Clinician

Galen Karikker

Dr. Galen S. Karriker is Director of Bands and Professor of Music at The University of Akron.  He conducts the UA Wind Symphony, Concert Band, and coordinates the university bands.  Dr. Karriker also teaches Advanced Conducting, Percussion Methods and oversees the annual Ohio Band Directors Conference and High School Band Clinic Festival.

During his tenure as Director of Bands (2013 – present), The University of Akron Wind Symphony has been selected to perform at the 2016, 2018, and 2020 Ohio Music Education Association State Professional Development Conferences.  From 1999 – 2013, Dr. Karriker served as Assistant Director of Bands and the UA Concert Band performed as a “clinic ensemble” for the OMEA State Convention in 2002 and 2004.

In addition to his teaching schedule, Dr. Karriker is active as a guest conductor and clinician, including clinic sessions at the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2015, 2017 and 2019 Ohio Music Education Association Professional Development Conferences.  He is also a contributing author for the 11^th and 12^th Editions of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band.

Dr. Karriker holds numerous professional memberships and also serves on the John Philip Sousa Foundation-Legion of Honor Committee.  He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Phi Beta Mu and also an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi (92’), Tau Beta Sigma (00’), and Pi Kappa Lambda (03’). 

A former member of the snare line (87’, 88’, & 90’), Dr. Karriker was drum major for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and recipient of the Corpsman of the Year Award in 1991.  Since its inception in 2003, Dr. Karriker has also served as a conducting and leadership clinician for the Phantom Regiment Educational Programs for high school drum majors.

Dr. Karriker earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University in 1992, and a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting from Michigan State University in 1994 and 2012 respectively.  Dr. Karriker served on the faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1995 – 1999 as the Assistant to the Director of Bands.  He is married to Kendra Karriker, Director of Orchestras at Chagrin Exempted School District and they are blessed with two children, Graeson and Korinne.

Clinician

Kevin Rabon

Kevin Rabon is a Louisiana native, attending Bossier High School under the direction of Barry Vowell. He attended Louisiana State University where he studied with Frank Wickes, Linda Moorehouse, and James Byo to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 1996. While at LSU, Mr. Rabon was a 4-year member of the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps from Rockford, Illinois playing trumpet and mellophone. Mr. Rabon began his Jeannie Reed. He has taught at both the middle school and high school level in Austin, Texas as an assistant and head director, and his concert bands and marching bands were consistent UIL Sweepstakes award winners. Mr. Rabon served on the brass staff for the Phantom Regiment from 1999-2009 as the trumpet and mellophone instructor and as Brass Caption Head from 2003-2007. As a member of the Phantom Regiment staff, Mr. Rabon taught with Jeff Shaw, Paul Rennick, Freddy Martin, Sam Pilafian & Pat Sheridan, and many other talented teachers from across the country. Mr. Rabon has been a clinician for the Phantom Regiment Drum Major Camps at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette, Central Arkansas University, and McKendree University, Frostburg University, the University of Akron, and is an active clinician and adjudicator of concert and marching ensembles across the country. He is in his 25^th year of teaching and currently is the Director of Bands at Cope Middle School in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Kevin Rabon is married to Paula Rabon and they have two children, Emeri and Keller. He teaches a full private lesson studio of brass players who regularly place into All-District and All-State ensembles, and he plays trumpet with the Bill Causey Big Band, First United Methodist Church Brass Ensemble,  British Brass Band of Louisiana, and the Red River Wind Orchestra as a freelance musician. He enjoys time away from the musical arts on the golf course and on his motorcycle whenever time allows. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Louisiana Music Educator’s Association, and the Texas Music Educator’s Association, and the National Association for Music Education.

Phantom Regiment Academy Director

Dr. Kate Ferguson

Dr. Kate Ferguson is the Director of Athletic Bands at Youngstown State University. Currently in her twenty-fourth year as an educator, Ferguson previously taught in the Akron Public, Crestwood Local and Cuyahoga Falls City School Districts. Additionally, she has served as a faculty member at The College of Wooster, Southeast Missouri State University, Kent State University. She holds a Bachelors in Music Education degree from Kent State University, a Masters in Music Education Degree from the University of Akron, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from Kent State University.

Under her direction, Ferguson’s ensembles consistently earn superior ratings at both district and state Ohio Music Education Association Events. Her ensembles have been invited to perform at the International Music Festival at the Kennedy Center for the performing arts, the Northeast Ohio Band Invitational at Severance Hall, the Ohio Music Education Association Professional Conference, the Magnificent Mile Light Parade, and the Fort-McDowell Fiesta Bowl Parade. Additionally, her performing groups are highly involved in community performances and events within the Northeast Ohio area.

Ferguson recently presented sessions on Sight Reading at the 2021 Kentucky Music Education Association Conference, the 2018 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the 2019 OMEA Professional Development Conference. Additionally, Ferguson has presented her research on several occasions at the Research Roundtable, and Poster Session associated with the OMEA Professional Development Conference. She has spoken about sight reading and concert preparation during instruction improvement days in the Akron Public Schools. Ferguson is published in Contributions to Music Education, and the TRIAD.

Ferguson is an active member of the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA). Her service to OMEA includes adjudication and hosting High School Solo & Ensemble Events. In addition, she has been a frequent member of the Professional Conference Planning Committee, has served as the All State Band Chair, and Past-President of District VI.