Band Directors
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Mr. Tkacik joined Ardrey Kell High School in 2021. He is a recent summa cum laude master's graduate of Appalachian State University (ASU), where he studied instrumental conducting. In this position, he served as a Music Director of the Appalachian Concert Band and assisted with instructing the Marching Mountaineers, along with other duties for the ASU band programs. Mr. Tkacik guest conducted the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, Appalachian Symphony Band and the Appalachian Tuba Euphonium Collective.
Prior to attending ASU, Mr. Tkacik served as the Director of Bands at Greene Central High School in Snow Hill, NC. There he directed a concert band, percussion ensemble, color guard, and a class 1A marching band. Mr. Tkacik also oversaw the planning and execution of the annual Greene Central Band Day, a North Carolina Bandmasters Association sanctioned competition that hosted up to 30 area bands.
Mr. Tkacik previously served as the Director of Bands, Orchestra, and General Music at Stokes Elementary School in Stokes, NC. He was responsible for teaching music to grades K-8, including beginning and intermediate middle school band courses, beginning orchestra to 4th and 5th graders, middle grades general music and world music drumming.
Mr. Tkacik earned his bachelor’s degree in music education summa cum laude from East Carolina University (ECU) in 2012. While attending ECU, he studied tuba and conducting.
An advocate for music education, Mr. Tkacik is a member of the College Band Directors National Association, North Carolina Music Educators Association, the North Carolina Bandmasters Association, and the National Association for Music Education. He previously served as an advisor for the Appalachian State University chapter of National Band Association.
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Mr. Beck joined Ardrey Kell High School in 2021. He recently received his master's degree in music education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). At UNCG, he taught brass methods courses and mentored preservice teachers as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. He conducted research involving equity in music education, timbral perception, and instrumental pedagogy.
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Our Ardrey Kell Band Directors are supported by a deep team of specialists that enable our programs to compete and succeed at a national level.
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