Dr. David Ball

Dr. David Ball is an Associate Professor of Music at Concord University in Athens, West Virginia where he has served as the Director of Bands for the last decade. In this role he has conducted numerous ensembles at the university and taught more than 25 different courses in music. As a multi-instrumentalist he can be heard on the Albany, Chandos, and Polyphonic record labels in performances with the Royal Northern College of Music Wind Ensemble and the Ohio Light Opera. David holds degrees in trombone and euphonium performance from the University of Minnesota, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, England, and Virginia Tech. Dr. Ball is a founding member and Trombonist of the Spark Brass Quintet and the Bassist of P-Flunk. He enjoys racquet sports, reading, movies, and chamber music, as well as rooting for the Minnesota Twins and Virginia Tech Hokies. He lives in Athens with his dogs Ollie and Ray-Ray, and is “attempting” to run a half-marathon in every state.

Kate Cobb

Kate Cobb is the Director of Bands at Hidden Valley Middle School in Roanoke, VA and assists with the Marching Band at Hidden Valley High School. This is her 20th year in education, and she has worked with ensembles in VA, IL, and MI. She has taught numerous classes over her career including Concert Bands, Beginning Band, Jazz Ensemble, Chamber Music and General Music Course at the Elementary, Middle, and High School Levels. In 2013, she earned her National Board Certification.

Kate is a 2005 graduate of Virginia Tech, receiving her bachelor’s in Music Education and Clarinet Performance. While attending VT, she performed with the Wind Ensemble, Orchestra and served as the Drum Major for the Marching Virginians. In 2009, she received her master’s degree from the University of Michigan and assisted with the Michigan Marching Band during her tenure there.

She lives in Roanoke, Va with her husband Bryan and two children, Will and Ellie. In her free time, she likes to chase after her kids, spend time with her husband, run, cook and bake.

Timmy Fama

Timmy Fama is a native of Beckley, WV and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 2002. He earned his degree in music education from Concord University in 2009. He began his teaching career as a substitute teacher in January 2010 where he eventually served as a long-term sub for band and choir at Shady Spring Middle School April of that year. He became the music teacher at Shady Spring High School in the fall of 2010 where he still teaches today.

Currently in his 15th year at Shady, Mr. Fama has taught many different music classes including concert band, marching band, jazz band, music theory, AP music theory, music history, guitar I, guitar II, and choir. His concert bands routinely receive superior ratings at the Region VII Band Ratings Festival each Spring. The marching band has received countless awards under his direction as well including winning overall Grand Champion in 2012 at the Sissonville Marching Band Competition. He has had numerous students selected for honor bands at Concord, Marshall, WVU, and the Southern West Virginia Honor Band. Additionally, multiple students have been selected for the West Virginia All State Band. He has also had a plethora of students receive superiors in the Solo and Ensemble festival some of which have been selected to participate on the state Solo and Ensemble Honors Recital.

Mr. Fama was selected by his principal as Teacher of the Year for SSHS in 2019 and was a finalist for the Raleigh County Teach of the Year that same year. He has also been an honored mentor for the West Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts. Mr. Fama has been President of the Raleigh County Bandmasters Association since he was elected in 2017. Additionally, he is the Region VII Representative to the State Executive Board of the West Virginia Bandmasters Association where he has served since 2023. He has also been serving on the Veterans Parade Committee for the city of Beckley as the Band Representative since 2018.

Mr. Fama is happily married to his wife Christa since 2012. They currently reside in Daniels with their 2 sons, Andrew and Jonathan, and their 3 dogs Jack, Nova, and Dongo.