Judge assignments

A native of Greenville, Kentucky, Professor Warren played euphonium at Muhlenberg Central High School. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Austin Peay State University and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Kentucky. Professor Warren is a former conducting student of B. Joe Allen, Edward A. Knob, John Larkin, George Mabrey, W. Harry Clark, Skip Gray, Dennis Johnson, John Paynter, John Whitwell, and Larry Rachleff. He also served on the music department faculty as Associate Director of Bands/Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Kentucky from 1986-1991.

Professor Warren taught at Kentucky high schools Bremen and North Hardin from 1980-1986. His bands received numerous awards and Division I ratings. He has guest conducted all-district, all-region, and all-state honor bands, as well as university bands in 39 states. Professor Warren has completed a faculty residency with the Kasetsart University Wind Symphony in Bangkok, Thailand. Professor Warren has served as a computer clinician/drill designer for Advantage Showare, Inc. and Arrangers’ Publishing Company. For 20 years he served as an adjudicator/clinician for Musicfest Orlando. During Professor Warren’s affiliation with Music for All/Bands of America he served as a member of the Educational Advisory Board and for the past 36 years as an adjudicator and chief judge. In addition to serving as chairman of the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Shield Award Committee, Professor Warren is a John Philip Sousa Foundation Board Member, a Past President of the Southeastern Conference Band Directors Association, and for the past 21 years has been a member of the Institutional Review Board at Washington Regional Medical Center.

Since Professor Warren arrived at the University of Arkansas, the UA Wind Symphony has made six guest appearances at College Band Directors National Association Conventions. The UA Wind Symphony performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and at the Arkansas Music Educators Convention/All-State Conference on two occasions under Professor Warren’s baton. During Professor Warren’s tenure as Director, the Razorback Marching Band performed numerous times for former President William Jefferson Clinton, including the 1992 Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. Under Professor Warren’s leadership, the Razorback Band performed at the SEC Championship, the Cotton Bowl, the Citrus Bowl, the Carquest Bowl, and the Independence Bowl. The Razorback Marching Band also appeared as the Grand Finale Band at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland.

Professor Warren is a former marching member of the Guardsmen Drum and Bugle Corps of Schaumburg, Illinois and a former brass and visual staff member for the Guardsmen and the Imperial Guard Drum & Bugle Corps of Evansville, Indiana. Professor Warren has also served as a Drum Corps International (DCI) Adjudicator.

Professor Warren’s professional affiliations include: World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, National Band Association, College Band Directors National Association, Conductors Guild, Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, Arkansas Bandmasters Association, Arkansas Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, and Pi Kappa Lambda.

At the 2015 Midwest Clinic, Mr. Denton was awarded the John Phillip Sousa Foundation Legion of Honor for his contributions to band. Under his direction, the Ooltewah Band achieved a national reputation for musical excellence including performances in the 2017 Tournament of Roses Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2013 and 2007, and as the only band in the 2011 Disney Christmas Parade on ABC. The Ooltewah Marching Band was a consistent finalist at Bands of America Regional Championships being awarded multiple class championships and placements, and was a national semi-finalist on multiple occasions with several class placements. The Ooltewah Concert Bands performed at the Music for All Southeast Regional Concert Festival in 2016, the TMEA (TN) State Music Conference in 2014 and 2010, the Smoky Mountain Music Festival in 2011 (Grand Concert Division Champions), and multiple other state, regional and national events through the years. He served as Chairman of Fine Arts at Ooltewah from 1982 until his retirement and was selected five times as the Ooltewah Teacher of the Year.

The Tennessee Governor’s School for the Arts has thrice honored him. Mr. Denton is an elected member of the East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Association Hall of Fame and the Tennessee Bandmasters Hall of Fame. His professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Tennessee Music Education Association, East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association, American School Band Director Association, and Tennessee Bandmasters Association. Mr. Denton currently serves as the Tennessee State Chair for the National Band Association and is a Past President of the East Tennessee Band and Orchestra Association and the Tennessee Bandmasters Association. He has served as the State Legislative Delegate and Advocacy Chair for Tennessee Music Education Association and served as a member of the Tennessee Department of Education’s Fine Arts Student Growth Committee. He is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and consultant working with Music for All/Bands of America, Drum Corps International, several universities and state organizations, as well as, many high school bands across the nation. Mr. Denton presents professional development sessions across the nation and also works with band programs and other organizations on developing leadership and teambuilding skills.

Mr. Denton and Kerry, his wife of thirty-eight years, reside in Chattanooga and have two adult children, Alex and Caroline, who are both teachers.

Previously, Mr. Ausdemore taught at the University of Texas Arlington as adjunct professor of percussion, serving as the percussion arranger/assistant director of the UTA Marching Band, teaching percussion pedagogy/techniques classes, assisting the UTA percussion ensemble, and maintaining a full private studio as well. Mr. Ausdemore has composed/arranged, instructed and consulted with numerous high school and college marching bands throughout the US. In addition, Ausdemore has worked with Drum Corps International ensembles including the Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, and the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. During Mr. Ausdemore’s tenure at the Blue Knights, the percussion program produced several percussion individual solo championships, percussion ensemble championships, and a strong reputation for excellence, placing in the elite “top 12” in the Drum Corps International Championships consistently.

As a composer, Mr. Ausdemore has contributed original works for piano, instrumental guitar, contemporary multimedia, percussion and choir, percussion solo instruments, percussion ensemble, as well as wind ensemble and marching band. Several ensembles have commissioned and premiered Mr. Ausdemore’s works on recordings and live concerts, including the Music for All national festival, the Interlochen Fine Arts Academy summer camp, as well as the 2021 Midwest Clinic. Mr. Ausdemore is a published artist through Tapspace Publications.

Mr. Ausdemore’s professional affiliations include adjudication roles for Drum Corps International, Winter Guard International, Bands of America, a marching percussion committee member for the Percussive Arts Society, the Texas Music Educator’s Association, the Texas Bandmasters Association, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, and currently serves as the current Vice President of Percussion and Winds on the executive board of the North Texas Color Guard Association. Jeff Ausdemore is proud to endorse and serve as an artist clinician for Dynasty Musical Instruments, Zildjian cymbals, Remo drumheads and Pro Mark sticks and mallets.