Wildcat Marching Band Faculty
Carl Collins
Director of Athletic Bands
Director, Wildcat Marching Band
Carl Collins is Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Kentucky, a position he has held since the fall of 2008. An Assistant Professor in the School of Music, Mr. Collins directs the 215-member Wildcat Marching Band, conducts the Concert Band, oversees all aspects of the basketball pep bands and teaches Marching Band Techniques. Prior to his appointment at the University of Kentucky, Mr. Collins was the Assistant Director of Bands and director of the Rocket Marching Band at the University of Toledo (OH) from 2005-2008.
After receiving the Bachelor of Music degree in clarinet performance and music education from the University of Iowa in 1995, Mr. Collins taught for eight years at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels in the public schools of eastern Iowa. He returned to the University of Iowa in 2003, and completed the Master of Arts degree in band conducting in the spring of 2005. He has studied conducting with Dr. Myron Welch and James Dixon, and clarinet with Dr. Maurita Murphy Mead and Himie Voxman.
Wildcat Marching Band Instructional Staff
Mark Clodfelter
Brass Program Coordinator
Mark Clodfelter is the Professor of Trumpet at the University of Kentucky. He is a versatile performer of international acclaim and a Grammy nominated recording artist. Has was recently described by Classical Voice North Carolina as “…a stellar world-class trumpeter who’s dazzling playing wowed the audience”, and as “warm toned” by the Lexington Herald Leader (KY). As a soloist, Mark has appeared throughout the United States, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, Russia, Thailand, Greece, and the Peoples Republic of China with orchestras, wind ensembles, brass ensembles, jazz bands, and solo recitals. This summer he will make his debut in Australia and Brazil.
Mark can be heard as Principal Trumpet of the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, the Trade Winds (Tamp Fl.) and Co-Principal of Orchestra Kentucky. His commercial affiliations include split lead with the DiMartino/Osland Jazz Orchestra and the Kentucky Jazz Repertory Orchestra. Mark is member of Covalence, a duo, with Rebecca Wilt, his wife and renowned collaborative pianist. Additionally, he is Co-Conductor of the Blue Grass Area Jazz Ambassadors and the Central Kentucky Youth Jazz Orchestra.
Mr. Clodfelter has recorded extensively in styles ranging from classical to rock. He has also appeared with such headliners as The O' Jays, Gladys Knight, Mannheim Steam Roller, the Moody Blues, the Lettermen, Doc Severinson, Bob Mintzer, Frank Mantooth, Lou Rawls, Glen Campbell and Ray Charles.
Prior to his appointment at the University of Kentucky, Mark was Instructor of Trumpet and Director of Jazz Band at Mars Hill College. He served on the faculty of the Eastern Music Festival as a member of the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra and has taught the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Mark was a founding member of the Giannini Brass and has held positions with the Greensboro Symphony, the Western Piedmont Symphony, the Salisbury Symphony, the Greenville (SC) Symphony and the Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra.
Mr. Clodfelter holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree from Lenoir-Rhyne College and a Master of Music Degree from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Please visit Mark at www.markclodfelter.com.
Mark is a Yamaha Performing Artist and plays Pickett Brass custom mouthpieces.
Mark Casey
Percussion Program Coordinator
Mark Casey has received international recognition as a performer, teacher, composer, and adjudicator within the percussion activity. He has worked with the likes of the World Champion Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, the World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, the Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps, the University of Kentucky, the University of Miami (FL), the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the Miami of Ohio University, the McGavock High School Marching Band, and the Lafayette High School Marching Band. Mark has judged for Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Indiana state-sanctioned shows and has also been a judge for SCGC, WGI, and PAS.
Jenni Webb
Sweetheart Majorettes Instructor
Jenni is a professional member of the United States Twirling Association, a former UK feature twirler (1998-2000) and US Trials team member (1999). With over twenty years of experience in competitive dance and baton twirling, she has held many state, regional, and national baton twirling titles. A 2002 graduate of the UK School of Education, Jenni is currently an instructor at Bluegrass Dance Center in Richmond.
Wildcat Marching Band Graduate Staff
Wildcat Marching Band Support Staff
Vicki Pendleton
UK Band Staff Support Associate
Vicki Pendleton's bio coming soon.
Michael Friedman
Voice of the Wildcat Marching Band
The voice of the WMB since 2008, Michael Friedman is a professional actor and writer who now makes his career in television and industrial films. He’s written documentaries for A&E’s Biography and for PBS, and has appeared nationally in commercials, television, and film. With wife Margo Buchanan, he wrote the historical dramas Daniel Boone, the Man and the Legend and Freedom Trail. He was Artistic Director of Paragon Music Theatre, Kentucky’s premiere musical theatre company, and with composer Ryan Shirar created the musical version of Shakespeare’s Merry Wives of Windsor. Before coming to Lexington, where he and Margo live with children Nathan, Noah, and Emma, he served on the faculties of Elmhurst College and the University of Wisconsin.
Chuck Perry
WMB Photographer
UK Band & Alumni first started seeing Chuck show up around old Stoll Field in the Fall of 1980. By 1983 he traveled with the band to the Hall of Fame bowl in Birmingham to capture the event. He’s been around ever since doing a “a blood, sweat & tears” slide show of early week and an end of the year capsule for closing awards and banquet. In between you’ll spot him at the football and basketball events, preserving memories.
Quoting Chuck, “Being free lance, I’m too much of an historian to be a profitable photographer. I take photos knowing I am preserving some of the best experiences of their college life. I see special accomplishments, events and memories, rather than profitability. Nevertheless I’ve been blessed. Band stories abound; there have been some great road trips. There is no bigger rush than to hear Pre-Game on Football Saturday.”
