Tyler Reese – Tuscola High School Director of Bands
Mr. Tyler Reese is from Cornelius, NC, a small town just outside of Charlotte. He earned his Bachelors of Music Education and Bachelors of Music Performance from Mars Hill University in 2023. While at MHU, he served as Woodwind Captain and Instrument Warden of the Mountain Lion Marching Band and performed in numerous ensembles. His mentors through his career include Ruth Peterson, Robert Carrington, Michael Robinson, Professor Misty Rondeau, Dr. Alan Theisen, Dr. Hunter Kopczynski, and Dr. JT Womack.
Mr. Reese has taught in numerous high school marching/concert programs across WNC including North Buncombe HS, Enka HS, Pisgah HS, and Owen HS. He comes to Tuscola HS after working at Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville, NC. During his time at Mountain Heritage, he brought the concert band to achieve their first superior rating at the WNC Music Performance Adjudication Festival since 2019.
Reese holds memberships in several professional organizations including the National Association for Music Educators, North Carolina Music Educators Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity.
Mr. Reese lives in Woodfin, NC with his beagle, Checkers.
Reese says, “I am excited to get to work with the Tuscola High School band family!”
Email Mr. Reese: treese@haywood.k12.nc.us
Sam Bogan – Waynesville Middle School Director of Bands
Thank you Mr. Bogan for stepping up and stepping high to direct the Marching Mountaineers for the Fall 2024 marching season! (And thanks to your whole family: Elena, Sammie, Rose and your brand new arrival – Beatrice Faye!)
Mr. Samuel F. Bogan II is from Johnston County, NC, just East of Raleigh. He earned his Music Education degree from Western Carolina University in 2008. While at WCU, he was a soloist and brass coordinator in the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band and performed in numerous ensembles. Mr. Bogan earned the Maxie Beaver Student Teacher of the Year Award in 2008.
Mr. Bogan has been teaching in North Carolina for the last fifteen years. He started in 2008 at Northwest Cabarrus High School where he taught until 2016, then Hickory Ridge Middle School, and now Waynesville Middle School where he’s been for the last five years. His High School students earned many honors. For example, Northwest’s marching band earned numerous Grand Champion and Class Awards and made finals at BOA Super Regionals.
Mr. Bogan’s concert bands consistently receive Superior honors in Grades II – VI. Waynesville Middle School consistently places students in the All-District, West Region Jazz, All-State Jazz, and All State Honor bands. He earned the West Region Jazz Directors Award of Excellence for 2019.
He is also a Specialist in the 208th Army Reserve Band based in Concord, NC. And he actively performs as a vocalist and trumpet player in the 208th Army Jazz Messengers and the Armored Diesel Rock Band.
Mr. Bogan lives in Clyde, NC with his wife Elena, their three kids Sammie, Rose and Beatrice, their big dog Riker Tiberious, and a bunny named Rex.
Mr. Bogan’s favorite thing about teaching middle school band is getting to talk to students all day about music.
Email Mr. Bogan: sbogan@haywood.k12.nc.us
Alyssa Rogala – Colorguard/Winterguard Caption
Alyssa Rogala was a member of the Tuscola Band color guard for 2009 – 2011 and she is a Tuscola graduate.
She was part of the East Carolina University Color Guard for 2011 – 2015 and was their captain for 2015. Alyssa was also a member of the East Carolina Winter Guard for 2014 – 2015, a Class IA Semifinalist at the 2015 WGI Championships.
Alyssa’s full time job as a barber keeps everyone’s hair looking great.
She has been Tuscola’s Color Guard Caption Head since 2022. According to Alyssa, “Its a huge honor to come back and help at Tuscola where I got my start in color guard.”
Tyler Shade – Drumline Caption
Tyler Shade, a Haywood County native, was a percussionist in the Pisgah HS band 2002-2007. He was also a percussionist with Pride of the Mountains at WCU during 2007-2013.
He assisted at percussion camps often including at Statesville HS, Pisgah HS and Tuscola HS. Tyler has been Tuscola’s percussion caption head since 2023.
Shade says, “I Love seeing kid’s faces when they achieve what they thought they couldn’t.”
Collin Tastet – Front Ensemble Caption
Mr. Collin Tastet, from Greensboro, North Carolina, is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Engineering at Western Carolina University. In addition to his academic pursuits, Collin is an educator at both Heat Wave Drum and Bugle Corps and the Palmetto Indoor Theatre for DCI and WGI. This his marks his third year helping teach the Front Ensemble at Tuscola.
His experience in marching arts includes Heat Wave Drum and Bugle Corps, the Pride of the Mountains Marching Band at Western Carolina, Palmetto Indoor Theatre, and Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps.
His hobbies include playing instruments, traveling, hiking, camping, attending concerts, and playing video games.
Kendra Kirkpatrick – Woodwind & Drum Major Assistant
Kendra Kirkpatrick was a member of Tuscola’s concert band from 2008-2012 and she is a Tuscola graduate.
Kendra studied music education at Appalachian State University 2012 – 2016. She was their woodwind caption head and played in the 2016 New Years Day parade in London.
Ms. Kirkpatrick taught music throughout Haywood County’s elementary schools during 2017-2022. She has been a band director at Waynesville Middle School since 2022.
According to Kendra, “Teaching has been my goal since the first grade. And I just loved music and band all through middle school and high school. So, teaching + music = band director.” That’s solid math right there!
Ashley Cole – Color Guard Assistant
Ashley Cole started in color guard/winter guard at Garner HS near Raleigh 2011-2013.
She was a member of the East Carolina color guard and winter guard 2013-2017. And she was also part of ECU’s semifinalist guard at the 2015 WGI championships.
Ashley plies cosmetology as her trade.
Cole began as an assistant for both the Tuscola winter guard and color guard during 2024.
Ashley says, “I love the pride you feel when the crowd applauds at the end of a performance.”
Gregory Regling – Brass Assistant
Gregory Regling, a North Carolina native, was a member of the Scotland HS band for five years and was part of their winter guard for three years.
Gregory played with Pride of the Mountains at WCU during 2019-2021 including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Regling was an assistant at Scotland HS for one year and has been teaching at Johnston and Woodfin Elementary Schools since 2022. He has served as brass technician at Cape Fear HS, Enka HS, and now at Tuscola HS.
What got Gregory started? His older brother began playing the trombone but soon quit. So he picked up the trombone to outdo his brother. Accomplished!
BooBoo – Director of Esprit de Corps (Emeritus)
Invariably friendly.
(Except when startled awake from an afternoon nap! Ask your Web Site Editor how he knows this. Ha-ha!)
Consistently chill and relaxed, until it’s “go time!”
Always looking for a belly rub. (Now enjoying endless belly rubs at WCU.)