Triangle Youth Brass Band Directors

Jesse Rackley

Triangle Youth Brass Band Artistic Director, Watson Brass Band Conductor

Jesse Rackley is the Artistic Director of the Triangle Youth Brass Bands and conductor of the Watson Brass Band, a 30 piece British style brass band comprised of the most talented high school brass and percussion players in the Central North Carolina region. Previously, he served as Music Director of the Triangle Youth Brass Ensemble from 2009-2013. Under his direction, the Triangle 
Youth Brass Band program has expanded from two to three brass bands as well as a percussion ensemble.

Jesse is an accomplished tenor trombone and euphonium performer and educator. He is the Principal Trombone of the Fayetteville Symphony and performs regularly with the North Carolina Symphony. He has 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, Triangle Youth Brass Band, 440th US Army Band, and East Carolina University Tuba Ensemble.

Jesse was the winner of the 2009 and 2007 Southeast Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference solo euphonium competition, runner up in the 2002 International Tuba Euphonium Conference Young Artist solo competition, and semi-finalist in the 2002 Leonard Falcone International Tuba Euphonium Competition.

As a teacher, Jesse maintains a large and active private studio throughout central North Carolina. His students consistently receive top honors in the NC All-District and All-State Bands and participate in various summer festivals. Jesse is in frequent demand as a soloist, clinician, and adjudicator throughout North Carolina.

Jesse lives in Morrisville with his two sons, Noah and Ryan, and his partner, Cindy.

Matt Edwards

Triangle Youth Brass Band Director

Matt Edwards is in his twenty-second year as Director of Bands at Fuquay-Varina High School.  Under his direction, the bands of Fuquay-Varina High School have have continued a long tradition of musical excellence, competitive success, and connection to the community.  The Marching Bengals have earned nearly 50 caption and class awards over the last five years during competitions in North Carolina.  The Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble consistently receive Excellent and Superior ratings at District MPA.  His students are regular participants in All-District, All-State and collegiate honor groups and continue their musical careers in 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 Bandmasters’ Association (CDBA) with the 2008 Director of the Year and the 2014 Award of Excellence.  He has served as ECDBA High School MPA Chair (2016-2022), CDBA President (2010-2012), NCBA MPA Committee representative (2009-2012, 2015-2018), CDBA High School All-District Auditions Chair (2005-2008), Southeast District All-District Clinic Chair/Host (1998) and Southeast District Concert MPA Chair/Host (2001).  He is entering his eleventh year as Music Director of the Triangle Youth Brass Band and has served as conductor at the UNCG Summer Music Camp.

Mr. Edwards is married to Robin Gorham and lives in Fuquay-Varina with their cat, Annie.

Robin Gorham

Triangle Youth Academy Brass Band Director

Robin Gorham retired from teaching middle school band in June of 2020 after a 25 year career and taught most recently at Fuquay-Varina Middle School.  Throughout her career, her students earned placements in district and state level honor bands and her concert bands earned Superior and Excellent ratings at concert band festivals.  Ms. Gorham has presented at several professional development conferences as well as hosted and mentored student teachers from area universities.  Her service and leadership in education included serving the Central District Band Directors Association as chairman as well as multiple other roles within the organization.  

Ms. Gorham received her undergraduate music education degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Masters of Music in Music Education from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.  In 2003, she earned National Board Certification and is honored to have received the North Carolina Band Association’s Award of Excellence from Southeastern Band Directors Association in 2009 and from East Central Band Directors Association in 2021. She is a member of North Carolina Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and was inducted into the American School Band Directors Association.

Ms. Gorham maintains a private horn studio and is the brass instructor for the Fuquay-Varina High School Marching Band.  She lives in Fuquay-Varina with her husband, Matt Edwards, director of the Fuquay-Varina High School Bands, and their cat, Annie.

Casey D’Sola

Triangle Youth Percussion Ensemble Director

We are Grateful to Our Sponsors for their Support of Great Brass Music