2021 Judges
Ben Lee
Prelims: Music
Finals: Music
Matt Jordan
Prelims: Music GE
Finals: Percussion
Dr. Matthew Jordan currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. He is also the front ensemble arranger for Music City Mystique, the music coordinator and sound designer for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, and front ensemble arranger and sound designer for the “Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to starting at JSU, Matt was the Concert Percussion Marketing Manager for Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments, and Assistant Director of Bands/Instructor of Percussion at Middle Tennessee State University.
Matt has worked as a percussion instructor and arranger with a number of DCI and WGI groups, including the Phantom Regiment (2011-2014), Carolina Crown (2015), and Spirit of Atlanta (2007-2010, 2018). He is also very involved at the scholastic level as an arranger for indoor drumlines and marching bands, having written for groups such as Max Percussion (Bangkok, Thailand), Bangkok Society Drumline, Franklin High School, Science Hill High School, McGavock High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, and Father Ryan High School, among others.
Matt completed the Doctor of Music degree from the Florida State University, a Master's Degree from the University of North Texas, and a Bachelor's Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. Matt is a proud artist and clinician for Pearl/Adams instruments, Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Evans Drumheads, Zildjian Cymbals, and Presonus Audio Electronics.
Ralph Stewart
Prelims: Visual
Finals: Visual
Ralph currently lives in Cumming, GA. He is a graduate of East Carolina
University, where he received a Bachelor's degree in Music Education.
Ralph marched in the brass section of Carolina Crown from 1991-1993, and
served as Drum Major from 1994-1996.
Ralph joined the visual staff of Boston Crusaders in 2000 and was their visual
designer in 2005. In 2006 he returned to Carolina Crown, working with the visual
team until 2008. He has also served as the visual designer for Teal Sound, the
visual caption head for the Blue Stars, and most recently as visual designer for
the Colts and the Phantom Regiment.
He’s an active judge and clinician for many indoor and marching band circuits,
and is a designer for bands, guards, and indoor percussion programs throughout
the US.
Stephanie Renell
Prelims: Guard
Finals: Visual GE
David England
Prelims: Percussion
Finals: Music GE
JR Seals
Prelims: Visual GE
Finals: Guard
An active designer and adjudicator, J.R. Seals considers himself first and foremost a fan of the marching arts activity. His concepts have entertained, provoked, and inspired generations of students, directors, instructors, and fans. He studied with the Marching Roundtable's master judge Dr. Joe Allison. J.R.'s engagement is rooted in a selfless desire to maximize each and every performance.
Through his involvement, clients have achieved numerous successes including State Marching Champions and Contest of Champions Finalists . From 2001-2018 he led the creative development of Union City High School in Union City, Tennessee. During his tenure the program earned Ten Bands of America Regional and Super Regional Class Championships. In 2016 and 2017 the band was nominated for the Sudler Shield Small Schools Award presented by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation.
He owns JRSeals Concepts and is the founder editor of TennesseeMarching.com. J.R. studied Business and Organizational Management at Bethel University and resides in Union City, Tennessee where he is the Clothing Buyer for 5 Seasons Mens Shops Inc.