Your Directors

Ms. Kathy LaVay is in her twenty-third year as a Band Director in the Alachua County School System. Ms. LaVay is a graduate of the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education.  Before joining the Howard Bishop Band family, Ms. LaVay was Director of Bands at Santa Fe High School in Alachua where she was named "Teacher of the Year" and also nominated numerous times as a "Disney Outstanding Teacher".  Bands under Ms. LaVay's direction have consistently received superior ratings at both the district and state level.  Under Ms. LaVay's direction, the Santa Fe High School Band program earned SIX State Championship Titles.  Ensembles under Ms. LaVay's direction have traveled all across the Southeastern United States to compete at the national level in places such as Atlanta, Nashville, Gatlinburg and to the Bahamas.  Ms. LaVay began her career at Newberry Jr./Sr. High School where she taught both middle and high school band for nine years.  Ms. LaVay is an active adjudicator and clinician across the United States.  She is an adjudicator for Music Festivals in Orlando and Atlanta and has judged various competitions throughout Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and Oklahoma. 

Ms. Amy Beres is in her twelfth year as a Band Director in the Alachua County School System.  A native of Miami, Florida, Ms. Beres is a graduate of the Florida State University where she received her Bachelor's Degree in Music Education.  Before joining the Howard Bishop Band Family, Ms. Beres was the Director of Bands at Mebane Middle School in Alachua.  Bands under Ms. Beres' direction have consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at the district level and have traveled several times to National Music Competitions in Atlanta, Georgia where they received Superior ratings.  Ms. Beres began her career at Mebane Middle School where she was responsible for all aspects of the band program in addition to teaching General Music classes.  Ms. Beres is a candidate for certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards.