band Edition of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. The volume was published in December of 2014.

 

Dr. Tomlison has served as adjudicator/clinician in Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, Kansas, New York, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. He has twice been named to Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in Collegiate Faculty. He holds a B.M.E. Degree from Eastern Kentucky University, an M.M.E. degree from Murray State University, and a Ph. D. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Missouri-Columbia. His professional affiliations include Arkansas Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Cavalcade of Bands, Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association and Phi Mu Alpha.

 

Andy Hedrick

Brass Instructor

 

Andy Hedrick is a native of Katy, TX and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA. While attending McNeese, Mr. Hedrick studied trumpet with Dave Scott and performed with many ensembles including the McNeese Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Latin Jazz Combo, Trumpet Ensemble, and Brass Quintet as well as being a soloist for The Pride of McNeese Marching Band. Mr. Hedrick also marched with the DCI Finalist Madison Scouts in 2014.

 

Mr. Hedrick studied conducting under Dr. Jay Jacobs and Dr. Jeffrey Lemke while attending McNeese and also conducted University ensembles. Other teachers Mr. Hedrick has had the pleasure of learning from include Brad Green, Donnie VanDoren, Evan VanDoren, Eddie Falcon, Nick Williams, Nicholas Monzi, and Blake Daughtrey.

 

Mr. Hedrick is currently the Associate Band Director at Webb Middle School in Garland, TX. He was previously the Director of Bands at La Marque Middle School and is in his 3rd year of teaching. Mr. Hedrick is also affiliated with the Texas Music Educators Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

 

Gabriel Gonzales

Brass Instructor

 

 

Marie Looney

Brass Instructor

 

Lara Pitts

Brass Instructor

Lara Pitts is excited to return for her third year on staff with Louisiana Stars! A trombone player originally, Lara is a baritone alumnae of Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps from Atlanta, GA. After aging out, she worked on the music staff for Music City Drum Corps from 2011-2012 and Spirit of Atlanta from 2013-2014. Lara is currently the Band Director at Forrest County Agricultural High School in Brooklyn, MS and has held that position since 2015. Her responsibilities with the program at FCAHS include teaching concert band, marching band, jazz combo groups and other small ensembles and serving as the chapter advisor for the school’s TrI M Music Honors Society. She also serves as the director for the middle school band program at South Forrest Attendance Center. 

 

Lara grew up in Tennessee and graduated from Vanderbilt University with her Bachelor of Music. After working in the greater Nashville area for several years, she attended the University of Southern Mississippi and earned her Masters Degree in Music Education. She currently lives in Hattiesburg, MS with her dog Ollie. In addition to teaching in Forrest County, Lara teaches private lessons, sings in the Parkway Heights Sanctuary Choir, and performs in local cover band Hub City Sound Machine on trombone. Her professional affiliations include Sigma Alpha Iota, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Southeast Mississippi Band Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Education.

 

Robert Freeman

Brass Instructor

Robert is Director of Bands at West Monroe High School, a position he has held since 2003. Previously, he was Associate Director from 1997-2003.

 

Robert is a native of West Monroe, LA and a graduate of West Monroe High School. He received the Bachelor of Music Education from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA and the Master of Music in Euphonium Performance from the University of Southern Mississippi. Robert is also a former marching member of the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, IL. He has held positions as Brass Professor at Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, MS and Director of Bands at North Forrest High School in Hattiesburg, MS. Currently, he is on the Brass Instructional Staff with the Louisiana Stars Drum and Bugle Corps from Lafayette, LA, a position he has held since the corps’ inception. Robert Freeman is active as a clinician and adjudicator in wind bands as well as the marching arts.

 

Robert’s bands have consistently garnered superior ratings in marching, concert and sight-reading. His bands have placed highly in regional, state and national performance competitions. They have appeared in many high profile events, including the 2005 Inaugural Parade of George W. Bush and the Inauguration of LA Governor Bobby Jindal. They made their first international appearance at the 2014 London New Years Day Parade in Westminster, UK. Most recently, the West Monroe High School Band was chosen as the Louisiana representative in the 58th Presidential Inaugural Parade. His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, ASBDA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, LMEA and the District I Band Directors Association.