Honor Band

Dr. David Ball is an Associate Professor of Music at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia where he has served as the Director of Bands since 2013. He is a multi-instrumentalist in constant demand as a conductor, adjudicator, clinician and sideman. He can be heard on the Albany, Chandos, and Polyphonic record labels in performances with the Royal Northern College of Music Wind Ensemble and the Ohio Light Opera. David holds degrees in trombone and euphonium performance from the University of Minnesota, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, and Virginia Tech. Dr. Ball is a founding member and Trombonist of the Spark Brass Quintet and the Bassist of Count Me In of Wytheville, Virginia and the Pubknockers of Princeton, West Virginia. He lives in Athens with his two rescue dogs Ollie and Ray-Ray, and is “attempting” to run a half-marathon in every state.

Dan Wilner is the Band Director at George Wythe High School, Scott Memorial Middle School, and the Wytheville Community College Community Band, bringing over 25 years of experience teaching middle and high school band programs across Virginia. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Virginia Tech, where he served as Drum Major of the Marching Virginians and assistant director of the Hokies Basketball Pep Band. During his college years, he was also a member of Delta Omicron, national professional music fraternity.

Under Dan’s leadership, his high school bands have earned six Virginia Honor Band designations from the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA), along with numerous superior ratings at marching and concert band festivals. He is an active member of VBODA, the Virginia Music Education Association (VMEA), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Dan is an active adjudicator and clinician for concert band and marching events across Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Passionate about developing musicianship and student leadership, Dan remains dedicated to fostering excellence in music education and performance at every level. He lives in Wytheville, Virginia with his wife, Abby, and their two children.

Bob Ballengee retired as the band director at Damascus Middle School and Glade Spring Middle School in Washington County Virginia where he has taught for 18 years. Before going to Washington county, Mr. Ballengee taught at Appalachia High School for 4 years and Grayson County High School for 8 years. He was the percussion arranger for Holston High School, Abingdon High School, Chilhowie High School, Virginia High School, Tennessee High School, Richlands High School, Patrick Henry High School as well as the Emory and Henry college marching band. Mr. Ballengee has many years of drum corps experience performing and teaching. He was a member of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps and was the program/staff coordinator for the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps.

Mr. Ballengee is an active arranger, clinician, and adjudicator working with groups from Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Kentucky, and West Virginia. He is an active performer as well playing in several performing groups including rock bands, jazz bands, country bands, musical pit orchestras, and wind ensembles. Mr. Ballengee is currently the house drummer for the Barter Theatre and the drummer for The Great Big Hug (please like/follow them on all of the social media platforms).

Mr. Ballengee is a member of Nafme, Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha.

Bob currently resides in Marion, VA with his wife Candy.