JMB Faculty and Staff
Dr. William H. Petersen
Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands
Dr. Will Petersen was appointed to the faculty of the University of South Alabama
in 2012. In his position as Director of Bands at the USA, he oversees all aspects
of the University Bands program. In addition to conducting the USA Wind Ensemble,
Dr. Petersen teaches courses in music education, conducting, as well as applied tuba
and euphonium. Dr. Petersen serves as Director of the Jaguar Marching Band and Director
of Athletic Bands, having previously served in the role from 2013-2019. He is active
as an guest conductor, adjudicator, and clinician of concert and marching bands throughout
the country. Read more about Dr. Petersen
Dr. Robert D. Abend
Associate Director of Bands, Associate Director of Athletic Bands
Dr. Rob Abend was appointed as Associate Director of Bands and Associate Director of Athletic Bands at the University of South Alabama in the summer of 2022. He recently completed his studies at Michigan State University, where he earned his DMA in Wind Conducting. At MSU he assisted and guest conducted with all concert bands, assisted with athletic bands, marching band methods, and undergraduate conducting courses. His primary conducting teacher is Dr. Kevin L. Sedatole. Rob earned his Masters degree in wind conducting at Western Michigan University where he studied with Dr. Scott Boerma. Upon graduation from WMU, Rob was recipient of the All-University Graduate Teaching Effectiveness Award, an honor given to only three masters teaching assistants across the entire university. Read more about Dr. Abend
Dr. Clayton Maddox, Jr.
Assistant Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of Tuba & Euphonium
Clayton Maddox, a native of South Bay, Florida, serves as Assistant Director of Bands
and Assistant Professor of Tuba & Euphonium at the University of South Alabama. He
is an active soloist, chamber artist, and educator. He has previously held teaching
positions at Arkansas Tech University and Henderson State University.
Clayton has competed in several international competitions such as the Leonard Falcone International Solo Artist Competition and the International Tuba Association Solo Artist Competition. He is a founding member of the Boreas Quartet, which debuted its first album, "The Serpent's Kiss", and has since received the Roger Bobo Award for Excellence in Recording from the International Tuba and Euphonium Association. He is also the music director of the Backburner Tuba and Euphonium Collective. Read more about Dr. Maddox
Dr. Brian Nozny
Director of Percussion Studies
Brian Nozny, Director of Percussion Studies at the University of South Alabama, leads
a diversified career as a percussionist, composer, and educator spanning a wide array
of musical styles, including classical, jazz, world, and popular genres. As a percussionist,
he has performed in an orchestral capacity with many orchestras throughout the country
and currently serves as Principal Timpanist with Sinfonia Gulf Coast (Destin, FL).
His excursions into chamber music have included collaborations with groups such as
the Bravura Percussion Trio, the Copper Street Brass Quintet, the nief-norf project,
the Brickhouse Jazz Combo, and currently as a member of JP3 (The John Psathas Percussion
Project) and the BRN Duo with his wife, flutist Rachel Nozny. Read more about Dr. Nozny
Mrs. Marsha Foster
Director, USA Colorguard
Marsha Foster has instructed High School and College color guards in the Southeastern
United States for more than 25 years. Some of the award winning guards include: Collierville
H.S. in Collierville, TN., Briarcrest H.S. in Memphis, TN., Halls H.S. in Halls, TN.,
Theodore H.S. in Theodore, AL., Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, LA., and Georgia
Southern University in Savannah, GA. Currently Mrs. Foster is the instructor at Daphne
H.S. in Daphne, AL for both the fall and winter guard programs. Under her direction
the DHS guard has won numerous Best in Class/Show awards at marching band contests.
The DHS winter guard is the GCGC Class A Champion from 2006 – 2009 as well as a WGI
semi-finalist at the 2008 & 2009 WGI World Championships. They are the WGI Pensacola
Regional Class A Champion for 2010. Mrs. Foster graduated from Memphis State University,
now the University of Memphis, with a Bachelor of Music degree. At MSU she was the
color guard captain for 3 years and choreographed all flag and rifle routines. In
1982 she was a member of the rifle line with the Memphis Blues Brass Band drum and
bugle corps. Mrs. Foster has been married to Mark Foster for 25 years and they have
two daughters.
Mr. Jared Messinger
Instructor, USA Jaguar Drumline
Jared Messinger is in his fifth year of teaching and currently resides in Daphne,
Alabama. He serves as the Instructor for the USA Jaguar Drumline where he oversees
all aspects of the marching percussion program with the Jaguar Marching Band. In the
Fall of 2016, the Fairhope High School graduate went on to study at the University
of South Alabama where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Messinger’s
teaching experience began in 2017 when he taught and arranged for multiple drumlines
in Mobile County. While at USA, he marched on the drumline and served as a Student
Assistant Conductor/Marching Percussion Arranger in his final year. As a student,
Messinger studied with Joe Fant, Luis Rivera and Matthew Greenwood. In Daphne, Messinger
the Director of Audio/Visual at a prominent Church.
Dr. Thomas Rowell
Voice of the Jaguar Marching Band
Dr. Thomas L. Rowell, tenor, is the Coordinator of Vocal Studies and directs USA Opera
Theatre. He teaches studio voice, vocal pedagogy and song literature. His vocal and
choral teachers include George C. Martin, Joseph Blass, Sharon C. Mabry, David Robinson,
George Mabry, and C. David Keith. Vocal coaches/artists and conductors Dr. Rowell
has worked with include Amy Johnson, Vernon Hartman, Mark Thomsen, James Taylor, William
Cotten, Jim Caraher, Hugh Keelan, Jerome Shannon, Kamal Khan, Michael Borowitz, Hal
France, Andy Anderson, Jeffrey Rink, Xiaolun Chen, and Danielle Orlando. Read more about Dr. Rowell
Mrs. Allison Harris
Program Assistant, University Bands and Jaguar Marching Band
Mrs. Allison Harris serves as the Program Assistant for the Jaguar Marching Band and
University Bands in the Department of Music. She joined the Department of Music in
2014 and is involved with all aspects of administration and planning for the JMB and
University Bands program. She and her husband Marty live in Mobile with their children
Camdon and Avarie.
Mrs. Peggy Doyle
Secretary, Department of Music
Mrs. Peggy Doyle, Department of Music Secretary, has been employed at the University
of South Alabama since 1998 and has been an integral part of the Department of Music
since 1999. She attended Davidson High School and lived and traveled to a number of
states after graduation. Having owned her own business in Alaska for five years,
she returned to Mobile in 1993 where she met and married her husband, Bob. She has
been an integral part of the staff of the JMB since its inception in 2009.
Dr. Laura Moore
Chair, Department of Music
Dr. Laura Moore is the Director of Choral Activities at the University of South Alabama,
where she directs the Concert Choir and Chorale. She also teaches music history and
instrumental and choral conducting. She received her doctorate in Choral Conducting
from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Other earned degrees include
the BA from Davidson College, a Master’s degree in Piano Performance from the Peabody
Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and a Master’s degree in Choral Conducting
from UNC Greensboro. Read more about Dr. Moore
Mr. Sean Grizzle
Photographer, Jaguar Marching Band
I was born and raised in Mobile, Alabama. I joined the band in 5th grade at Mobile
Christian School and continued in band all throughout college. After attending several
marching honor bands, I decided to attended The University of Southern Mississippi
and joined The Pride of Southern Mississippi Marching Band while working on studies
in TV and Communications (JMB was not around back in 2000!). I spent 5 years with
the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band. I was also involved in SOMISPO (the Southern
Miss Steel Pan Orchestra) and while there. I am looking forward to my 2nd year with
the ensemble and watching, listening, and capturing this fantastic group of musicians.
I hope that current and future members will have this content going forward to remember
their time at USA and with the JMB. Go JAGS!