About

ABOUT

HISTORY
The 2024-25 school year marks the 86th year of the Crestview High School Band, better known as The Big Red Machine, making it one of the oldest high school bands in the Southeastern United States. During its existence, the band has enjoyed a tradition of excellence both on the marching field and in the concert hall. Two of its former directors have served as president of the Florida Bandmasters Association and the present director has served as a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association Executive Board.

The 280 member band has performed extensively throughout the United States with appearances at the Jingle Elf Parade in Chicago, the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the Peach Bowl in Atlanta, Boscov’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia, the Hollywood Christmas Parade in California, the Tangerine Bowl and Macy’s Holiday Parade in Orlando, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City as well as performances in major cities such as New Orleans, San Antonio, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. Other appearances through the years have included being the featured half-time band at the Blue-Gray game in Montgomery, Alabama, and performing in the Pegasus Parade at the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Kentucky.

In recent years, the band performed on the deck of the U.S.S. Missouri at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (2008), Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, CA (2012), Indianapolis 500 in Indianapolis, IN (2016). In 2018, The Big Red Machine traveled to Philadelphia, PA. to perform in the 99th edition of the Dunkin’ Donuts Thanksgiving Day parade, the oldest Thanksgiving parade in the country. The Wind Ensemble will perform at the Southeastern Regional Concert Festival held on the campus of Georgia State University in March 2022. The Big Red Machine will also be traveling to Dublin, Ireland to march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in March 2023.

Besides the Big Red Machine marching band, the Crestview band program has four concert bands, two jazz bands, and a nationally recognized color guard. The band has been awarded the Otto J. Krushaar Award several times by the Florida Bandmasters Association for all superior ratings from all adjudicators at district and state level music performance assessments.

Band students at Crestview High School are consistently rated at or near the top of their respective classes, academically. Over the years, thousands of dollars in college scholarships have been awarded to graduating members of the Crestview Band. The band at Crestview High School provides many opportunities for individual development both musically and personally. A family atmosphere is fostered and as a result, band students feel more at home in the band room than any other place at the school. By using a student leadership / mentoring program, band students are made to feel like an important part of the rich tradition that is the Crestview Band from the moment they first join.

Staff

Jody Dunn- Director of Bands

Joseph Wayne (Jody) Dunn is a 1986 graduate of Crestview High School where he now holds the position of band director. Mr. Dunn was twice the principal trombonist of the Florida All-State Band while a high school and junior high school student. He was also a member of the Florida All-State Choir. As a senior, he served as the Drum Major of the Crestview High School marching band, better known as "The Big Red Machine". He went on to earn his music education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1990. While at USM he was a member of the Pride of Mississippi Marching Band, in which he served as section leader and vice-president. He was a member of the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, Jazz Lab I and the Trombone Choir. He performed with USM Chorale, Men’s Choir and was a founding member of the USM Jazz Singers.

Upon graduation from USM, Mr. Dunn accepted the position as director of the Pickering High School Band in Leesville, Louisiana. Under his direction, the band received its first ever Superior ratings. In 1993, he returned to his hometown of Crestview and became the Assistant Director of the Richbourg Middle School Band and Chorus until 1996. From 1996 to 2006 Mr. Dunn was the Associate Director of Bands at Crestview High School. While serving as the associate director, he was the visual coordinator of the marching band as well as the director of the Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble II. He assumed his current position as Director of Bands at Crestview High School in 2006. In his capacity as Director of Bands, he conducts the Wind Ensemble, Concert Band, Concert Prep Band and Jazz Ensemble I. He also teaches percussion and color guard. Under his direction, the Crestview Band has received the Otto J. Kraushaar Award, the highest award given by the Florida Bandmasters Association, several times. In 2011, Mr. Dunn was a clinician / conductor for the Southeastern United States Honor Band at Troy University. In 2012, the Crestview High School Band was featured in the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. In 2014, The Wind Ensemble performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In February of 2017, the Wind Ensemble performed at the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic in Troy, Alabama. In the spring of 2019, Mr. Dunn served as the guest clinician / conductor of the Matanuska-Susitna Honor Band in Palmer, Alaska. Most recently, he was the clinician / conductor of the Florida All-State High School Honor Band.

Mr. Dunn is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the southeast. He has served on the state executive board of the Florida Bandmasters Association. He currently chairs the FBA Ethics Committee. He is a recipient of the Certificate of Merit from the National Band Association. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Florida Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the American School Band Directors Association and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, where he currently serves as president of the Omega Chapter.

Jody is the proud father of Olivia, Elizabeth, Joseph and Elijah.

Sean Dyke- Assistant Band Director

Sean Dyke is an assistant band director at Crestview High School where he teaches Percussion Class, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble 2, and Chamber Winds. Mr. Dyke is a member of the National Association for Music Education, Florida Music Educators Association, and Florida Bandmasters Association.

During his career, Mr. Dyke has been a member of orchestras, chamber groups, and jazz ensembles throughout the United States to include Mobile Symphony Orchestra (AL), Meridian Symphony Orchestra (MS), Lincoln Symphony Orchestra (NE), Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (FL), Plymouth Brass, Perdido Brass Quintet, Monday Night Big Band, Southern Miss 1 o'clock Lab band, among other ensembles. He has also made numerous appearances in musical theater productions.

Mr. Dyke holds a Bachelor of Music Education and a Bachelor of Music Performance degrees from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Music from The University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Kim Whaley- Assistant Band Director

Kim Whaley is in her 30th year of teaching and is currently in her third year as the Assistant Director of Bands at Crestview High School in Crestview, Florida. Her responsibilities at Crestview include teaching the Concert Prep and Concert Bands, Chamber Winds, Woodwind/Brass Techniques Class, and working with the Big Red Machine. Prior to her arrival at Crestview High School, Ms. Whaley taught at Shoal River Middle School in Crestview, Florida for eleven years.
Ms. Whaley earned her undergraduate degree in Music Education from Louisiana State University and a graduate degree in clarinet performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She also holds a graduate degree in clarinet performance from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. She maintains an active performing career as a member of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Pensacola Little Theater, Pensacola State College’s Summer High School Onstage Workshop, the Mobile Symphony and Don Snowden’s Big Band All Stars.
Ms. Whaley is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, the Florida Music Educators Association and Phi Beta Mu.