Brian Quakenbush has been involved with music for much of his life. Originally from Central North Carolina, he played French horn and trumpet through high school. While attending UNC- Chapel Hill, he was an active free-lance musician in the Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill areas performing with the North Carolina Symphony, Show Choirs with Brightleaf Music Camps at Duke University, UNC Symphony, Durham Symphony, and the Raleigh Symphony, and sitting in countless musicals performing in the pit. While studying at UNC with Jim Ketch, his mentor teacher, he became a founding member of the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra, which performs music of historical importance. During this time at UNC he met his wife, Jenny, and soon moved to the hills of Bristol, Tennessee. While in Bristol, Brian attended East Tennessee State University, where he performed in the Johnson City Symphony and the ETSU Faculty Brass Quintet. After graduating, Brian became band director at Virginia High School in Bristol, Virginia, where he took the band to Virginia Honor Band status by receiving Superior ratings in Marching and Concert Assessment within the same school year. After two years at Virginia High, the Quakenbushes relocated to Lynchburg, where he was band director at Heritage High School, where his bands twice received Virginia Honor Band status in Virginia.
Brian was the Music chair and band director at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County and an assistant at Cave Spring Middle School for 20 years. Here, he cultivated a strong music program with the band receiving honors at competitions and assessment venues across the district and state events. He developed the jazz program into one of the distinguished ensembles in the state, inviting musicians/educators/artists to participate and mentor students, and coach ensembles to even higher levels. Many students continued with their music endeavors beyond high school.
The Quakenbush family resides in the Roanoke area and has three children, Jason, Samuel, and Drew. From 2012 through 2019, Brian served on the Cave Spring Little League Baseball Board as VP of the Majors division and as Safety Coordinator for the League.
Since 2010, Brian has been a member of Brass 5. This ensemble has performed educational programs throughout Virginia. Brass 5 has been included in the Virginia Commission for the Arts Arts-in-Education Residency Program and has been nominated for the "Governor's Award for the Arts." Brass 5 members are Yamaha Performing Artists and are affiliated with the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Mr. Quakenbush was named “Teacher of the Year” at Cave Spring High School in his inaugural year and has been named to the Marquis "Who's Who in America", and the "Who's Who in Teaching" five times, and presented the President's Citation for the Governor's School for Visual and Performing Arts six times. Mr. Quakenbush is a member of the Virginia Music Educator National Conference (MENC and NaFME), National Band Association, alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, and National Educators Association (NEA), member of the Jazz Educators' Network (JEN).
Mr. Quakenbush continues to adjudicate and guest conduct at numerous honor, District, and state band events throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Brian has an invitation to perform at the National Jazz Workshop in the summer of 2026 with the Vosbein-Magee Big Band!
Brian is featured on three recordings that can be found on Spotify and iTunes with the bands, The Vosbien-Magee Big Band, "Vagabond", “Come and Get it,” and on the recording “Chris White and Pandemusicum.” He has performed locally and regionally with a diverse range of musicians, including James Taylor, Ron Holloway, Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Sherrie Maricle, Chris Vadala, and John D’earth.
In 2018, Brian completed his Master's in Instructional Design and Technology through Virginia Tech.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/brian-quakenbush
Brian was the Music chair and band director at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County and an assistant at Cave Spring Middle School for 20 years. Here, he cultivated a strong music program with the band receiving honors at competitions and assessment venues across the district and state events. He developed the jazz program into one of the distinguished ensembles in the state, inviting musicians/educators/artists to participate and mentor students, and coach ensembles to even higher levels. Many students continued with their music endeavors beyond high school.
The Quakenbush family resides in the Roanoke area and has three children, Jason, Samuel, and Drew. From 2012 through 2019, Brian served on the Cave Spring Little League Baseball Board as VP of the Majors division and as Safety Coordinator for the League.
Since 2010, Brian has been a member of Brass 5. This ensemble has performed educational programs throughout Virginia. Brass 5 has been included in the Virginia Commission for the Arts Arts-in-Education Residency Program and has been nominated for the "Governor's Award for the Arts." Brass 5 members are Yamaha Performing Artists and are affiliated with the Virginia Commission for the Arts.
Mr. Quakenbush was named “Teacher of the Year” at Cave Spring High School in his inaugural year and has been named to the Marquis "Who's Who in America", and the "Who's Who in Teaching" five times, and presented the President's Citation for the Governor's School for Visual and Performing Arts six times. Mr. Quakenbush is a member of the Virginia Music Educator National Conference (MENC and NaFME), National Band Association, alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity, and National Educators Association (NEA), member of the Jazz Educators' Network (JEN).
Mr. Quakenbush continues to adjudicate and guest conduct at numerous honor, District, and state band events throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
Brian has an invitation to perform at the National Jazz Workshop in the summer of 2026 with the Vosbein-Magee Big Band!
Brian is featured on three recordings that can be found on Spotify and iTunes with the bands, The Vosbien-Magee Big Band, "Vagabond", “Come and Get it,” and on the recording “Chris White and Pandemusicum.” He has performed locally and regionally with a diverse range of musicians, including James Taylor, Ron Holloway, Lionel Richie, The Temptations, Sherrie Maricle, Chris Vadala, and John D’earth.
In 2018, Brian completed his Master's in Instructional Design and Technology through Virginia Tech.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/brian-quakenbush
Shane Mercy
I grew up in a very musical family: my siblings and I all started in piano lessons at a young age and later pursued band or orchestra in the public schools. I am originally from Maryland, and later graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Music Education. I have taught both general and instrumental music in all grades K-12 in Maryland and Virginia. Before coming to Blacksburg Middle, I was a band director in Roanoke City at Breckinridge Middle School. My other musical endeavors outside of middle school include serving as a substitute pianist/organist around different churches in the Roanoke Valley, as well as performing with the Roanoke-based community band the Winds of the Blue Ridge.
I grew up in a very musical family: my siblings and I all started in piano lessons at a young age and later pursued band or orchestra in the public schools. I am originally from Maryland, and later graduated from West Virginia University with a degree in Music Education. I have taught both general and instrumental music in all grades K-12 in Maryland and Virginia. Before coming to Blacksburg Middle, I was a band director in Roanoke City at Breckinridge Middle School. My other musical endeavors outside of middle school include serving as a substitute pianist/organist around different churches in the Roanoke Valley, as well as performing with the Roanoke-based community band the Winds of the Blue Ridge.
Darrell Pearman has served as the director of the Blacksburg High School Band Program since 2007 having graduated with honors from Shenandoah Conservatory in 1997 and serving in school districts in Northern Virginia and Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Master of Music in Conducting Degrees from Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. While at Shenandoah, he was a graduate assistant conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, and Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Pearman’s bands have achieved local and national recognition; including entry into the Virginia Honor Band Hall of Fame in March 2010 and consistent superior ratings at concert and marching assessments. The Blacksburg Symphonic Band was also selected to perform at the prestigious Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2018, the 2018 VMEA Conference and at Carnegie Hall in 2023. Prior to coming to Blacksburg, he was the Director of Bands at Woodbridge Sr. High School in Virginia for six years, Screven County High School in Georgia for one year, and Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock, Virginia for three years. During his tenure at Woodbridge, the band performed at the inaugural Disney Honors Music Festival in 2005 and was a four time Virginia Honor Band.
Mr. Pearman has been a member of the trumpet sections for the Maryland Symphony, Western Maryland Symphony, Deep Creek Festival Orchestra, Millbrook Orchestra, and Loudoun Symphony. Mr. Pearman marched with the Division II World Champion Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993. He has judged marching and concert band assessments throughout Virginia. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi.
Mr. Pearman’s bands have achieved local and national recognition; including entry into the Virginia Honor Band Hall of Fame in March 2010 and consistent superior ratings at concert and marching assessments. The Blacksburg Symphonic Band was also selected to perform at the prestigious Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2018, the 2018 VMEA Conference and at Carnegie Hall in 2023. Prior to coming to Blacksburg, he was the Director of Bands at Woodbridge Sr. High School in Virginia for six years, Screven County High School in Georgia for one year, and Peter Muhlenberg Middle School in Woodstock, Virginia for three years. During his tenure at Woodbridge, the band performed at the inaugural Disney Honors Music Festival in 2005 and was a four time Virginia Honor Band.
Mr. Pearman has been a member of the trumpet sections for the Maryland Symphony, Western Maryland Symphony, Deep Creek Festival Orchestra, Millbrook Orchestra, and Loudoun Symphony. Mr. Pearman marched with the Division II World Champion Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps in 1993. He has judged marching and concert band assessments throughout Virginia. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi.