Howard Bishop Bands - About Ms. Beres

Amy Beres is entering her sixteenth year of teaching and is a graduate of the Florida State University in Tallahassee. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from FSU in 1996. Upon graduation from FSU, Ms. Beres was appointed as Director of Bands at A.L. Mebane Middle School in Alachua, FL. Bands under Ms. Beres’ direction consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at district music performance assessments and national music festivals in Atlanta and Orlando. Ms. Beres also spent ten years assisting with the Santa Fe High School band program. Ms. Beres was Assistant Director of Bands at Howard Bishop Middle School for two years before being appointed Director of Bands which is the position she currently holds. Some of Ms. Beres’ students have gone on to further their musical education at many prestigious music camps and summer music institutes, marched in various drum and bugle corps, as well as pursue music degrees at major colleges and universities.

Ms. Beres maintains an active private clarinet studio in Gainesville, specializing in working with young musicians. Ms. Beres has been the coordinator for the Alachua County Middle School Honor Band for the last four years and has held the position of District Secretary and District Chairperson of her state band director’s association. She has also acted as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Florida Marching Band Coalition State Championships. Ms. Beres is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference and Sigma Alpha Iota, a national music fraternity for women.

Rachel Matz, Tubas, Trombones, Baritones Rachel Matz currently serves as the Principal Tuba of the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra and the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra. She also performs with the Gainesville Brass Quintet. Ms. Matz has also performed with the Florida Orchestra, the Sarasota Brass Quintet, and is currently a semi-finalist for the New World Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Matz earned her B.M. from Florida State University and her M.M. from the University of South Florida. While at USF, Ms. Matz won the school's concerto competition and performed as a soloist with the USF Symphony Orchestra. She also conducted research about yogic breathing while she was at USF, and is a co-author of a study that was presented this past summer at the Performing Arts Medicine Association Conference.

While her principal instrument is tuba, Ms. Matz also plays bass trombone. She has taught studio lessons, masterclasses, specialty clinics and sectionals for all low brass instruments. She is currently the Low Brass Instructor at Great Southern Music in Gainesville, FL.

Tobin Wagstaff, Percussion Tobin has worked in many diverse environments as a student, performer, and educator. He has received awards for his leadership and musicianship through various organizations and ensembles including: solo performance, orchestras, percussion ensembles, steel drum bands, rock & pop bands, symphonic bands, marching bands, jazz bands, church music, and Christian music. Tobin has a Bachelor’s degree in Music with a minor in Family, Youth, and Community Sciences from the University of Florida, where he was a member of the Florida Drum Line. In addition to independent contract work for area church music projects, he works regularly with the Hippodrome, performing and recording music for summer musicals including The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Shout!, and College the Musical.

Tobin has performed with a variety of local bands, including Chutzpah! (Klezmer & Gypsy music), 6th Street Rhythm & Blues Revue (Rhythm & Blues), Tower Road (classic and contemporary rock). He currently drums for the popular metal cover band Whiplash.