Staff Bios

Richard Bateman received his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Brigham Young University and his Masters Degree in Instructional Technology from Utah State University. While at BYU, he was a drum major for the Cougar Marching Band, played lead trumpet for both the Symphonic Band and Wind Symphony, performed in the Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, Cougar Marching Band and Pep Band. In high school, he was All-State in both band and orchestra and received the John Philip Sousa Award.

     From 1996-2006, he was the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Snow Canyon Middle School
in St. George, Utah where he taught Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Jazz Band,
Marching Band, Percussion, Guitar and was the Color Guard Advisor. Approximately 450 Students were enrolled in the band, orchestra and guitar programs which received 1st Place Honors and Superior Ratings at various festivals and competitions. In 2002, he was named Snow Canyon Middle School’s Teacher of the Year. While completing his Master’s Degree, Mr. Bateman was selected as the USU M. Ed. Scholar of the Year and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Mr. Bateman is a member of the Utah Music Educator’s Association (UMEA), the Music Educator’s National Conference (MENC) and the National Band Association (NBA). He has been published in both the Utah and Maryland Music Educator's Journals.

     Mr. Bateman became the Director of Bands at Mountain Ridge Junior High in 2006 where he has taken the Symphonic Band to the Junior High State Band Festival every year and has continued the tradition of excellence found at Mountain Ridge. The Mountain Ridge Symphonic Band is among only three bands that have been selected for the State Jr. High Band Festival every year since it began and it's top jazz band recently placed second at the Peaks Jazz Festival.

     Mr. Bateman is also an Assistant Director for the Lone Peak and American Fork High School Marching
Bands. As an assistant, he's helped both programs to state titles in their divisions and has helped the American Fork Marching band to three BOA Western Divisional Titles and two BOA National Semi-Finals appearances.

     Mr. Bateman is married to his lovely wife, Tonna, and they have two boys who also play trumpet. Band has become a fun and exciting adventure for the his family and Mr. Bateman often refers to Band as his hobby.

     Mr. Bateman believes that band can play an important part in preparing students to be successful in the future by helping them develop self-esteem, good communication skills, creative thinking, discipline, and teamwork—all important skills for life and the workplace. It is not uncommon to see his band students already successful as they are often among those achieving high grades, excelling in sports, and representing their peers on the student council.

Lance Major is the Director of Bands at American Fork Jr. High School, Assistant Director of the American Fork High School Marching Band, and a freelance musician. Proficient on all five woodwind instruments, Mr. Major continues to be an active performer as well as educator.

     Mr Major received his Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Utah. While there, he performed in all of the school’s top ensembles, including the Wind Ensemble, Philharmonia Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, and multiple chamber music groups. Mr. Major has studied extensively with many of the top woodwind pedagogues in the state, including Kathy Pope, Mark Ely, David Halliday, Greg Floor, Susan Goodfellow, Ray Smith, and Daron Bradford. His performances span across the globe, with venues in Germany, Austria, China, and throughout the continental United States. Between performing as a U.S. ambassador of jazz music to China, playing orchestral music in Carnegie Hall, or playing in a reggae band at a local dance club, Mr. Major has the knowledge of, and continues to be, a proficient performer.

     Mr. Major also brings an extensive background of teaching to the American Fork band program. Mr. Major student taught at Farmington Jr. High school with Heath and Christine Wolf, was the band director for a semester at Mueller Park Jr. High, and has spent two summers at Cazadero Performing Arts Camp in Cazadero, California where he was the head saxophone instructor and assistant bassoon and clarinet instructor. In addition, he maintains a small private studio of highly dedicated clarinet, saxophone, and bassoon students.

     Mr. Major is a firm believer of the value of music and the arts in school programs. Band not only develops the learner as a musician, but as a student and person as well. Mr. Major is thrilled to be a part of the American Fork band program and is greatly looking forward to his first school year there.

Max Meyer starting his percussive career in high school, he has moved on to other organizations in the independent and private field. Max Meyer is a native of Cleveland, but has grown up in the Erie, Pennsylvania area. His teaching experience includes Front Ensemble Coordinator of the Erie All City Marching Band, McDowell Marching Band, and director of Fusion Percussion Ensemble. Max has also co-written and taught the White Sabers Front Ensemble in the 2008 season. In late 2008 he joined the ranks of the Empire Statesmen Drum and Bugle Corps where he taught the pit ensemble. In the off season, Max teaches privately in the Erie area. He also participates in mentoring middle school and high school students in the Erie Junior Philharmonic and has arranged music for the E.P.I.C indoor percussion ensemble, based out of Canada. Max recently graduated Cum Laude from Edinboro University with his Bachelors in Music Education.
      I am very excited to be a part of the American Fork team, It is a great opportunity to grow as an educator working with John Miller and his amazing staff! I will truly take the American Fork reputation to heart and give this school district nothing but my highest effort day in and day out. I am hungry to help expand the minds of all the students here and can't wait for them to do the same for me.

Devin Vogelsberg has participated in the American Fork Band Program for 71/2 years. He has experienced the American Fork Program as a student for 6 of these years, and 11/2 of these years have been dedicated towards teaching the American Fork Drumline as a High School Graduate. Devin was a section leader at American Fork for the Drumline and Steel Drum Band. He just finished up his second semester at Utah Valley University, and participated in the percussion ensemble, steel drum band, wind symphony, and was also featured as a soloist on thelast concert as a freshman. He enjoys teaching and especially loves to teach younger children how to build confidence in percussion and in themselves. He has 24 students right now, and he couldn't love teaching any more than he already does.

Chade Miller started playing trumpet in the 5th grade and has been playing for about ten years. He was in the Utah Allstate band 3 years and received superior ratings at state solo ensemble. Also while in high school he had the privileged of traveling to Europe twice with the Utah Ambassadors of Music. After high school he went to Denver Colorado and Marched with The Blue knights drum and bugle corp as one of the lead trumpets. Chade was lead trumpet for the Utah Valley University Jazz band and solo trumpet for the concert band for 2 years. He currently teachs trumpet lessons and has staffed American Fork marching band for over 3 years.

Skyler Carter has been playing the trumpet for twelve years and attended American fork high school where he achieved superior and high Ratings in all band activities. He was a member of the Utah youth symphony and also the Utah ambassadors of music. He was also a member of the Utah all state band for all 4 years of his high school career. Skyler became a member of the Phantom Regiment drum and bugle Corp in 2007 and 2008. He has been teaching at different bands around Utah valley for 5 years.

David Jackman was going into sixth grade, he was heart set on playing percussion. But the band director said there were too many would-be drummers so he’d have to play something else. David picked up the trumpet and now, almost 30 years later, hasn’t looked back. David played in all-state jazz band his senior year of high school, and while attending BYU played for Synthesis and the Cougar Marching Band, among other groups. He currently plays lead trumpet for CB Jazz, a local dance band and in the Wasatch Winds, Community Band. David works for Microsoft as a software engineer (the other thing he’s been doing for 30 years) and lives in Cedar Hills with his wife and three daughters, one of whom can be found at AFHS playing strange woodwind instruments.

Shaun Walker is a graduate of Orem high school, while in high school he participated in the All state Jazz band. Shaun Marched for the Troopers in 2009 and 2010 helping to bring the corps back to finals after a 23 year absence in 2009. This last summer Shaun was a member of the 14 time world champion Blue Devils drum and bugle corps. he will march one more year. currently Shaun lives in Orem Utah where he goes to school at Utah valley university as a music education major. he plays in the wind symphony and and 2 small brass ensembles.

Austin Crowther became interested in music at a very young age when he took piano lessons from his mother and uncle. As he grew older, he sang in multiple choirs around the Las Vegas area and also picked up the tenor saxophone. From that point, his musical interests skyrocketed.

     In high school he performed with the American Fork High School Marching Band and with them he marched in President Bush's 2nd Inaugural Parade. He was also a drum major his senior year at Legacy High School in North Las Vegas, NV. Austin is pleased to return to American Fork as a staff member this year.

     Throughout the years, Austin has composed and arranged pieces from several different genres of music. Most recently, the Southern Utah University Saxophone Ensemble performed three of his arrangements in a children's concert including songs from Toy Story, A Goofy Movie, and Super Mario Brothers.

     He recently finished his third year at Southern Utah University where he is planning to major in music education. He actively participates with Southern Utah University’s Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Saxophone Ensemble. He hopes to eventually become a film score composer. Austin is under the direction of Dr. Thomas Herb.

Julia Coleman has been involved in the marching arts since 1998. She was classically trained on piano and has also played the euphonium for over 10 years. Julia has performed with several marching groups across the country including Phantom Regiment, Presque Isle Percussion Ensemble, White Sabers, and Empire Statesmen.

     Julia attended the University of Pittsburgh, where she played baritone in the Pitt Panther Marching Band and euphonium in the concert band. She has served as a visual tech for many bands and drum corps, and arranges for several front ensembles across the country. Julia is currently the front ensemble technician and arranger at Weber State University.

     While not working as an RN or entertaining her music hobby, Julia enjoys hiking the Wasatch Front with her golden retriever, Elliott. Julia currently resides in Ogden with her husband, Ed.

Ed Coleman has been involved in the marching arts since an early age. He has performed with several marching groups across the country including Lake Erie Regiment, Kiwanis Kavaliers, Empire Statesmen, and the DCA World Champion Reading Buccaneers in 2006.

     Ed’s teaching experience includes Percussion Caption Head for Fairview High School, Battery Instructor and Consultant for the Erie All City Marching Band, Percussion Caption Head, Arranger and Consultant for White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps, and Director of Presque Isle Percussion Ensemble. Ed is currently the Percussion Caption Head at Weber State University.

     Mr. Coleman currently resides in Ogden, UT with his wife Julia and dog Elliott.

Amanda Harding is currently a Senior at the University of Idaho and plans to graduate with a degree in Music Education in December of 2011 after completing her student teaching experience at American Fork High School. She is a member of the trumpet studio at the University of Idaho and has participated as a member of the UI Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Vandal Marching Band, Jazz Band III, Jazz Choir I, and Jazz combos.
      After graduating from Spanish Fork High School in 2006 she studied music at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah where she graduated with her Associates Degree in 2008. While at Snow College she enjoyed playing in various chamber music ensembles and was able to tour to Holland with the chamber studio. She kept busy in the Snow College Jazz Ensemble I and II, Jazz Combos, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Orchestra, and Badger Pep Band.
      During the summers of 2007 and 2008 Amanda had the opportunity to play trumpet in the Nauvoo Brass Band as a service missionary for her church.
      This past June Amanda spent three weeks studying West African Drumming and Dance in Ghana, Africa and enjoyed experiencing and coming to appreciate different musical traditions and cultures.
      When not busy with other musical endeavors Amanda enjoys world music, playing folk guitar, and songwriting.
      Amanda enjoys teaching trumpet, bugle, and guitar, to students of all ages in the community and would be happy to take on more students.