Meet Our Directors
Christopher J. Perez
Director
Mr. Perez is the Director of Bands at Freedom High School and is enjoying his thirteenth year of teaching. His prior appointments include teaching with the Kinnikinnick School District in Roscoe, Illinois, and in Orlando at Hunter's Creek Middle School, Oak Ridge High School, and Howard Middle School. He is a member of the Southern Winds Concert Band. Having studied saxophone and percussion, Mr. Perez is a graduate of Western Illinois University with a B.A. in Music Education. For two seasons he was a drum major for the WIU Marching Leathernecks, and was a Student Conductor's Competition Winner in 1992. Mr. Perez is a member of the Florida Bandmaster's Association, Music Educator's National Conference, the Florida Music Educator's Association, and has served as the Orange County Public Schools Middle School All-County Jazz Band Chair. He is a composer and arranger with Drop6, Media, Inc. (www.drop6.com), and has music arrangements on the Florida Bandmaster's Association State Music List. Mr. Perez resides in Orlando with his wonderful wife Stephanie, and two energetic sons, Evan and Brendan.
Clay Price
Associate Director
Over the past 13 years, Mr. Price has written, arranged, and taught drumlines, front ensembles, marching band techniques, and leadership at band camps from High School to the Collegiate Level.
Clay graduated from University of Georgia in 1997, where he received a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. At UGA, Clay was a member of the award winning Redcoat Band Drumline/Front Ensemble, including Pit Captain his Senior year. He also was a member of the UGA Percussion Ensemble, Steel Drum Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony. He moved to Orlando that same year where he started his WDW career in as a percussionist with the Disney Collegiate Orchestra, performing at the American Gardens Theater with such stars as Betty Buckley, Sandy Duncan, Carol Channing, Peabo Bryson, Shirley Jones, and John Davidson.
As a musician with WDW, Clay has also been a drummer for the Tapestry of Nations parade at EPCOT and is currently a pianist for Magic Music Days Entertainment Workshops. Clay is also the Artistic Director and Conductor for the ENCORE! Cast Choir and Orchestra at Walt Disney World.
Currently, Clay works in Talent Casting and Booking, specializing in Name Talent and Sports Celebrities.
Erin Brown
Color Guard Director
Ms. Erin Brown graduated from the University of Florida in 2000 with her Masters Degree in Special Education. Her colorguard performance experience includes her four years at University HS, one year in the UF Gator Marching Band, Synergy Winterguard, The Company Colourguard, Ancient City Ensemble Winterguard & the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps. Erin has taught at many different guard programs since college including St. Augustine Coast One ('01), Lake Mary ('02-'05), Paradigm ('03-'05), Teal Sound ('01-'02), Southwind ('03) & most recently the Knights Winterguard ('06).