Band Directors
Victor Perez, Associate Director of Bands Dorman High School District Six Director of Percussion and Dorman Indoor Drumline Director [email protected]
Victor Perez is a native of Spartanburg, SC, and is a Graduate of Dorman High School. After High School Victor attended Western Carolina University where he earned a degree in Music Education and served as the Percussion Section leader. Mr. Perez also holds a Masters in Education from the University of South Carolina Upstate. Mr. Perez marched with the independent drum line, Palmetto Percussion and the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. In the Fall of 2014, Mr. Perez became the Assistant Band Director/Director Of Percussion Dutchtown High School in Hampton, GA. There he started their indoor Drumline program which won many awards throughout his tenure. In the Fall of 2016 Victor took over as the Percussion Caption Head of Fayette County High School. In the spring of 2017 Mr. Perez accepted the Director of Percussion position at Dorman High School, in Spartanburg SC where he currently works. Since then he and his incredible team have made WGI World Championship finals 4 times, and have propelled the prestigious Dorman Percussion Program to WGi World Class designation with over 120 Percussionist District wide. During his time as a performer and educator Victor has learned from and studied with professionals such as Ralph Hardimon, Matt Henley, Jonathan Duke, Dr. Mya Rhoden, David Starnes, Dr. Mario Gataneo and many more. Mr. Perez currently resides in Spartanburg, SC, with his wife Tabitha Perez, and two sons Maxon and Myles. In his spare time he enjoys watching the Pittsburgh Steelers play on Sundays, and watching Shows such as Big Brother, Deal or No deal, and Shark Tank with his wife.
Katie Dante District Six Color Guard Coordinator and Dorman Color Guard Director [email protected]
Katie Dante is the Color Guard coordinator for Spartanburg School District 6, and the Color Guard Director for Dorman High School. Mrs. Dante has over 15 years experience coaching Color Guard and has worked with various groups across the upstate of South Carolina in that time. She is a graduate of Lafayette High School in Lexington, KY, where she was both in the Color Guard and a Drum Major. Mrs. Dante has a bachelors degree in Music Education with a Performance Certificate on bassoon from The University of South Carolina. When she’s not working with the Color Guard at Dorman, Mrs. Dante enjoys spending time with her husband, Diego, and their two children, Jaxon and Rosie.
William Shaw is the Assistant Band Director at Dorman High School. Will Shaw comes from a musical family and is the 2nd oldest of six brothers, all of which play instruments. An active member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association (SCBDA) and National Association for Music Education (NAfME), he graduated from Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina with a degree in Music Education. Prior to joining the team at Dorman, he served as Band Director at Greer Middle School, Lakeview Middle School, and Blue Ridge Middle School. While in these roles, he served as Assistant Band Director at Greer High School and at Blue Ridge High School. In addition to teaching concert, beginning, and marching bands, he also taught drumline, winter guard, and jazz bands. At state and regional events, Mr. Shaw’s ensembles have consistently received excellent and superior ratings. During his tenure, his marching band ensembles have also been repeatedly selected as state marching band finalists. Individually, his students have been recognized at county, regional, and state level honor bands as well as SCBDA events.
Mr. Shaw, a trombonist, performs locally in professional groups, community bands, and churches. He enjoys teaching private lessons to low brass students of all ages in the upstate. Mr. Shaw is excited to be joining his wife and fellow music educator, Amanda Shaw, in District 6 this year! He will be working with the Dorman Marching Cavaliers, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Winter Ensembles, and assisting with elementary and middle school band programs.
Denise Hembree, Freshman Campus Band Director [email protected]
Denise Hembree is the Dorman Freshman Campus Band Director. Her duties include: All DFC Bands, Marching Band, Jazz Band and Concert Band. Mrs. Hembree is an alumni of Furman University. Mrs. Hembree has served as an adjudicator throughout South Carolina. Mrs. Hembree performs on her trombone with the orchestra at First Baptist Spartanburg and the Palmetto Posaunen. Mrs. Hembree became the DFC Band Director in 2007.
Dr. Daniel Laing, Assistant Band Director Freshman Campus Band Director Dr. Daniel Laing is currently an Assistant Band Director at Dorman High School. Before this role, he served as the Director of Bands at Dawkins Middle School. Prior to his work in Spartanburg District 6, Dr. Laing was the Director of Bands at Grand Island Senior High School in Grand Island, Nebraska.From 2007 to 2017, Dr. Laing was an Associate Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Mississippi, a Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from Louisiana State University, and a Ph.D. in Music Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia.Dr. Laing began his teaching career as the Assistant Director of Instrumental Music in the Sedalia School District 200 in Sedalia, Missouri, where his ensembles consistently received superior ratings at state and regional contests.As a conductor, Dr. Laing is in high demand, most recently serving as a clinician for the Kansas State University Honor Band and the SCKMEA District Honor Band in Wichita. He has also been a clinician in Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri.An active member of the South Carolina Band Directors Association, NaFME, Pi Kappa Lambda, and Phi Beta Mu, Dr. Laing resides in Greer, SC, with his wife, Kristen, their two children, Parker and Emma, and their puppy, Penny.