Northwest Guilford Viking Band
Corporate Sponsors
Mailing Address : PO Box 820 Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Directors
Brian McMath (Director of Bands) is currently in his twenty-fifth year as an educator and eighteenth year as the Director of Bands at Northwest Guilford High School in Greensboro, North Carolina. While at Northwest Guilford, Mr. McMath’s bands have received recognition for their growth, discipline and individual member achievements. Members of the class bands (Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble) are consistently chosen for various All-County, All-District and Honor Bands across the state. At least thirty-five alumni from Mr. McMath’s programs are now music educators or are pursuing careers in music education.
Under Mr. McMath’s direction, the school’s Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble have consistently earned ratings of Excellent and Superior at Regional and State Festivals. The Wind Ensemble consistently performs grade five and grade six literature at the North Carolina Music Performance Assessment Festival earning Superior Ratings. Additionally, the Marching Viking Band (a volunteer organization) has competed in the Outback Bowl (twice – Grand Champion 2004) in Tampa, Florida and the Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. The Marching Viking Band has been invited to perform at the Liberty Bowl, the Orange Bowl, the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, the Citrus Bowl, the National Parade in Washington, DC, the Holiday Parade in Waikiki, Hawaii and at the London New Year’s Day Parade.
The inaugural Wind Symphony was selected to perform at the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center in Washington, DC for the 2020 Sousa Festival. The Marching Vikings were invited to perform for the 80th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 2021. We are honored to be a part of this celebration and once in a lifetime trip.
Mr. McMath was a top 10 finalist out of almost 2,000 applicants for the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator Award. He was awarded the 2021 Central District Bandmasters Award of Excellence for his career in all areas of instrumental music education, having produced excellent groups in the areas of concert, marching, and jazz ensembles. He was a recipient of the 2019 NC Teaching Hero Award from the North Carolina Lottery. Mr. McMath has recently been nominated for ‘Teacher of the Year’ at Northwest Guilford as well as recipient of the 2010-2011 Guilford County United Arts Council ‘ARTS Education Teacher of the Year’. In 2001, he was named Coca-Cola Educator of the Year and “Outstanding Young Educator” by the Asheboro, North Carolina Jaycees. Mr. McMath has been nominated for “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” by his students over ten times and was recently recognized by the group “Who’s Who In America”.
Mr. McMath’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from UNC-Greensboro (1996) as well as a Master of Music degree in Music Education (2010). He also received his National Board Certification in November 2002 and Re-Certification in November 2012. Mr. McMath holds professional memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, the North Carolina Music Educators Association, the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, the North Carolina Association of Educators, the Central District Bandmasters Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity and Pi Kappa Lambda.
Mr. McMath has performed in Switzerland, Italy, France and Monte Carlo with the Greensboro Choral Society. He has conducted in London and York as well as for the Prime Minister of Scotland in April 2001. He has performed in over 10 local theater shows in Greensboro and High Point both on stage and in the ‘pit’. Mr. McMath has previously served on the Board of Directors for the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association as Vice-President (four years) and President (two years). He has built several strong competitive winter ensembles including a ‘Varsity’ and ‘JV’ Winter Guard and ‘Winter Percussion Ensemble’. These groups continuously compete at local, regional and national competitions under Winter Guard International (WGI).
Mr. McMath has traveled with his extra-curricular ensembles to Tampa and Orlando, Florida; Dayton, Ohio; Tempe, Arizona; Toronto, Canada; New York City; Italy Greece, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland and France
Kevin Greene ( Assistant Director of Bands ) is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina where he attended Jack Britt High School. In 2006, he was awarded the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship to attend NC A&T State University.
He marched for three years with the Blue & Gold Marching Machine as a member and captain of the world renowned Cold Steel Drumline. During his years at A&T, Mr. Greene has had the pleasure of performing for and with many celebrities including Ricco Barrino, Fantasia, Remy Ma, Flavor Flav, Stevie Wonder, and (then) Senator Barack Obama.
In 2008, he was the recipient of the Fox Music Experience Award at the Honda Battle of the Bands and was flown to Los Angeles to intern with Fox Music Studios. In 2010, He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and later went on to teach music at Oak Hill Elementary School in High Point, NC.
In 2011, Mr. Greene was recruited to the United States Marine Corps Musician Program. In 4 years, he reached the rank of Sergeant and served as the Percussion Section Leader for Marine Band San Diego, where he had the honor of performing at countless military and civilian events across the United States ranging from the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA to ceremonies featuring former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. During his time in the Marine Corps, Mr. Greene graduated with honors from the Navy School of Music, received staff recommendation from his unit for the Commandant’s Own Drum & Bugle Corps, and was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal for his dedicated service and leadership with Marine Band San Diego.
Mr. Greene has a strong passion for music and teaching. His extensive background in both corps style and showstyle marching gives him a unique skill set and teaching style that he is willing and eager to share with the students of the Northwest Guilford Middle School and Northwest Guilford High School band program.
Kevin Greene ( Assistant Director of Bands ) is a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina where he attended Jack Britt High School. In 2006, he was awarded the NC Teaching Fellows Scholarship to attend NC A&T State University.
He marched for three years with the Blue & Gold Marching Machine as a member and captain of the world renowned Cold Steel Drumline. During his years at A&T, Mr. Greene has had the pleasure of performing for and with many celebrities including Ricco Barrino, Fantasia, Remy Ma, Flavor Flav, Stevie Wonder, and (then) Senator Barack Obama.
In 2008, he was the recipient of the Fox Music Experience Award at the Honda Battle of the Bands and was flown to Los Angeles to intern with Fox Music Studios. In 2010, He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and later went on to teach music at Oak Hill Elementary School in High Point, NC.
In 2011, Mr. Greene was recruited to the United States Marine Corps Musician Program. In 4 years, he reached the rank of Sergeant and served as the Percussion Section Leader for Marine Band San Diego, where he had the honor of performing at countless military and civilian events across the United States ranging from the annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA to ceremonies featuring former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. During his time in the Marine Corps, Mr. Greene graduated with honors from the Navy School of Music, received staff recommendation from his unit for the Commandant’s Own Drum & Bugle Corps, and was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal for his dedicated service and leadership with Marine Band San Diego.
Mr. Greene has a strong passion for music and teaching. His extensive background in both corps style and showstyle marching gives him a unique skill set and teaching style that he is willing and eager to share with the students of the Northwest Guilford Middle School and Northwest Guilford High School band program.