Maestro for a Moment FUN-draiser!

Dr. J.R. Carlisle is Owner of Carlisle Educational Services. His teaching experience includes 29 years as both a high school band and choir director in the States of Ohio and WV, as well as 10 years as a high school principal. This includes serving as the head principal for a world class performing arts school.

His bands consistently received superior ratings at district and state concert band festivals at both the middle school and high school level. He has directed bands to a superior rating at OMEA State Marching Band Finals in each of the four classes. His Federal Hocking Marching Band was also a Sudler Shield winner. He has also directed numerous WGI regional finalist color guards and drum lines, as well as a national semi- finalist color guard and national finalist drum line. He also served as a consultant with the 2023 Open Class DCI Champion Spartans Drum and Bugle Corp.

Consulting with music programs for over 39 years, Carlisle Educational Services has worked with over 75 bands in the Mid-West, South- East, and Texas as well as annually assigning adjudicators for over 30 marching band festivals across the country. A focus of his judge administration efforts are in Indiana, with such high profile programs as Avon HS, and Lincolnway HS in Chicago area. J.R. has judged 18 different state championships and in 42 states total.

He is a founding member of the Tri-State Circuit for the Pageantry Arts and the Tri- State Judges Association. He also served as the chief judge for the Tri-State Circuit and as the Color Guard/Education Coordinator for the Carolinas based CIPA Circuit. He also served as the marching band judge coordinator for the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association.

He has adjudicated for Winter Guard International, Drum Corp International, and Bands of America. In the fall of 2006 he adjudicated Drum Corp Europe’s Championships, and in 2002 he judged the drum corp competition, at the Music Arts Festival in Kyoto, Japan.

He is now the Principal of Hannan JSHS, after serving as the director of bands in rural Mason County, WV. Starting with just 4 members, he has built an award winning program that represents 38% of the total student body. The band was the official representative of West Virginia at the 2025 Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii.

He was recognized as the 1996 Greene County Ohio, Teacher of the Year. In 2024 he was the Hannan JSHS Teacher of the Year. He is a two time national semifinalist for the Grammy’s Music Educator Award in 2024 and 2025.

The Point Pleasant, West Virginia native received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Marshall University in Huntington, WV, a Masters Degree in Education Leadership from West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV, a MBA in Organizational Leadership from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona.

Candidate Nick Michael, Band Director, Meigs County High School

“My name is Nicholas Michael and I am the Director of Bands at Meigs High School in Pomeroy, Ohio. I’m honored to be one of the candidates for this year’s Maestro for a Moment. I’m a lifelong resident of Meigs County and I’ve been active in the local music community for over 25 years. I’m a proud graduate of Meigs High School which is where my love of band and orchestral music began, as well as my dream of becoming an educator. After high school and some time as a working musician, my path led me to the University of Rio Grande where I earned my bachelor’s degree in music education. As a student who had taken a less traditional route, Rio was an excellent fit for me. It provided me with many wonderful performance opportunities such as touring the United Kingdom, playing in Washington DC, and performing on the very stage where I hope to conduct this December.

When I was approached about participating in this year’s Maestro event, I asked myself, “What can my presence bring to this event?” I knew the answer instantly: I want to use this moment to show the importance of the arts in our area. Being an arts educator in an economically depressed area has its challenges, and unfortunately many of them are financial. Whether it is a wonderful performing arts center like the Ariel or a school’s band program, keeping these types of opportunities alive is a struggle. Every day I see the positive impact of having music in our schools has on the students I teach. Access to the arts, and particularly music performances and education, is crucial to children and adults. It is our responsibility to keep them funded and available.

The first time I ever heard an orchestra was at the Ariel when I was in the 8th grade when my dad brought me to the Christmas show. It was truly a life changing moment, and I sincerely hope that our community will continue to have access to such a wonderful resource for a long time to come. If you’re able, I encourage you to make a donation so future generations can experience the same feeling that I did on that December evening.”