Band Directors
Dave Bruce, District Six Coordinator of Bands
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.
Kathryn Kopp, Assistant Band Director
[email protected]
Kathryn Kopp is an Assistant Director of Bands at Dorman High School. She assists with the Dorman Marching Cavaliers, Dorman Wind Ensemble and the Dorman Freshman Symphonic Band. Mrs. Kopp also teaches 5th grade beginning band at Anderson Mill and West View Elementary Schools.
Mrs. Kopp is a native of Easley, SC and has earned degrees from Furman University and USC Upstate. Mrs. Kopp has been Assistant Director of Bands at Dorman since 2014. Before that she taught in the Union County School System. Kathryn Kopp is married to Andrew and they have two children.
Victor Perez, 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.
Dr. Marcus Morris, Assistant Band Director
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Prior to becoming the Assistant Director of Bands at Dorman High School, Mr. Morris served as
Assistant Director of Bands at Boiling Springs High School, and previously was the Performing Arts Coordinator & Assistant Band Director for Laurens District 55 Schools. During his career he has also served as the Director of Bands at Ardrey Kell High School in Charlotte, N.C., and
Myrtle Beach High School. A native of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Morris holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree and a Masters in Music Education K-12 also from Winthrop University, and his Ed.S in Administration and Supervision from Converse University. Currently, he is completing his Educational Doctorate in Professional Leadership with an emphasis in Music Education and is set to defend his dissertation “Stress Factors on South Carolina High School Band Directors Leading to Burnout,” in Spring ‘22. Mr. Morris remains active across the country as an adjudicator, presenter, performer, and clinician. He has presented multiple clinics and keynote addresses at annual conferences as well as several school district PD days. In November of 2019, Marcus presented a featured session at the National Association for Music Educators Conference in Orlando. Most recently he has presented at music educational conferences in Louisiana, Florida, Alabama, Kansas, and Indiana. He has conducted honor bands in several states, including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. Mr. Morris is a 2017 recipient of the Converse College Lovett Award for Promising Educational Leader, and the 2019 South Carolina Music Educators Association Mentor Award. Mr. Morris is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, National Association for Music Educators, South Carolina Music Educators Association, Palmetto State Teacher’s Association, the South Carolina Band Directors Association, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated.
Katie Dante District Six Color Guard Coordinator and Dorman Color Guard Director
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.