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, 22, Sarah, 18, 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. 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 serves 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, 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 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 currently serves as Past President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association and has been a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Board of directors since 2003, serving as District 3 Vice Chair and Chairman, Recording Secretary (2005-2017), President Elect (2017-2019) and President (2019-2021). 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 grandson Jack who was born in July of 2020. Mr. Ownby is excited to be joining Best in Class Tours and sharing his 30 years of knowledge, attention to detail, and ability to motivate and help other directors.
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 the last six years. He will be retiring from Central High School this spring. 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: Deast@bestinclasstours.com
David East began his teaching career at Houston Junior High School in 1979. In 1984, he became Director of Bands at Amory High School. Under his direction, the Amory High School Band received superior ratings for an 11 year span. In 1995, Mr. East became the Director of Bands at Itawamba Community College. The band grew from 161 to 269 during his 10 year tenure. In 2005, Mr. East retired from teaching in Mississippi and was hired as the Director of Bands at Lamar County High School located in Vernon, Alabama. The program at LCHS, which included 6th – 12th grade, grew from 101 to over 180 in ten years. His bands received superior ratings in marching, district concert, and state concert festivals.
Mr. East’s professional memberships include Northeast Mississippi Band Directors Association, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Phi Beta Mu, Alabama Bandmasters Association, and the National Association for Music Education. He has also served as an officer for the Northeast Mississippi Junior High and High School Bandmasters Association and as District III Vice-chairman and Chairman for the Alabama Bandmasters governing board. In 2009, he received the honor of being inducted to the NEMBDA Hall of Fame.
Mr. East stays actively involved in many other music-related fields. He presides as Conductor for the Stars Over Mississippi Jazz Orchestra and serves as both manager and trombonist of the North Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. He is also an active adjudicator for concert and marching contests throughout the southeast. Mr. East and his wife Donna reside in Amory, MS. When he is not busy carrying out professional and family duties, Mr. East can often be found on the tennis court or on a nearby golf course.
Representative Email: ronpence@@bestinclasstours.com
Ron Pence received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education at the University of Southern Mississippi. He began his career at Biloxi High School as the Assistant Band Director. Mr. Pence then moved to Shaw High School in Mobile, Alabama where he was the director for one year. In 1988, Mr. Pence became the Director of Bands at Foley High School in Foley, Alabama. During his nine years at Foley the band placed in the top 10 three years in a row at the Southern Regional Bands of America, winning the Southern Regional Class A and placing 5th in 1989, performed at the University of Southern Mississippi Conductors Conference in 1991 and won many local and regional championships.
In 1996, Mr. Pence became the Director of Bands and Fine Arts Chairman for Homewood High School in Homewood, Alabama. During the 25 years at Homewood the band has been seen by more people than any other band in the state of Alabama and increased in enrollment from 160 to 400+ students. Under Mr. Pence’s leadership the band traveled to the 2003, 2009, 2014 and selected for the 2021 and 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California; the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland; two Fiesta Bowl Parades in Phoenix, Arizona, the Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida, the 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2018 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parades in New York, NY; the Walt Disney World Magic Music Days Parade in Orlando, Florida and the Walt Disneyland Magic Music Days Parade in California; and the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade. In 2001 the Homewood Patriot Band was selected by President George W. Bush as the Alabama Representative in the Bush/Cheney Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington D.C. The Homewood Patriot Honors Band performed at the 2004 Alabama State Music Educators Convention and the 2005 University of Southern Mississippi Instrumental Conductors Conference. During Mr. Pence’s tenure at Homewood High School the band has received superior ratings at all marching and concert contests attended and won over 30 Grand Champion awards. The band was feature in the November 1996 edition of Southern Living Magazine as one of the best high school bands in the nation. The Homewood band was most recently featured in the Portico magazine as the All American Band. Homewood City Schools was selected in 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 as one of the “Best 100 Communities for Music Education in America” by the NAMM Foundation, VH1 Save the Music along with many other professional music organizations.
Mr. Pence is a member of the NAfME, ABA, AEA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Phi Beta Mu. Mr. Pence received the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association in 1991, 2004 and 2005. He was named Who’s Who in America 2003, 2004, and 2005 and named in Whose, Who Among America’s Teachers in 1994, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2005. Mr. Pence was honor by Southern Living Magazine as the Outstanding Southerner for 1996. Mr. Pence was honored by the community of Homewood in 2016 with the Quality of Life Award. He is retired and married to his lovely wife, Jill, and has two sons, Will, 22, and Sam, 17.
Representative
Sue Nicholson graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Mrs. Nicholson taught instrumental music for 13 years in Mississippi and 17 years in the Florida panhandle. While in Mississippi, Mrs. Nicholson helped lead the way for the Pearl High School Band to become nationally known at Bands of America competitions, where they consistently were finalists at regional competitions, including finalists at Summer Nationals and Grand Nationals. The Pearl Band is the first, and still one of only two Mississippi bands, along with Grenada, to be named Overall Grand Champions at a Bands of America Regional. The Nicholson’s together received the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award for Mississippi in 1983. Sue was twice on the staff of the Mississippi Lions All-State Band, including the band’s 1982 tour of South Africa, where the Lions Band performed a field show eight straight evenings at the Durban Military Tattoo, as well as performances in Johannesburg and Pretoria.
While in Florida, Sue taught band in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, first at Max Bruner Middle School, the feeder program for the nationally acclaimed Fort Walton Beach High School Band. She also started the instrumental music program at the Seaside Neighborhood School, Seaside, FL (one of Florida’s first Charter Schools) and taught there 7 years. While at Seaside, the school received the Enrollment Award at FMEA for having over 70% of the school’s enrollment participating in band. The band consistently earned Superior ratings at district FBA music performance evaluations.
Sue has judged marching bands and winter guards throughout the United States for 31 years, including marching band state championship finals in 9 states. She is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Florida Bandmasters Association, Gulf Coast Judges Association, the USBands Adjudication Team, is an FBA Adjudicator, was a Winter Guard International adjudicator for 28 years, and was the 2016 inductee into the Gulf Coast Color Guard Circuit Hall of Fame.
She is now beginning her 8th year as a representative for Fear Nothing Music Gear, while continuing to judge marching band and winter guard competitions nationally.
Representative
David Nicholson, after graduating from Mississippi State University, guided the Carthage, MS band program to its first ever All-Superior ratings. Nicholson then served the Pearl Municipal School District, where All-Superior ratings were earned in concert, marching, sight reading, and jazz throughout his tenure as director of bands, including an MBA (now Bands of America) Regional Championship (Houston, TX). The Pearl Band also placed 2nd and 5th overall in the MBA Summer Nationals (Whitewater, Wisconsin) and MBA Grand Nationals (Johnson City, TN) respectively.
David and his wife Sue were named Co-Most Outstanding Band Directors in Mississippi in 1982-83. The Nicholson’s twice served as directors of the Miss. Lions All-State Band.
David is a member of Phi Beta Mu, Phi Mu Alpha, Mississippi Bandmasters Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and has adjudicated band events in 19 states. After a career in sales, David most recently served as Assistant Director of Bands, Madison Central HS, Madison, MS, and is now an active member of the USBands Adjudication Team, an FBA Adjudicator, and represents American Image Management/Fear Nothing Music Gear, Cherrydale, SaveAround, and MoonPie fundraising.
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.
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.