Band Staff

Meet the Director

Dr. Taylor L. Whitehead, a native of Meherrin, Virginia, currently serves as the Director of Marching and Pep Bands at Virginia State University. Dr. Whitehead received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Virginia State University, a Master of Music Education from Norfolk State University, and a Doctor of Music Education from Liberty University. From 1997-2018, he served as the Band Director at Warren County High School in Warrenton, North Carolina. Under his leadership, the Warren County High School “Dynamic Marching Machine” became one of the most successful show-style marching bands in North Carolina and throughout the nation. Between 2006 and 2017, the Warren County Band won nine National High Stepping Drumline Championships, seven Class A National High Stepping Band Championships, two National Danceline Championships, two National Auxiliary Championships, five Class A State High Stepping Band Championships, as well as over one hundred 1st Place Drumline Trophies.   
 
In 2013, Dr. Whitehead returned to his alma mater to serve part-time as the Assistant Band Director at Virginia State University. In 2018, he became the full-time Assistant Band Director at VSU. He was named Interim Director of Bands in 2022. In 2023, he was named Director of Marching and Pep Bands. In addition to working with the band program, he is a Department of Music faculty member. Dr. Whitehead is very active in several collegiate organizations, including the HBCU Band Directors’ Consortium, where he is an Executive Board Member, and the Intercollegiate Music Association. He also has served on the Board of Directors for The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps, as president of the North Carolina Show-style Band Director’s Association, and as advisor to the National Board for High Stepping Nationals and the Grand Board for Tuba Phi Tuba Brass Fellowship. He was named the 2011 Warren County High School Teacher of the Year and the Spectacular Magazine “Man of the Year” in Education for 2013. In 2023, the Petersburg Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated selected Dr. Whitehead as their Trailblazer of the Year for Educational Development. Dr. Whitehead is also an Amazon best-selling author as one of the co-authors of The HBCU Experience, The HBCU Band Alumni Edition.  
 
Dr. Whitehead is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated, Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity, Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Service Sorority, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Tuba Phi Tuba Brass Fellowship, Mu Phi Sigma National Percussion Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa International Association, and Omega Nu Lambda.

Taylor Whitehead - Director of Marching & Pep Bands   

Staff

Matthew Raton – Operations Director 

Salena Scott – Essence of Troy Dancers Coach  

Sherika Williams - Essence of Troy Dancers Assistant Coach 

Perry Evans – Satin Divas Flag Coach  

Ruth Maclin – Troy Elegance Twirlers Coach 

Deshon Rollins - Troy Elegance Assistant Coach & Choreographer

Davis Chambliss – Percussion Instructor  

Elisha Powell – Percussion Instructor  

Maurice Bowles – Drum Major Coordinator

Parris Bowles – Media Team  

Darnell Spicely – Media Team  

Jason Jones - Announcer