Upon his graduation from Carolina, Mr. Potter began his teaching career at West Rowan High School in Mt. Ulla, NC. During his brief time there, the marching band quickly became active in competitive marching and the symphonic band earned the first ever Superior rating at District Festival by a WRHS ensemble.

In 2000, Mr. Potter was hired to be the first band director at Wakefield High School, a new public high school in Raleigh. During his short time there, the band program has quickly found success in each of the different areas of the program. The Concert Band earned a Superior rating at its first district band festival. The indoor band program has since grown into three different ensembles; Concert Band I, Concert Band II and the Wind Ensemble. These groups consistently earn top ratings and comments from adjudicators and clinicians.

The Marching Band was begun in year two of the school with 40 students. Since that time the group has grown to more than 120 performers and consistently earns caption awards, class and grand championships while performing across North Carolina and traveling to national events. It is a Bands of America Regional Championship Finalist. In addition, it was a featured performer at the 2005 NC Music Educator’s Conference, and was invited to perform for the 2005 NC Governor’s Inaugural.

The Winter Guard program includes four different ensembles, two at Wakefield High, one at Wakefield Middle and one Independent Guard (Wakefield Independent). The Maroon Guard is a two-time Winter Guard International World Championships finalist, consistent Regional Championships finalist and has earned several medals at circuit championships. The Silver Guard is a Winter Guard International Regional Finalists and circuit medalist. The Independent Guard is a Winter Guard International World Championships finalist and consistent Regional Championships finalist.

The program also features a Jazz Program with two ensembles, an active Chamber Ensemble program and an AP Music Theory program.

The program has also been very active in the district by hosting the district’s Middle School Band Festival for two years, the district’s High School Band Festival for three years, a Marching Band competition and a Winter Guard and Winter Percussion Contest. Mr. Potter also chaired the High School Band Festival in 2007 when it was hosted at Athens Drive High School and 2008 at Holly Springs High School. He is a former board member for the Central District serves as its representative to the NCBA Marching Band Committee. He is currently the chair of that committee.

In 2006, Mr. Potter was awarded the NC Central District Bandmasters’ Associations Band Director of the Year Award. In 2007, Mr. Potter was awarded the NC Central District Bandmasters’ Association Award of Excellence.

Mr. Potter is eternally grateful to the many educators and friends who provided him with guidance throughout the years, especially Barry Carroll, David Smithwick, Michael Kris, Jeffrey Fuchs, Dr. Michael Votta, Dr. Larry Marks, Dr. Scott Carter, Jeffrey Richardson and Tony Robinson

Stephen’s education includes a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Marshall University in 2002 and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from East Carolina University in 2008. While at Marshall, Stephen was voted the MU Percussive Arts Society Chapter President and co-creator of the MU “Day of Percussion.” During his time at East Carolina he taught percussion methods courses, the Marching Pirates Drum Line, and conducted the ECU Steel Band. In addition to his teaching, he was the logistics coordinator for the 2008 NC PAS “Day of Percussion” hosted by ECU.

Prior to his graduate studies at East Carolina, Stephen was the Director of Bands at Red Springs High School in Red Springs, NC. While at Red Springs, Mr. Petrucci directed the Marching Devils, concert band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, and the Caribbean Connection Steel Band. Along with his teaching responsibilities, Stephen was appointed the chairperson for the Public Schools of Robeson County Bandmasters Association (2005-06).

Stephen’s performance background includes fives years of experience in Drum Corps International drum and bugle corps. Not only known for his marching experience, Stephen has performed as a concert percussionist with the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra and several famous musicians including Ney Rosauro, Lalo Davila, Arthur Lipner, and Terry Gibbs.

Stephen has been an active percussion teacher in Kentucky, West Virginia, and North Carolina where he has built percussion programs into highly competitive and performing ensembles. Along with teaching, he has judged both marching and concert percussion contests.

Stephen currently resides in Raleigh, NC with his beautiful wife Sarah and is an artist/endorser for Innovative Percussion.

Shannon Proctor-Nystrom joined Wakefield High School in 2003 as the Dance Teacher and lead Color Guard instructor. She is the current Caption Head of the Wakefield Color Guard and Winter Guard programs. Since she joined the program, the guard has grown from one winter guard to four (Wakefield HS Maroon, Wakefield HS Silver, Wakefield Independent and Wakefield Middle). During this time, the program has grown to a national level achieving Winter Guard International World Championship Finalist positions three times, semi-finalist positions four times. In addition, Wakefield HS Maroon became the first Wake County scholastic guard to be promoted to Open Class when it was moved in 2008 after its 4th place finish at World Championships.