Directors
The conductors of the Triangle Brass Band and the Triangle Youth Brass Bands.
Jesse Rackley
Artistic Director, Triangle Brass Bands · Conductor, Triangle Brass Band and Watson Brass Band
Jesse Rackley serves as Artistic Director of the Triangle Brass Bands and conductor of both the Triangle Brass Band and Watson Brass Band. An accomplished tenor trombone and euphonium performer and educator, Jesse maintains an active career as both a musician and teacher throughout North Carolina.
Jesse is Principal Trombone of the Fayetteville Symphony and performs regularly with the North Carolina Symphony. He has also performed with the Virginia Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Greensboro Symphony, Winston-Salem Symphony, Wilmington Symphony, Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle, and Eastern Music Festival Orchestra.
As a soloist, Jesse has been featured with the Triangle Brass Band, 440th U.S. Army Band, East Carolina University Tuba Ensemble, and numerous high school ensembles throughout North Carolina. His competition accomplishments include winning the euphonium solo competition at the Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference in both 2007 and 2009. He was also a runner-up in the 2002 International Tuba Euphonium Conference Young Artist Solo Competition and a semifinalist in the 2002 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Euphonium Competition.
As an educator, Jesse maintains a large and active private studio throughout central North Carolina. His students consistently earn top honors in the North Carolina All-District and All-State Bands and participate in a variety of summer music festivals. Jesse is also in frequent demand as a soloist, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the state.
Jesse lives in Morrisville with his two sons, Noah and Ryan, and his partner, Cindy.
Matt Edwards
Director, Triangle Youth Brass Band
Matt Edwards retired from teaching high school band in June 2025 after a 29-year career. He had served as Director of Bands and AP Music Theory at Fuquay-Varina High School since 2002.
Under his direction, The Fuquay-Varina Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Marching Bengals and chamber ensembles continued the program’s rich tradition of musical excellence, competitive success, and connection to the community. The Marching Bengals consistently captured caption and class awards in competition across North Carolina while the Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble earned Excellent and Superior ratings at District MPA. His students were regular participants in NC Solo & Ensemble MPA, All-District, All-State and collegiate honor groups. FVHS band members continued their musical careers as non-music-majors in college ensembles and as music majors and minors at universities across the eastern United States.
Mr. Edwards has performed professionally as a trombonist with the Triangle Brass Band, North Carolina Wind Orchestra, Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, Cape Fear Regional Theater, Greensboro Philharmonia and the Highland Brass Quintet.
Students under his private instruction have earned seats in Southeast and Central All- District Bands and the NC All-State Honor Bands.
Mr. Edwards received his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1996 from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. He is a member of the North Carolina Music Educator’s Association (NCMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and East-Central District Band Director’s Association (ECDBA). He was honored by the Central District (CDBA) in 2008 as their Director of the Year and in 2014 with their Award of Excellence.
He has a distinguished record of service to his profession and currently serves as co-chair of the NCMEA Mentoring Committee. He has also served as ECDBA High School MPA Chair, ECDBA MPA Site Host, CDBA President, NCBA MPA Committee representative, CDBA High School All-District Auditions Chair, Southeast District All-District Clinic Chair/Host and Southeast District Concert MPA Chair/Host.
He has mentored the next generation of music educators by serving as a Cooperating Teacher for student interns from Campbell University, UNC-Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, and Appalachian State University.
Mr. Edwards is entering his 14th season as Music Director of the Triangle Youth Brass Band and has served as conductor at the UNCG Summer Music Camp.
Steven Kuni
Interim Director, Triangle Youth Academy Brass Band
Steven T. Kuni is an accomplished music educator, active guest clinician, and freelance trumpet player based in Apex, North Carolina. A retired National Board Certified Teacher, Mr. Kuni holds a Bachelor of Music Education from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master of Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Over a career spanning more than three decades, he directed middle and high school ensembles across Pennsylvania and North Carolina, earning consistent Superior and Excellent ratings at marching and concert band festivals.
In recognition of his distinguished career in music education, he was awarded the 2024 East Central District Bandmasters Award of Excellence. As a performing artist, Mr. Kuni serves as the Music Director for the Triangle Jazz Orchestra and performs regularly with regional ensembles, including the North Carolina Wind Orchestra, Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra, Triangle Brass Band, North Carolina Theater, North Carolina Film Orchestra, and Carolina Moondogs. He resides in Apex with his wife, Donna, and their children, Samantha and Jack.
Alvin Taylor
Conductor, Triangle Youth Percussion Ensemble
Alvin Taylor is a Greenville based percussion performer, educator and arranger. Alvin is currently serving as the Assistant Athletic Band Director at his alma mater East Carolina University where he writes for and manages the ECU Drumline, directs the Basketball Pep Bands and is the director of “Pirate Steel” Steel Pan Ensemble.
While away from ECU, he maintains a small private studio, and is a freelancer across East NC as a percussion arranger, writing for marching/concert percussion and steel pan ensemble. Alvin is in his third year with the Triangle Youth Percussion Ensemble (T.Y.P.E) where he conducts, rehearses, and manages equipment for the group.
Having a bachelors and master degree in Percussion Performance, Alvin hopes to one day pursue a DMA, publish his arrangements and continue to pass on his love for performing to the next generation of percussionists.
We are Grateful to Our Sponsors for their Support of Great Brass Music
