Artistic Directors

Artistic Director - Concert Band

Robert Davis (he, him)

Robert Davis has served as the Lead Artistic Director of the Columbus Pride Bands since the spring of 2017, having previously served as Assistant Artistic Director. Robert currently serves as the Director of Bands at Watkins Memorial High School in Pataskala, Ohio. At Watkins Memorial, Robert leads all aspects of the high school band program, including two concert bands, jazz ensemble, marching band, pep band, the musical pit orchestra, and assists with the middle school bands. During his time at Watkins Memorial, the band program has participated in a commissioning project with John Mackey, hosted composer Michael Markowski, worked with notable educators including Frank Battisti, and continues to consistently earn high ratings at adjudicated events.

Before moving to Columbus in 2015, Robert earned a Master of Music Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he studied conducting with Dr. John Climer. While a student at UWM, Robert was the recipient of a Chancellor’s Award and several Graduate Travel Grants, which allowed him to pursue additional study with prominent band conductors around the country. Robert began his teaching career at Anna Local Schools in western Ohio, and he is a proud alumnus of Ohio University.

Robert holds professional membership in the National Association for Music Education, Ohio Music Education Association, and National Band Association and is an alumnus of Kappa Kappa Psi.

Artistic Director - Concert Band

Jennifer Olis (she,her)

Jennifer Olis has served as Assistant Artistic Director of Columbus Pride Bands since the spring of 2019. She currently is the Director of Bands in the Grandview Heights School District in central Ohio. At Grandview, Jennifer teaches the high school concert band, high school marching band, high school jazz band, eighth grade band, and assists with the fifth, sixth, and seventh grade bands. She also leads chamber ensembles, the musical pit orchestra, and the pep band program.

Prior to coming to Grandview, Jennifer taught for five years in the Logan Hocking School District in southeastern Ohio and six years at Muskego High School in southeastern Wisconsin. Under her direction, the Muskego High School Wind Ensemble performed at the 2009 and 2014 Wisconsin State Music Association Conferences. In 2012, Jennifer was one of three selected participants in the National Band Association Young Conductor Mentor Project where she studied with renowned conductors and educators Mark Camphouse, Paula Crider, and Gary Hill.
An avid supporter of new works for concert band, Jennifer has participated in several commissioning projects resulting in works by composers Zachary Koors, Taras Nahirniak, Michael Sweeney, and John Mackey. She is the recipient of The Ohio State University Outstanding Graduate Associate Award (2017) and The Ohio State University Fellowship Award (2015). She is a member of NAfME, Sigma Alpha Iota, Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Kappa Phi.

She earned her Bachelor of Music Education and Trombone Performance degrees from Ohio University and Master of Music degree in Wind Conducting from The Ohio State University, where she studied with Dr. Russel Mikkelson. Jennifer and her husband, Michael, live in Pickerington with their children Molly and Julian.

Artistic Director - Concert Band

Dr. Jon Noworyta (he,him)

Dr. Jon Noworyta is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Queen City Freedom Band (QCFB), an ensemble he has led since its reorganization in 2018. He is also Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands, Instrumental Activities, and Educational Outreach at the University of Indianapolis. There, he administers all aspects of the woodwind, brass, and percussion area, teaches basic and advanced conducting, courses in music education, and conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Pep Band, and opera. A versatile conductor who is equally comfortable with orchestras as well as wind and brass groups, Noworyta is the Director of the Crossroads Brass Band of Indianapolis and the former Assistant Conductor of the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Ensembles under his direction regularly perform at local, state, national, and international venues with notable performances having taken place the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Music for All National Festival, Chicago's Symphony Center, the Kennedy Center, and most notably, Carnegie Hall. Noworyta’s professional affiliations (present and past) include: NAFME, CBDNA, WASBE, NABBA, NBA, Pride Bands Alliance, GLSEN, the Conductors Guild, and the Indiana, Illinois, New York (NYSSMA) and Ohio Music Educators Associations. Noworyta holds degrees from Baldwin-Wallace College (BME), Northwestern University (MM), and the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (DMA). Additional studies in conducting have taken place in workshops at the Eastman School of Music, the New England Conservatory, and the Juilliard School.

Artistic Director - Big Band

Jessica Sneeringer (she,her)

Jessica Sneeringer is a graduate of The Ohio State University earning Bachelor’s Degrees in both Music Education and Trombone Performance as well as a Masters Degree in Music Education. Jessica is currently in her 24th year of teaching, this being her 19th year as the Director of Bands at Columbus Academy in Gahanna, Ohio as well as the Chair of the Performing Arts Department and the Dixon Art Chair Award Recipient.

A member of the Central Ohio Brass Band since 1999, she held the solo trombone chair until 2004, when she stepped onto the podium. Over the 16 years that she conducted COBB the group enjoyed much success, including being 1st Section Champions a record five times at the North American Brass Band Association Championships and being invited to such prestigious events as the Great American Brass Band Festival, the Butlins Contest in the UK, the Ohio Music Education Association Conference, and the 2019 International Trombone Festival. Having left COBB in 2020, Jessica moved to the NABBA adjudication panel for the 2022 and 2023 Championships. She has also been an adjudicator at the US Open and the Dublin Festival of Brass and will adjudicate at the 2024 Great Canadian Brass Band Festival.

Jessica has been a clinician, judge, and coach for several outstanding student groups as well, including the Ohio State University Marching Band, Capital University Junior Winds, The Ohio All-State Band, and The All-Ohio State Fair Band. Jessica is currently on staff at Jazz Arts Group (Columbus) as the director of the Columbus Youth Jazz Ensemble, as well as the director of the Columbus Community Jazz Band. A freelance trombonist, Jessica has performed with many groups including the Springfield Symphony Jazz Orchestra (lead, under the direction of Todd Stoll), Columbus Jazz Orchestra, the 1999 Disney Collegiate All-Star Band (lead), Athena Brass Band (bass), Monarch Brass (bass), We Banjo 3, a variety of other jazz ensembles, and was second trombone in the Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra for 10 years. Jessica is a member of the Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity as well as the American School Band Directors Association.

As a conductor, Jessica has been a guest with several groups, including Holiday Brass (Baltimore), the Brass Band of Columbus, and the Otterbein University Wind Ensemble. Since 2012, Jessica has been the conductor of the Athena Brass Band, having had the honor of conducting the group on several occasions. She is very appreciative and honored to have had the opportunity to conduct the Athena Brass Band at the 2021 Midwest Clinic. She is looking forward to being a guest conductor of the Pride Bands Alliance Jazz Band June 2024 and the Athena/Japan Ladies Brass at the International Women's Brass Conference in Mito City, Japan August of 2024.

Jessica makes her home in Gahanna, Ohio with her kids Josh and Jordan.

Artistic Director - Pep Band

Megan Jacoby Banks

Megan Banks is a music educator and percussion specialist. Megan received her Bachelors's in Music Education from the University of Toledo in 2015, with a specialization in Instrumental Music. She studied percussion under Dr. Olman Piedra and has training in both classical and jazz idioms. Megan works for Columbus City Schools as a middle school band teacher; her educational philosophy focuses on giving students a contemporary and relevant music education for the 21st century.

Megan’s day-to-day teaching includes a mixture of traditional music education principles, modern experiences such as audio production, and the infusion of current popular styles of music. Megan remains immersed in the music community on a local and national level. She has performed with the Columbus Pride Bands since 2016 as a band member and section leader. She currently performs at venues all over Ohio with her indie-pop band Made of the Mist and is also working on an upcoming funk project called Dankköpolis.
Megan is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity and the Ohio Music Education Association. Megan currently resides in Grove City, OH, with her wife and 2 cats, and spends her free time hiking, songwriting, and playing video games.

Artistic Director - Color Guard

José Ayala III

Hello! I'm José Ayala III and it's my pleasure to join the Columbus Pride Bands team for the Nation Band Aliance Conference as Color Gurad Chair. I come with experience ranging from 6+ years of marching band, marching with Capital Regiment, performing with The Flaggots of Ohio and teaching with multiple marching programs throughout Ohio. I look forward to putting some fun routines that will showcase everyone that come to participate for the event! Super excited to meet everyone!

Guest Artistic Directors

Manic Maxxie (Chicago, IL)

Manic Maxxie currently serves as the Artistic Director of The Lakeside Pride Pops Ensemble in Chicago, IL. Maxxie’s drag is inspired by gender fluidity, black women, and chaotic energy. She enjoys celebrating the work of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists and is inspired by many of the scene’s most iconic black drag performers. She is an energetic and engaging musician who last guest conducted with the Pride Bands Alliance in 2022.

Jon Gomez (Phoenix, AZ)

Jon Gomez is the Artistic Director of the Arizona Wind Symphony in Phoenix, AZ and comes to us with an impressive resume of experience and accolades. Jon is currently an educational consultant and clinician for the Conn-Selmer Division of Education and serves on the Midwest Clinic Advisory Committee. Although he is not directly affiliated with a PBA ensemble, Jon was encouraged to apply by musicians who play in both the Arizona Wind Symphony and Desert Overture, and we think he will be an exceptional addition to our team.

Charles Roth (Washington, DC)

Mr. Charles Roth is the Marching Band Artistic Director and Conductor at DC's Different Drummers, from our nation's capital in Washington D.C. Under his leadership, the band has significantly expanded its presence in and around our nation’s capital, leading to high profile performances including the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade, Smithsonian Institute, World Pride 2019, and two special appearances at the Naval Observatory, home of Vice President Kamala Harris. Aside his duties at DC's Different Drummers, Roth is an active music educator in Alexandria, Virginia where he teaches band at an IB (International Baccalaureate) school. In his time there, he has increased student engagement, tripled the size of the band programs, founded the schools music booster organization, led the band to multiple festivals and competitions with a legacy of success, and assisted / led the schools Gay Straight Alliance (GSA). Roth's professional affiliations (present and past) include Pride Bands Alliance, the National Association of Music Education (NAFME), the Ohio Music Educators Association (OMEA), Virginia Band Orchestra Directors Association (VBODA), and the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA). Charles is an Ohio native from Vandalia, Ohio and previously lived in Columbus before moving to Washington D.C. Roth holds degrees from Miami University of Ohio (BME), and University of Kentucky (MA) among other certifications.

Alexander Alberti (Durham,NC)

Alexander Alberti is a music educator and serves as the Artistic Director for the Triangle Pride Band. Alex formerly held the position of Director of Instrumental Music at Longleaf School of the Arts (LSA) and Director of Music at Southern Lee High School. In his professional career, he has worked with music education nonprofits around the country, including the College Music Society, NAMM, the A Cappella Education Association, and Varsity Vocals.

Additionally, Alex has served as a conductor, composer, and arranger for high school ensembles across North Carolina and musical productions at UNC Chapel Hill. He is an active researcher in the field of music education, contemporary vocal music, and music theory pedagogy. Alex earned his Master’s degree in Music Education with a post-baccalaureate certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in 2020. He is also an alumnus of Appalachian State University, where he holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a minor in Psychology.

Alex is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity. Full-time, Alex works in educational technology at Instructure. In his spare time, Alex hangs out with his dog, Taiko, and participates in the semi-professional a cappella group, Triadic Vocals.

Erin Frawley

Erin Frawley is a passionate percussionist and conductor who will be leading the percussion ensemble at The Heart of it All conference in Columbus. Beginning her percussion journey in fourth grade, Erin proudly performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade with her high school marching band. She joined the Mile High Freedom Band in 1987, initially as a band aide and truck driver, and eventually as a percussionist, conductor, and board officer.
After moving to Massachusetts in 1995, Erin quickly became a key member of the Freedom Trail Band of Boston, serving as their president and conductor since 2007. Erin has been deeply involved with the Pride Bands Alliance, contributing as a board member, delegate at Gay Games VII, VIII, and IX, performer and section leader in presidential inaugural parades, and performer and conductor at annual Pride Bands conferences.

Her dedication to music and leadership within the LGBTQ+ communities has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Outstanding Cultural Participant Legacy Award at Gay Games IX in 2014 and the Pride Bands Alliance Pillars of Pride Award in 2018.

Pride Bands 2024 Conference