Summer Band Camps

Duane F. King is the owner of Elite Drum Major, LLC, a company designed to teach American-military style drum majoring and leadership. With over 27 years of experience as a drum major and leader at various levels, he is passionate about combining these two worlds. Having performed thousands of performances as both a musician and drum major across the United States, the experiences that Duane offers are seldom matched. He has performed for 5 Presidents of the United States and numerous other world leaders, including Pope Francis, the Prime Ministers of India, Australia, and Singapore, various foreign ministers and secretaries of defense agencies, and over a dozen Medal of Honor recipients. He has taught clinics at numerous high schools and universities throughout the United States, led bands in front of millions of people during the 2015 Inaugural Parade and for numerous Mardi Gras parades in and around the greater New Orleans-area.

With almost 30 years of service in the United States Marine Corps, Duane is currently the 40th Drum Major and Senior Enlisted Advisor for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, DC, where he regularly leads bands at the White House, Marine Barracks Washington, DC, and around the National Capitol Region. Having learned the art of drum majoring from an early age in the military has helped grow a passion that still burns bright, and he is eager to pass along the skills and knowledge to the next generation.

He is currently completing a BA in Psychology from American Military University and is working toward publishing a book on American military-style drum majoring and leadership, which will be available next spring. As the foremost expert in this style of drum majoring, Duane can provide individual instruction or group lessons that will enhance the skills and confidence of any drum major or aspiring drum major. Duane is originally from Jacksonville, FL where he will return to upon his retirement from the Marine Corps next spring. He is available for camps, clinics, and masterclasses at the high school and collegiate level. 

Read more about Dr. Allen Parrish here.

Mr. Evan McCormick is a graduate of Northwestern State University. While at NSU he served as Drum Major for the “SON” marching band and Director of the Purple Haze Basketball Band.  Mr. McCormick completed his associate's degree in criminal justice and bachelor’s in business administration before completing his bachelor’s in music education.  Mr. McCormick is a member of Phi Beta Mu, LMAA, NAFME, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. McCormick is currently in his 13th year teaching with the majority of that time being in the Benton School System.  Under his direction, the Benton bands have received numerous awards at the District and State level.  He is extremely proud of the large number of Benton students that always make the District Honor Band and All-State Bands.  In 2012, Mr. McCormick was selected Young Music Educator of the year by LMEA and was also named Teacher of the Year for Benton Middle School for the 2013-2014 school year. In 2023 he was named High School Director of the year for LMEA District VIII. Mr. McCormick is happily married to his beautiful wife Jennifer Lynn McCormick and together they have two beautiful girls, Blayke Ryan and Maisyn Kate. In his free time he loves playing golf, playing with his corgi “CAP”, going to the movies and traveling to new places.

Read more about Dr. Kathryn Irwin here. 

Mrs. Lauren Parrish is from Satsuma, Alabama and is the Color Guard Instructor at The University of Louisiana Monroe. Lauren completed her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education at Troy University, where she was a Color Guard member in the nationally renowned "Sound of the South." Previously, Lauren has coached Guard at Pittsburg State University (KS) in addition to high schools throughout the Southeast. Lauren's background in education greatly influences her approach to Color Guard instruction. 

Ms. Teresa Hall biography coming soon.