our band Directors
DEREK SCOLES
TWHS Band Director
Derek Scoles joined the Thomas Worthington band staff in 2014. He is the director of the TWHS Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Cardinal Swing Jazz Ensemble, and “Pride of Cardinal Country” Marching Band. He is also the Associate Conductor of the TWHS Symphonic Band and Cardinal Band and assists ensembles at Kilbourne and Worthingway Middle Schools. While at Thomas Worthington ensembles under Derek’s direction have received OMEA superior ratings at district and state levels and acclaim for their fine musical performances and high standards. Prior to arriving at Thomas Worthington, Derek taught for 8 years in the Madison-Plains Local School District where he taught band, choir, general music, and music theory in grades 6-12. During these years the high school band of 16 members grew to nearly 100 and achieved great musical feats. The marching band earned their first OMEA State Marching Band Finals Superior Ratings after a 20-year drought and moved from competing in class C to class A.
Throughout his professional career, Derek has been involved in several musical ensembles such as the Ohio Capital Winds, Grove City Community Winds, Wind Ensemble X (Featured on album BCM Men of Industry: Eric Whitacre, Steven Bryant, Jonathan Newman, and Jim Bonney) and Yumbambe. He served as OMEA District 15 President from 2015 to 2017. He has been a member of the Ohio Music Education Association, National Association for Music Educators, Phi Beta Mu since 2023, Mu Phi Epsilon since 2002, and the International Trumpet Guild since 1998. Derek graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 2005 and obtained a Master of Music in Music Education Degree from Capital University in 2018.
Derek is thankful for his patient, supportive, and loving wife, Amy. Their three sons are actively involved in Music (band and piano), Baseball, and Soccer. The family enjoys exploring metro and state parks, being introduced to new board games, and staying active in their church.
Guthrie Douglas
TWHS Band Director
Originally from Bloomington, Indiana, Guthrie Douglas is the newest addition to the Thomas Worthington Band team. He attended High School at Bloomington High School North before moving to Dayton to attend Wright State University. Guthrie enjoys working with musicians of all kinds who are passionate about giving the gift of music to audiences. Guthrie enjoys music of all kinds and can be found in the audiences of any kind of concert; classical, rock, jazz, hip-hop, you name it! Mr. Douglas brings a love for coffee, books, board games, the outdoors, and his cat Guinevere.
Mr. Douglas graduated with his undergraduate degree in Music Education from Wright State University in the Spring of 2021. While at Wright State, Guthrie was an avid performer, working with the Wright State Wind Symphony directed by Dr. Shelley Jagow, the Wright State Jazz Ensemble, and the nationally recognized Wright State Percussion Ensemble directed by Mr. Jerry Noble. Guthrie performed with the Wright State Percussion Ensemble at the OMEA Professional Development Conference in 2018 and was chosen to be the recipient of the Percussion Studio Award for Outstanding Leadership for the 2020-2021 Academic Year. While in college Mr. Douglas sought many opportunities to perform off campus as well though, including performing with the Lima Symphony Orchestra, the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra, a freelance performer for several scholastic musical productions, and the Cincinnati Tradition Drum and Bugle Corps (2018 and 2021). Guthrie continues to perform regularly with the Springboro Wind Symphony, including a concert performance at the OMEA Conference this past Spring.
Guthrie has years of experience in educating young percussionists in several different environments, from competitive indoor percussion ensembles and marching bands to youth symphonies and bucket drumming ensembles. Before accepting the position of Assistant Band Director at Thomas Worthington High School, Guthrie was the Director of Bands at Northeastern Middle and High School where he was responsible for all instrumental music grades 5-12 from 2021 to the end of the 2022-2023 School Year. He is VERY excited about the opportunity to work with the Thomas Worthington Band program and to start the next chapter of life in a welcoming community!
Ryan ALEXIS
Kilbourne Middle School
Ryan Alexis has been teaching in the Worthington City School District since 2006, where he is the Director of Bands at Kilbourne Middle School. At KMS, he conducts the 6th Grade Bands, 7th Grade Bands, 8th Grade Band, KMS Jazz Band, and “ KMS Red Bird” Honor Band. In addition, he also assists with the Thomas Worthington High School “Pride of Cardinal Country” Marching Band, directs the TWHS Cardinal Jazz Band, and conducts the Thomas Worthington High School Pit Orchestra. Ryan is the Director of Junior Winds, an honor band for 8th, 9th, and 10th students in Central Ohio through Capital University.
Alexis received a BME from The Ohio State University School of Music, and an MMME from The Conservatory of Music at Capital University. Ryan is an OMEA, NAfME, and ASBDA member and has served as a treasurer of the OMEA South-Central Region. Ryan serves as a guest clinician for OMEA Honor Bands all around Ohio, working with students of all ages. In his free time, Ryan enjoys teaching saxophone lessons, and coaching saxophone ensembles. Ryan resides in Worthington, with his wife Meg, and sons Benjamin and William.
KOREY BLACK
Worthingway Middle School
Korey Black is a music educator in the central Ohio community. Korey earned his undergraduate degree from Otterbein University and is currently working on his Masters in Music Education from Capital University. He’s been teaching at Worthingway Middle School in Worthington for the past 5 years and works with band students in 6th to 12th grade. He’s directly in charge of Worthingway Bands 6-8, Worthingway Winds, and Worthingway Swing as well as assisting in the Thomas Worthington High School Band program.
In addition to teaching, Korey is a professional jazz musician in Columbus where he performs regularly. He is an advocate for jazz education and is a board member of Jazz Education Connection of Ohio. He contributes regularly to jazz education and hosts a weekly jam session in Worthington, Ohio.
Kevie Bovaird
Phoenix Middle School
Ms. Kevie Bovaird grew up in Pleasanton, CA with her parents and younger sister (all of whom are electrical engineers!). In first grade, she started piano lessons and fell in love with making music.
Ms. Bovaird joined the percussion section in 6th grade, and by 7th grade, she knew she wanted to become a band director. In 2013, Ms. Bovaird moved to Ohio (where the weather actually occurs) to attend the Ohio State University. She completed a degree in Music Education, a degree in Percussion Performance, and a minor in Neuroscience. Additionally, she spent a year as a lab manager for a neuroscience research lab where she got to design and co-lead a rhythm intervention study for people with Parkinson’s Disease.
Along the way, Ms. Bovaird fell in love with tabletop gaming (like D&D!) and still plays to this day. When she’s not working or playing D&D, she loves reading (favorite author: Sir Terry Pratchett), biking, and making music whenever possible. She has a 2-year-old gargoyle gecko named Waffles who is very silly.
Belonging
Students find friends in the school’s largest extra-curricular activity!
Students are encouraged, challenged, and strengthened by supportive peers and teachers.
Achievement
The marching band has earned the OMEA State Marching Band Superior Rating consecutively since 2004.
In addition, our curricular bands (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic, and Concert) have received many OMEA State Superior Ratings over the years.
Celebrated
Thomas Worthington High School is one of the longest-standing institutions in Ohio, and the band has an equally long heritage. Tens of thousands of students have participated in and invested energy into it.
Students find their band experience to be rewarding and invaluable.