Northwest Guilford Viking Band
PLATINUM Corporate Sponsors
Mailing Address : PO Box 820 Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Booster Board
Hello, my name is Andrew Wiener and I am honored to serve as the Band Booster President for 2023-2024. This is my seventh year as a parent of a band member and I have enjoyed all of the adventures that we have experienced together.
My wife Sally and I have two daughters Lillian (rising Junior at App State and former band member/Flute-Piccolo) and Madison (rising Senior at NW/ Color Guard).
Both Sally and I work in education. I am Chief Learning and Accountability Officer for Thomasville City Schools and Sally is a 1st grade teacher in Guilford County.
When I am not supporting our band, I enjoy exercising, playing golf, spending time with my family, and watching sports.
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As a member of the Marching band, you have joined a large but supportive family that you can create lifelong friends even beyond your children graduating from High School. I am thrilled that you are part of our “village” and feel free to reach out to me or any of the other board members if you have any questions or concerns.
Vice President - Kristi Flynt Contact Our Vice President
Hi, my name is Kristi Flynt and I will be serving as Vice President for the 2023-24 school year.
My son, Joshua Flynt is an 8th grader, marching for his 2nd year playing Baritone.
I am a stay at home mom. My husband, Bradley Flynt is the Superintendent over the water resources department for the City of Greensboro. We have lived in Stokesdale for 18 years.
Joshua, Bradley and myself are all Blackbelts in Taekwondo. Joshua and Bradley are going for their 2nd degree Black Belt in August 2023.
I look forward to meeting and working with everyone this year. This is a wonderful program and amazing instructors.
Secretary - Amy Cassidy Contact Our Secretary
Hi. I’m Amy Cassidy and I am your NWBB Secretary for 2023-2024. My role is to take the minutes at all board meetings and produce a weekly newsletter to keep our band family up to date.
I have two amazing band kids. Lucy is a ninth grader marching sousaphone, but was previously in color guard. She has marched since the 7th grade. She was also on the Varsity Winter Guard last year, and played tuba in the middle school jazz band. Riley is an eleventh grader this year and has marched since 9th grade. She plays clarinet and is the clarinet section leader (LT) for the marching band. She has also been on Varsity Winter Guard since 9th grade. My husband Mike is a proud prop dad.
When I’m not with the band, or writing the newsletter, I work as an obstetric anesthesiologist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist helping mamas bring their babies into the world safely as well as teaching residents and medical students! My remaining spare minutes are spent traveling or planning where we’re going to travel next.
I can’t say enough about what this program has done for my kids and our family. My advice to new members is: jump in! Involve yourself wholeheartedly, you will not regret it! You will learn so much more than how to play an instrument. I can’t wait to meet our new band family members!
Treasurer - Sarah McKinney Contact Our Treasurer
Hi, my name is Sarah McKinney and i will be serving as the Treasurer for the 2023-24 school year.
Sarah is the mom to twins, Isaac and Brigid, who will be Juniors during the 2023-2024 school year and Eve who will be in sixth grade. This will be our third year in the Viking Band. Our whole family has had great fun, learned lots, and made memories!
Isaac plays piano in jazz band and baritone in marching and concert bands. He also participated in Winter Percussion. Brigid plays bassoon in concert band and mellophone in marching band. She participated in Winter Guard as well. Eve will be participating in the Color Guard this year!
Sarah works as the office administrator at Deep Springs Golf & Country Club in Stoneville. Her husband, Ed, is the pastor at Stokesdale United Methodist Church. The whole family is very involved in the church too. We all look forward to the years ahead in this band family! The instructors and parents are a huge blessing! Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help!
Budget Director - Mark Baker Contact Our Budget Director
Hi, my name is Mark Baker and I will be serving as Budget Director for the Band Boosters for the 2023-24 school year. This is my seventh year being involved with the band program and my fifth year on the Board of Directors.
My wife Amy and I have one child who currently participates in the band program, Emma (12th grade, 6th year in the Marching Band). Our son Ben was a 2022 graduate of NWGHS and was a proud member of the band program for 5 years, playing in the front ensemble. They have both enjoyed music from an early age and have been taking piano lessons since they were in the 1st grade.
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Amy and I grew up in small towns near Winston-Salem, we currently live in Oak Ridge and I work as a tax accountant in Greensboro. Outside of family, work and band, I love to watch college basketball and Formula 1. In addition, I have volunteered at the Wyndham Championship, the local PGA tournament, for over 20 years and have served various roles on the Board of Directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Piedmont since 1997.
I am excited to be a part of the Band Boosters and I look forward to seeing you at the next band event.
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Go Viking Band!!
Ways & Means - Bev Miller Contact Ways & Means
Hi! I’m Bev Miller. I will be serving as co chair of Ways and Means alongside Angela Palmer. This will be my second year serving on the board.
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I work as the Worship Arts Director at Oak Ridge UMC. Music and creative arts are important parts of my life and I love that my kids have the opportunity to be in the amazing band program at Northwest.
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Our daughter, Avery, was in the 2022 varsity winter guard. She will be a sophomore at Appalachian State in the fall. Our son, McLain, is a rising Sophomore. He was in the front ensemble for the 2022 marching band and 2022 WPE.
My husband, Rod, is on the props team. He loves working on the crew and supporting the band. I’m looking forward to a great year and working together!
Ways & Means - Angela Palmer Contact Ways & Means
Hello! My name is Angela Palmer and I will be serving as Co-Chair of Ways and Means alongside Bev Miller.
I am mother of two students in the Northwest Viking Band and a local Realtor. If you ask me where I'm from I have a hard time answering that question-- while growing up I moved around from Oklahoma, Texas, Michigan, and back to Texas. As an adult, my husband's career in the furniture business has taken me to Buffalo, New York, southern California, and we're planted here in the Greensboro area with no plans to leave!
I look forward to serving the proud Viking band in fundraising and creating an incredibly successful season!
Volunteer Coordinator - Kelly Solesbee Contact Our Volunteer Coordinator
HI! My name is Kelly Solesbee and I am serving as the volunteer coordinator. This is my second year serving on the board.
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My son Roman is a Junior this year. This is his 4th year participating in this amazing marching band program playing sousaphone. He plays the tuba for class band and he has participated in winter percussion. For us this band is family, it is also a full family event with my parents also being involved with us helping out with props.
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I have been a pediatric nurse for many years and currently work in a pediatric specialist office. We also enjoy spending time with our dog, Treble, he is a two-year old double doodle. He is very smart and full of energy.
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I am looking forward to meeting and seeing everyone at our wonderful band events and competitions. Please feel free to ask questions and join in on the fun by volunteering with us.
Fall Festival - Harry Keller Contact Fall Festival Chairperson
Hello, my name is Harry Keller and I'm happy to serve as the Fall Festival Chairman for the 2023-2024 Viking Band. I am originally from Pennsylvania, and our family moved to North Carolina in 2009.
My wife Erica and I both grew up in band, and knowing all of the great benefits, we encouraged all of our children to get involved in music as well. Maya plays clarinet, and graduated from NW Guilford HS in 2021. Eli graduated in 2023 and plays alto and bari saxophone. Owen is in 10th grade, plays French horn and Mellophone.
I have been involved with the band program since 2017 by helping with props and driving equipment trucks. I work as an engineer at Volvo Trucks. In my free time, I enjoy woodworking and cycling.
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I have played percussion since I was 10, and have performed with the Penn State Blue Band and the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps. Seeing my children performing and growing with music has been a very rewarding experience, and I am very thankful that they are part of the NW Guilford program!
Competition Support - Anita Sowder Contact Competition Support
Hi. I’m Anita Sowder (aka “Mama Sowder”), and I work with Monika Sharpe to make your Competition Support Team. Together we help with uniforms and all things related to getting kids to and from competitions.
I am officially mom to 3 band kids. Ruby is a ninth grader marching mellophone, but she also plays bassoon and flute. She has marched since 7th grade. Grace is a senior this year and has been in color guard since sixth grade. My son Will started this journey in 2017. He played almost every instrument at some point and is a 2022 drumline graduate who now plays snare for Appalachian State’s Marching Mountaineers. My husband Erick rounds out our band clan as a prop dad.
I serve as a labor and delivery nurse and educator for my day job and have been at Cone Health for 28 years. When I’m not at work or with the band, I enjoy reading, writing, plants, and camping.
I look forward to meeting all of you this year as we travel, compete, and make music and art together. This program has meant so much to my family and truly changed the trajectory for all of my kids. You have truly found yourself in a magical space. If there is anything I can do to help you, please reach out!
Logistics Director - Justin Nicholson Contact Our Logistics Chairperson
Hello, my name is Justin Nicholson and I will serve as Logistics Director for the 2023-2024 school year. This is my 3rd year involved with the band program. I assisted the first 2 years and will continue to assist with the Prop Crew this year.
My wife Cassie and I have 2 children, Alyssa is in the marching band and plays Flute. Carleigh attends Oakridge Elementary. We have enjoyed being a part of the marching band family and seeing the growth in our daughter over the last 2 years.
We moved to North Carolina in 2017. I work for the American Legion as the Director of Veteran Benefits for the Department of North Carolina. I also have my real estate license.
When I am not working or selling a house, I enjoy traveling, cars, cycling, and hanging out with friends.
If you have any questions about the band, logistics, or how you can help this year please reach out to me!