Directors
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Jon Bowman  Jon Bowman is in his third year as Director of Bands at Lowndes High School. He has taught in several school systems in the state of Alabama for the previous eight years.
Mr. Bowman most recently served as Director of Bands at Prattville High School in Prattville, Alabama. While at Prattville, Mr. Bowman directed the “Pride of Prattville” Marching Band, the Prattville High School Wind Symphony, the Symphonic Band, Concert Band and the Jazz Ensemble. Before his tenure at Prattville High School, Mr. Bowman also served as Director of Bands at Tallassee High School in Tallassee, Alabama and Beauregard High School in Opelika, Alabama where he also served as the assistant baseball coach.
Under Mr. Bowman’s direction the bands at Prattville never received less than superior ratings at District and State Assessment and the Marching Band received numerous Best in Class awards.
Mr. Bowman is a 2000 graduate of Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, having received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. In 2002, Jon received his Masters of Music Education from Auburn University. While at Auburn University Jon was a member of the Auburn University Marching Band, the Auburn University Symphonic Band, the AU Percussion Ensemble and Steel Drum Band, the Auburn Community Orchestra, the Auburn Concert Choir and a member of the Auburn University Singers. Mr. Bowman has performed with the Columbus Symphony, the LaGrange Symphony and the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Jon has performed in many venues in the Southeast, Lincoln Center in New York, New York and several countries in Western Europe.
While in Prattville, Mr. Bowman served as an assistant to the Minister of Music at Heritage Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a past member of the Alabama Bandmaster’s Association, the Music Educator’s National Conference, and the National Band Association.
Jon is married to Beth Bowman, who is a real estate agent with the Herndon Company. Jon and Beth are the parents of two children, Tanner and Collins Elizebeth Bowman.
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Robert Maynard
 Robert Maynard is a 1980 graduate of Clearwater High School in Clearwater, Florida. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree in 1987 from Troy State University and in 1997 he earned a Masters in Music Education from Valdosta State University. Robert taught for 3 years at Saint James Private School in Montgomery, Al. prior to coming to Lowndes. He has been a director for the Lowndes High School “Georgia Bridgemen” for the past 18 years.
He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity, Delta Chi and Sigma Kappa Chi Social Fraternities, Georgia Music Educators Association, and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Robert has written/arranged music and drill for numerous marching bands throughout the southeast. In his early years, Robert was a member of the Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps for 6 years, where he played trumpet for 3 years and was Drum Major his last 3 years. He was also brass instructor with the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps, Denver, Colorado.
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Dr. Richard C. McLendon
 Dr. Richard C. McLendon teaches and writes for the Georgia Bridgemen at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA. He is starting his 31st year as a music educator. Dr. McLendon is the owner of Red Ruby Music Creations, LLC specializing in educational compositions and arrangements for percussion and band since 1971. He received the Bachelor of Science in Education from Jacksonville State University (AL), the Master of Music in Performance from the University of Louisiana in Lafayette, the Educational Specialist in Music Education from Troy University (AL), and the Doctorate in Education Leadership from Argosy University in Sarasota, FL.
Dr. McLendon’s performing ensembles have toured most of the United States, parts of Canada, most of western and central Europe, and the countries of Ecuador and Colombia, South America. He was recognized by Governor Zell Miller and the Georgia General Assembly in 1995 for his teaching and musical accomplishments when his marching and symphonic bands in Moultrie, GA became the state’s first high school band to perform in the Republic of Ireland. In 1998 his students performed 16 concerts in 8 European countries. In 1999, his students performed in the Netherlands, Germany, and Belgium. Dr. McLendon's groups have participated in the 2005 Presidential Inaugural Parade, the 2006 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA, the 2001 and the 2008 Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, DC, and the Thanksgiving Day Parades in New York, Philadelphia, and Chicago.
Over the years, Dr. McLendon has judged bands throughout the United States. From 1970-1984, he was associated with several competitive drum and bugle corps in the south and in the Midwest. Dr. McLendon has presented percussion clinics in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, and in Ecuador and Colombia, South America. He has studied music composition with Dr. David L. Walters, Robert W. Smith, and Jim Mahaffey. He studied conducting with Dr. John M. Long who is an elected member of the National Band Association Hall of Fame of Distinguished Conductors.
Dr. McLendon is an Educational Artist and Endorser with Innovative Percussion, Inc. He has been recognized for several years by Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, Who’s Who in American Education, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in the World. His past and present professional affiliations include the American Society for Composers, Authors, and Publishers, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Mu Alpha, Pi Kappa Lambda, the Percussive Arts Society, Georgia Music Educators Association, and Music Educators National Conference. Dr. McLendon’s music compositions have been honored by the Percussive Arts Society (1984) and by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (2006-2011).
Dr. McLendon has two sons. Zac was percussion section leader and graduated from LHS in 2009. He is attending Valdosta State University. Ryan was also percussion section leader and graduated in 2010. He is also attending Valdosta State University. Both Zac and Ryan are on the percussion staff with the Georgia Bridgemen. Dr. McLendon enjoys family, travel, the beach, reading, and movies.
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Phil Mika
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Alan Drew
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Matt Deal
Matt graduated from Valdosta State University in May of 2000 receiving his Bachelors degree in Music Education. In 2008 he received his Masters degree in Educational Leadership from Valdosta State also. During college Matt marched with Valdosta State’s Marching Band and was drum major for two years. In his time at Valdosta State he performed with various ensembles including Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Brass Quintet, Horn Quartet, and West Side Story pit orchestra. Matt also worked on staff with the Georgia Bridgemen during his college years and completed his student teaching at Lowndes High. During his time in Tifton Matt was recognized as the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year 2005. He was also the orchestra director for Northside Baptist Church. Matt and his wife, Sheri, established their own motor coach company in 2002 while in Tifton, and now operate their business, Legacy Coaches, in Hahira. Matt and Sheri have been married for ten years and have two sons, Lane and Logan. They attend Crossroads Baptist Church. |
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Catheryn Daniels
Catheryn Daniels is currently the director of bands at Lowndes Middle School in Valdosta, GA. Originally from Perry, GA, she is a 2003 Honor graduate of Houston County High School and a 2007 graduate of Columbus State University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree. While attending Columbus State University, she performed with the CSU Wind Orchestra, various chamber ensembles, new music ensembles, and served as an accompanist for numerous instrumental music majors. |
Phil is a graduate of Crestview High School in Crestview, Florida. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. Phil has been directing beginning, middle school and high school bands for the last 21 years in the states of Alabama and Georgia. During that time, his bands have consistently rated superior in marching, concert and jazz band contests. Currently, Phil is employed by the Lowndes Board of Education in Valdosta, Georgia. He teaches at Hahira Middle School and is a staff director for the Lowndes High Georgia Bridgemen. Phil has adjudicated marching band contest in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Kentucky.
Alan Drew is a 1969 graduate of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. He received his Bachelor of Music Degree in 1973 from Valdosta State College and in 1981 earned his Master of Science in Education Degree from Troy State University in Troy, Alabama. He is a member of Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha professional music fraternity, and Professional Association of Georgia Educators.
Matthew Deal is currently the band director at Pine Grove Middle School here in Valdosta. He has been teaching band in the South Georgia area for the past ten years. Matt was previously director of bands for two years at Cook County High School in Adel, GA, one year at Irwin County High School in Ocilla, GA, and six years at Eighth Street Middle School in Tifton, GA.