Jamey Boezi, Director of Bands
Jamey Boezi is an educator, arranger, and composer from Troy, Ohio. Currently in his second year of teaching, he serves as Director of Bands at Norton City Schools. Mr. Boezi is an alumnus of The Ohio State University, where he studied French horn and played mellophone in Ohio State’s Marching Band. In 2022, he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was selected for Ohio State's Undergraduate Achievement in Music Education Award. Prior to his time at Norton, he student taught at Grove City High School and served as Director of Bands at Northwestern Jr/Sr High School. Under his direction, the Northwestern Symphonic Band earned its second-ever superior rating at OMEA State Large Group.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Boezi is an active arranger and composer. His arrangements have been nominated for Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, featured on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella compilation album, and performed at the American Choral Director Association National Conference. Mr. Boezi has arranged music for pop a cappella groups across the country, including International Championship of High School A Cappella winners Forte (Centerville High School) and Shades of Blue (Hilliard Bradley High School). Many of his a cappella arrangements can be found on streaming platforms, including the album he recorded as music director of The Ohio State of Mind A Cappella. As a composer, Mr. Boezi’s first-ever concert band piece won the 2022 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Student Composition Competition and was premiered by the NAfME All-National Honor Band. His second piece was premiered by the Dayton Philharmonic Concert Band. When he is not being a music nerd, Mr. Boezi enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching competitive reality TV, and traveling.
Outside of teaching, Mr. Boezi is an active arranger and composer. His arrangements have been nominated for Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards, featured on the Best of Collegiate A Cappella compilation album, and performed at the American Choral Director Association National Conference. Mr. Boezi has arranged music for pop a cappella groups across the country, including International Championship of High School A Cappella winners Forte (Centerville High School) and Shades of Blue (Hilliard Bradley High School). Many of his a cappella arrangements can be found on streaming platforms, including the album he recorded as music director of The Ohio State of Mind A Cappella. As a composer, Mr. Boezi’s first-ever concert band piece won the 2022 National Association for Music Education (NAfME) Student Composition Competition and was premiered by the NAfME All-National Honor Band. His second piece was premiered by the Dayton Philharmonic Concert Band. When he is not being a music nerd, Mr. Boezi enjoys spending time with friends and family, watching competitive reality TV, and traveling.
Charles A. Kaufman, Assistant Director of Bands
Charles Kaufman is a graduate of the University of Akron and Nova Southeastern University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education and Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, respectively. Mr. Kaufman also completed Masters work and received his Principal license in 2013, through the University of Akron. Mr. Kaufman currently is celebrating his 29th year of teaching. This is his 28th year as Assistant Band Director at Norton City Schools where he co-teaches all the bands from grades 5 through 12. Mr. Kaufman also instructs the general music courses offered at Norton Middle School. Mr. Kaufman has worked with the Norton Band program since college and is celebrating 35 years of involvement. Mr. Kaufman also taught band, choir, and general music for the Fairport Harbor Local School District for one year. Mr. Kaufman previously served as Associate Director to the Norton Marching Band from 1988-1994 and as music director at First Presbyterian Church of Barberton for four years. Mr. Kaufman is an active member of the Ohio Music Educators Association [OMEA] and Music Educators National Conference [MENC]. [Email Mr. Kaufman]
Noah Runninger, Percussion Director
Noah Runninger is a percussionist and educator based in Northeast Ohio. He earned his Bachelor’s in Music degree in Music Performance from Kent State University. Noah is the percussion director at Norton High School and Barberton High School. He is also a front ensemble instructor for Matrix Performing Arts and Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. Noah also serves as a member at large with the Ohio Indoor Performance Association. While attending Kent State he performed with the African Ensemble at the 2018 College Music Society National Convention in Vancouver, Canada. He also performed with the Percussion Ensemble at the 2020 Ohio Music Educators Association Conference. In the marching arts Noah has performed with Phantom Regiment in 2018,2019, and 2021. During his last year at Phantom Regiment Noah was the center marimba and co-section leader for the percussion. During the indoor seasons Noah performed one year with Matrix Open in 2018, and four years performing with Matrix World (2019-2022). Noah has won the member of the year award three times at Matrix Performing Arts (2018,2019, and 2021). When he is not teaching music, Noah is a substitute teacher at Barberton Intermediate school. He also enjoys playing retro video games, reading books, watching movies, and spending time with his cats Mars and Apollo.
Jessica Guest, Color Guard & Winter Guard Director
Rob Ferguson, Designer/Consultant/Percussion Instructor
Rob Ferguson is currently serving his 18th year as Program Designer/arranger and Instructor at Norton. Mr. Ferguson was first involved with the Norton Music program as an instructor in 1994. Mr. Ferguson is currently the Director and Music Designer for Matrix Performing Arts, which includes a WGI Independent World, Independent Open and Independent A Class percussion ensemble. In addition, Rob is a Percussion Consultant and has served as a percussion arranger and caption head for the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Percussion Arranger for the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps from Hawthorne, NJ. Rob has served as a percussion representative for the Mideast Performance Association, as a member of the WGI Percussion Advisory Board, and currently serves as the Percussion Education Director for the Ohio Indoor Performance Association. Rob holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Music in Music Performance from Kent State University where he studied with Michael Burritt and Ted Rounds. He previously served as adjunct percussion faculty and assistant marching band director at Youngstown State University. Rob is an active clinician for both the indoor and outdoor marching activities. He has presented clinics on marching percussion, keyboard percussion, arranging, and amplification in the marching activity throughout the U.S. and in Europe including the 2007 PAS convention, and the 2008 Indoor Percussion Europe Championships. Ferguson has performed as a marimba clinician and guest artist with numerous high school and college programs and percussion ensembles. Rob also judges in both the marching band and indoor drumline arenas throughout the U.S. In addition to teaching, Rob is a writer and consultant for outdoor and indoor marching ensembles throughout the U.S. He is the owner of Ferguson Design Solutions, a company providing arrangements, original compositions, consulting, and design resources for both marching bands and indoor percussion ensembles. Rob currently resides in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.
Jacob Taylor, Drill Designer/Visual Instruction
Beth Anne Kaufman, Visual Instructor/Drum Major Instructor
Beth Anne Kaufman is currently serving her second full year as the Visual Instructor at Norton. In addition, Beth Anne serves as a Drum Major Instructor and contributes to management of the Social Media and Graphic Design outreach of the Norton Band program. Ms. Kaufman currently attends the University of Akron, working towards a BFA in Graphic Design. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and received an Honors Diploma from Norton High School in 2021. At her time in Norton, she marched in the Norton High School Marching Band from 2015 to the spring of 2021 as a Band-Aide, Clarinet Player, and Head Drum Major, and marched in the Norton Indoor Percussion Ensemble from 2016 to 2020 as a Prop Performer, and a Cymbal Player. Beth Anne additionally performed with Norton’s Concert, Wind, and Jazz ensembles, and participated in solo and ensemble. In the Summer of 2021, she taught at Northwest’s Band Camp as a Visual, Woodwind, and Drum Major Instructor. Beth Anne marched with the WGI Independent Percussion Ensembles Matrix A in 2021 on Bass Drum, and Matrix World for the 2022 and 2023 seasons as a Dancer. Beth Anne currently offers private clarinet lessons to middle schoolers and in her free time, enjoys reading, video games, and creating graphic art designs.