Get to know the staff at Best in Class Tours!
Our office is made up of retired directors and one band student who would love to help you plan your group’s next trip!
Owner/Sales Manager Email: cmajor@bestinclasstours.com
Carl Major is a retired band director from Foley, Alabama. He earned undergraduate and graduate music degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Phoenix. Carl was a member of the McDonald’s All-American High School Band. He was a band director in the public school systems in Florida, Tennessee, and Alabama for 28 years, and traveling was always on the calendar. Organizing over 400 band students and parents on yearly trips became “part of the job.” Having his band programs travel to exciting places was always a great recruiting tool for his programs. Carl is also a published music writer and drill designer. Having over 100 published pieces of music and writing drill for over 75 high schools and colleges through the Southern States has allowed Carl to help many band directors throughout his teaching years.
Some professional organizations that Carl Major was a member to include The National Band Association, Percussive Arts Society, Innovative Percussion Artist, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, The International Association of Rudimental Percussionists, Who’s Who Among American High School Teachers and Band Directors, and the National Education Association.
Now, organizing and helping other band directors travel with their programs is his top priority. Traveling for many years taught Carl all of the pros and cons of interacting with students, chaperones, communities, and administrations. The organization, excitement, motivation, background, and experience that Carl brings to Best in Class Tours is something that you will not get from other tour companies. From offering fundraising ideas and promoting your trip to having a great Educational Performance (if you choose to perform on your trip), Best in Class Tours is the company for you! Carl Major and his wife Amanda live in Orlando, Florida.
Owner/ Office Manager Email: jbarnhart@bestinclasstours.com
Jennifer Barnhart is from Orlando, Florida, a native believe it or not. She graduated from West Orange High School in 1994 and was part of the Warrior Band. In 1992 she marched in the Macy’s Thanksgiving and was co-captain of the colorguard her senior year. Jennifer attended Valencia Community College and worked for Universal Orlando in Ride and Show as a trainer and lead, then eventually worked as an Operations Coordinator for Ride and Show and in Human Resources before leaving Universal in 2001. Jennifer grew up going to Disney and she ended up working for them in 1996 in entertainment (while still working for Universal and going to school, that was a busy year).
Since 2002 she has worked in the travel industry assisting families to arrange trips to Orlando and then in 2005 started working with Student Youth Groups. Over the years she has helped coordinate hundreds of trips, working along with directors, parents, and vendors. Jennifer is excited about this new opportunity. She understands by having the right people working together is key to a successful trip. Her goal is to provide outstanding personalized service, listen to the client, and make each trip memorable for everyone in the group! As a former band student, Jennifer knows how much hard work is involved and understands how important travel is for the band program. Travel can create long-lasting memories for students, for many years to come.
Jennifer and her husband, Archie live in Winter Garden, FL with their two daughters Haley, 23, Sarah, 20, and too many cats (they are all rescues)
Tour Consultant Email: Townby@bestinclasstours.com
Terry S. Ownby retired June 1 of 2021, after 30 years of teaching instrumental music. He currently serves as a Tour Consultant with Best in Class Tours and Booster Fundraising as the Alabama Head Coach.
Mr. Ownby was the Director of Bands at Florence High School where he oversaw the marching, concert and jazz bands and served as the Secondary Fine Arts Academic Leader. Prior to his appointment at Florence, he served as a professor of music at Wallace State Community College, where he taught Symphonic Band, Music Theory, Music Appreciation and the Brass studio. He held the position of Director of Bands at Muscle Shoals Middle School and Assistant Director of Bands at Muscle Shoals High School for 22 years and also was instrumental in restarting the Muscle Shoals Jazz band program, which he directed for 9 years. He holds a Bachelors of Music in music education and a Master of Arts in Education degree from the University of North Alabama. He continues to serve as a guest Clinician/Conductor and Adjudicator throughout the Southeast.
The Muscle Shoals Middle School Symphonic Band was a featured performer at the Alabama Music Educators Associations 2001 convention. He served as a guest conductor with the Muscle Shoals High School Symphonic band at the Alabama Music Educators Associations 2003 convention. Mr. Ownby is also active as a marching band drill designer/consultant/adjudicator, and he served as the camp coordinator for the W.C. Jazz Music Camp from 1999-2007.
He plays trumpet professionally and has performed with the group Alabama, Percy Sledge, The Speer Family, William Lee Golden, The Oak Ridge Boys and with the world-renowned Muscle Shoals Horn Section. He is the lead trumpet player for the Shoals Area Big Band and has also appeared with the Legends of Jazz Big Band for the W.C. Handy Music Festival in 2003 and 2004, the lead trumpet for the Millennium Big Band for the Huntsville Symphony Association, on the General Jackson Showboat and is a founding member of the Shoals Dixieland Band.
Mr. Ownby serves as President of Terry Ownby Consulting, a firm founded to help build better cultures within schools and businesses, provide leadership training for both students and adults and other services to schools and music programs. He served as a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Board of directors for over 20 years, serving as District 3 Vice Chair and Chairman, Recording Secretary (2005-2017), President Elect (2017-2019), President (2019-2021), and Past President (2021-2023). He received the 2016 University of North Alabama College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni award, the first ever recipient of this award. He is a four-time member of Who’s Who Among Americas Teachers, listed in Who’s Who in America for 2005 and 2006, and was nominated for the 2004 Disney Hand Teacher Awards for creativity in teaching. He is the recipient of the National Band Associations “Citation of Excellence” for his contribution to bands and band music. He holds memberships in Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmasters Fraternity, National Band Association, Alabama Music Educators Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association and the National Association for Music Education. Terry is married to Laura Reyer Ownby and they have two daughters: Emily Norris and her husband Tyler and Elizabeth Cole and her husband Malachi. He is the proud “POPS” to Jack who was born in July of 2020 and Leo who was born April of 2022 and Tate who will make his debut in July of 2023.
Tour Consultant Email: cdomulot@bestinclasstours.com
Cynthia Domulot has taught and performed as a pianist, vocalist, percussionist and clarinetist for many years. Born abroad in the Netherlands and raised by Air Force parents, travel became a passion early on. As a band student in high school and college, she had many memorable trip opportunities, including a three year membership in the prestigious Mississippi Lions All-State Band from 1987-1989, marching international parades in Miami, Denver, Hawaii and Taiwan. Her former stint as a pianist and band leader for Celebrity Cruises included extensive travel abroad while performing with and arranging music for numerous guest artists on the ship circuit. As a freelance musician, she has had the pleasure of performing with artists such as Plas Johnson, Bob Sheppard, Giacomo Gates, Lil Greenwood, Stephen Sorrentino, John “Jabo” Starks, the Cab Calloway Band, and Doc Severinsen to name a few.
The experiences gained through traveling and performing are what inspired her to eventually become a music educator. She received her B.A. in Instrumental Music Ed. from the University of West Florida and started teaching as a band and choral director at Jim C. Bailey Middle School, followed by Ferry Pass Middle School in Pensacola, FL. She is currently on staff at J.M. Tate High School as a choral director, piano instructor and fine arts department chair, where her choirs have consistently received superior ratings and are frequent performers in the local community and beyond. Her professional affiliations include NAfME, FMEA, FVA, and ACDA. After spending many years planning and organizing her own large-scale trips at both the middle and high school level, she has gained a tremendous wealth of knowledge in how to effectively and efficiently plan a successful and pleasurable travel experience for students and parents. Trip planning and fundraising have always been something she has enjoyed as part of the administrative duties of being a music director and she is thrilled to put these skills to further use through assisting other directors in planning and preparing for group travel.
Cynthia continues to stay very active as a professional pianist, vocalist, and accompanist and has performed with Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Jazz Pensacola, Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola Civic Band, MOJO Mobile Jazz Society, and her own jazz quartet. Her husband, Fred, is an adjunct professor of percussion and jazz ensemble director at Northwest Florida State College, a music teacher for the Montessori School of Pensacola, current president of Jazz Pensacola, and a full-time professional musician and entertainment contractor. They both enjoy performing gigs regularly together and reside in Pensacola, Florida with their 12-year-old daughter, Sofie, and three very spoiled cats.
Tour Consutlant Email: dclarke@bestinclasstours.com
Dr. Clarke graduated with a B.S. in Music Education from Western Carolina University, a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Winthrop University, and a Doctorate of Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He spent his early years teaching band at Grandview Middle School, College Park Middle School, and Hickory High School in Hickory, North Carolina. Later, he became the band director at Piedmont Middle and High Schools in Monroe, and this was followed by 21 years as a high school administrator and the Deputy Superintendent for Union County Schools. After 29 years in education, he retired from North Carolina and went on to be a high school administrator at Central High School in Pageland, South Carolina for six years before retiring from public school education. Dr. Clarke was a member of the 1983 Disney All-American College Band at Disney World and was a member of the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West at March AFB, California. Currently, Dr. Clarke plays the French horn with the Carolinas Wind Orchestra. He is excited to be joining Best in Class Tours and looks forward to making unforgettable experiences for groups with quality support and service.
Tour Representative Email: mmangum@bestinclasstours.com
Mickey Mangum taught High School Band for 27 years in Mississippi, before retiring in 2021. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Mickey Mangum has served as director of bands at Kosciusko, MS, Clinton, MS, and Long Beach, MS. During his career Mickey Mangum oversaw many successful ensembles including sweepstakes award-winning concert programs, award-winning marching band programs and various winter guards and indoor percussion programs. Mickey Mangum is also the assistant director/manager for the award-winning Mississippi Lions All-State Band which travels the world competing in parade competitions every summer, as well as providing All-State students with a week-long concert experience. In 2014 Mickey Mangum was named the State of Mississippi and Section Three Southeast US National Federation Outstanding Music Educator. Mickey Mangum has judged extensively in the concert band, marching band, and indoor percussion arenas throughout the United States, and is the founder and former executive director of the Mississippi Indoor Association competitive colorguard, winds, and percussion circuit. Mickey Mangum has a great understanding of organizing trips for students with his tenure in Education. Understanding music teachers and all the things necessary to organize an educational and fun trip are the strengths that he will provide your program as he helps you to organize your trip. Mickey Mangum currently resides in Long Beach, Mississippi with his wife Rachel who is also a music teacher.
Tour Representative: Email: rjstichler@gmail.com
Tour Representative: Email: bmclain@bestinclasstours.com
Representative Email: jholmes@bestinclasstours.com
James Holmes – a native of Dothan, Alabama, possesses a passion for music for which he is well known. Wanting to pursue the musical arts from a young age, he obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music Education from the John M. Long School of Music at Troy University. Currently, in his eighteenth year as a band director, he serves as the Director of Bands, Performing Arts Department Chair, and Director of Summer Activities at HoustonAcademy in Dothan, AL, where he teaches instrumental music, APTheory, and Honors Music Composition. Mr. Holmes routinely serves as an honor band clinician and regularly works as a brass instructor throughout Alabama, Georgia, and Florida. In addition to serving as a clinician and camp instructor, Mr. Holmes has performed with many groups including the Mobile Symphony, The North Florida Philharmonic, and the Wiregrass Symphony Orchestra.
In 2008, James Holmes joined the Alabama Army National Guard as a military musician. In 2010, he deployed to Iraq with the 36 th Infantry Division as part of Operation New Dawn where he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. He currently drills and performs with the 151 st Army Band in Montgomery, AL.
Mr. Holmes began to seriously write original compositions in October 2018. The day after the Southeast was hit by Hurricane Michael, and sitting in his home without power, Mr. Holmes took to the piano. Inspired by the poem, In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, he began writing his first composition. Working on the piece in his free time, it would take nine months to complete. Written for choir and band, In Flanders Fields was premiered on July 2, 2019, by the Tri-State Community Choir and the 151st Army Band at First Baptist Church, Dothan, AL.
With over 1,200 in attendance and a standing ovation, this performance would prove to be life-changing.
In the year that followed, Mr. Holmes began devoting more free time writing and has written everything from beginning band pieces, underscores for Christmas programs, to orchestra and concert band works. Other notable works include God Bless America for concert band and choir, Silent Night for orchestra, and Through a Child’s Eyes for concert band. Mr. Holmes lives in Dothan, AL, with his wife, Laura Grace, who is the Director of Traditional Worship at Covenant United Methodist Church, and three children, Allen (21), who is currently a senior music education major at Troy University, Tinsley (9), who loves to play piano and sing, and Elijah (5), who enjoys carrying Morgan (the cat) around the house and chasing Luther (the dog) around the yard.
I’ll reach out to Katie regarding how the credits will be handled and how refunds will be processed back to the school. I won’t be able to send any refunds or credits to the school until everyone who is paying out of pocket has paid in full.
Next week, once I have the names of those receiving the bus credit, I will be able to send her an estimated invoice. This invoice will reflect the expected refund to the group, based on the current numbers and assuming everyone has paid in full.
Representatives: Ed and Rita Harris
Team Harris would love to be your travel partners with Best in Class Tours! Ed and Rita Harris have a combined 85 years of music performance and educational experience between the two of them. Ed served in the Marine Corps for 23 years as a band officer and trombonist. His many experiences included leading concert, marching, jazz, big band, and ceremonial groups throughout the United States and internationally. He also led troops during Desert Storm. After retirement, Ed accepted the band director position at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, TX where he also served as a Drill Instructor. While at the academy, he taught grades 7-12 grades and built a stellar band program that received superior ratings and his drill teams won many competitions. As a musician, Ed has performed with Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Al Jarreau, Elton John, and Lyle Lovette just to name a few. Rita retired in June of 2023 after 38 years of teaching. She graduated in 1985 from the University of North Alabama with a BS in Music Education and served as drum major from 1983-85 under the late Dr. Edd Jones. After teaching high school band in Tennessee for 3 years, she accepted a position as a graduate assistant with Dr. Thomas Fraschillo at the University of Southern Mississippi and completed her Master’s in Music Education in one year. Rita went on to teach in North Alabama, Fairfax Co, VA, Maryland, and Mississippi, and she enjoyed years of successful programs on state and national levels. She served on the council for Tau Beta Sigma as National Secretary, National Treasurer and National President. She also served as a consultant by the Marine Corps to help restructure the recruiting program for musicians. Rita belongs to several professional organizations and enjoys volunteering in her free time.
Tour Consultant Email: amajor@bestinclasstours.com
Amanda Major has a tremendous background in music and education. She was a four Wind Ensemble member at Fairhope High School, playing both trumpet and French horn, serving as a section leader, and performing with the color guard. Attending college on a music scholarship, she played French horn and tuba in the USM Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and multiple Woodwind Ensembles. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in English, Philosophy, and Music from the University of Southern Mississippi and The University of South Alabama. Amanda marched French Horn and Contra with the Ventures Drum and Bugle Corps during college, winning a DCI Individual
and Ensemble competition with their small ensemble. Amanda also served as an Advertising Account Executive for a Florida newspaper for two years before moving to Alabama. Amanda taught English, Freshman Leadership, Newspaper, and Senior Project classes at Foley High School in Alabama for 10 years. She worked with area and local high school band programs for over twenty years teaching marching, music sectionals, and private lessons. She traveled on band trips in high school, college, drum corps, and with her husband’s band programs for nearly 30 years. Having been in Sales and Education, Amanda brings a wealth of experience to Best In Class Tours. Her willingness to “go the extra mile” and solve problems is an asset to the Tour Industry. “Best In Class Tours” is proud to have Amanda as a Sales and Tour Representative.
