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Staff

 

  

Mr. Jorge Benitez & Mrs. Lyn Benitez
Director of Bands          Visual Director
 
Mr. Jorge A. Benitez has been the Director of Bands at Havelock High School, in Havelock, NC, since 1994. He currently directs approximately 275 students per year, in many different ensembles including Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Indoor guard and Indoor percussion. Mr. Benitez is a graduate from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Music in ’94 (magna cum laude) and a Master of Music Education ’99. In 2003, Mr. Benitez received his National Board Certification.
 
Mr. Benitez has served in the North Carolina Army National Guard for ten years. His experiences in the military led him to the deserts of Saudi Arabia during operation Desert Shield/Storm. After 7 years as a military policeman with 213th Military Police Company, he then completed his career with 440th Army National Guard Band.
 
He has participated at the Eastern District Concert Festival every year, with multiple bands per year and has consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings. He has also served as an adjudicator for both concert and marching festivals in his state of North Carolina.

Mr. Benitez is a dedicated and committed teacher with a strong desire to teach music to young students. “Music has the ability to transform life’s emotions. The notes on the page are just the beginning. Music is so much more. Teaching music makes life very fulfilling, it’s a great way to live your life.”
 Awards:
·         Time Warner cable’s “Star teacher”
·         Educator of Distinction by in The National Society of High School Scholars
·         2000 “Excellence in Teaching” award
·         2007 “I Love Havelock Award” presented by the Havelock Chamber
 
Professional organizations and positions:
·         Music Educators Nation Conference
·         North Carolina Bandmasters Association – Eastern District
o        High School Contest Chairperson 2003 - current
o        President –Elect 2005-2007
o        President 2007- current
 
Guest conducted:
·         2001 Wayne County Public Schools Band Festival
·         2003 North Carolina Eastern District 9-10 Concert Band
·         2005 Onslow All County High School Honors Band
·         2006 Beaufort All-County High School Honors Band
·         2007 Edgecombe All-County High School Band
·         2008 Pitt All County High School Band
 

Ms. Amanda Landis
Associate Director of Music

 Amanda Landis was born in Jacksonville, NC, and graduated from Appalachian State University in 2004 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. After graduating she moved to Havelock, NC, and began teaching at Havelock High School as the Associate Director of Music with Jorge Benitez and Melissa Murphy. Ms. Landis was awarded the Rookie Teacher of the Year in 2006. In addition to teaching at the high school, she also teaches private lessons for clarinet and saxophone. Ms. Landis is currently pursuing her National Board Certification for Music Education in the High and Middle School.

            ~Music is the art of thinking with sounds~                      Jules Combarieu

 

Mr. James Boyce
Percussion Arranger & Instructor
HMS Director of Bands
 

Havelock Percussion site

Havelock Middle School Band

Jim Boyce is a native of Edenton and graduated from John A. Holmes High School in 2002. In 2006 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University. Currently, Jim is the Director of Bands at Havelock Middle School and the Marching Percussion Coordinator for the Havelock High School Marching Rams. He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, and the North Carolina Band Masters Association where he serves as the Eastern District Representative on the State Marching Band Committee. In addition to teaching in Havelock, Jim currently enjoys his work as a private lesson teacher and a percussion arranger/instructor for several schools and organizations across North Carolina. He hopes that his work will guide students toward a more fulfilling life through their exploration and growth in music. 

 

Mr. Allen Amos
Brass Instructor
TCMS Director of Bands
 
Tucker Creek Middle School Band

Ms. Jenna Sapp

Front Ensemble Technician
JLS0320@ecu.edu

 

 

Office Hours ~ Fall 2008
 
Mr. Benitez's Daily Schedule Ms. Landis' Daily Schedule
email Mr. Benitez   email Ms. Landis
Jazz Ensemble

7.05 - 7:50
Marching Band Percussion

7.55 - 9.25

 Planning
Concert Band

9.30 - 11.00

 Concert Band
Planning

11.05 - 12.37

 Chorus 1
Lunch

12.42 - 1.10

 Lunch
Marching Band Winds

1.15 - 2.45

 Marching Band Winds
 
Please call us during our planning hours at 444-5117 if you need to speak to us. If you would like to set-up an appointment to visit with us, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday's from 3:30 to 4:30pm are normally the best days. We both like to leave early on Wednesdays. 
 
Please check the Calendar for rehearsal schedules.