Sample Shout-Out
Union Public Schools and Union Bands is excited to announce the addition of three new members of its full-time faculty: Garett Dwyer as Percussion Director, Kylee Hubbard as Color Guard Director, and Ashley McAlister as Assistant Band Director.
Garett Dwyer
Kylee Hubbard
Ashley McAlister
Mr. Garett Dwyer, Union Percussion Director
Garett Dwyer is the Percussion Specialist at Union Public Schools in Tulsa, OK. He holds a bachelor's degree in Percussion Performance from the Indiana University (IU) Jacobs School of Music. During his time at IU, he studied Latin American drumming, Jazz vibraphone, and R&B under the direction of Michael Spiro, Steve Houghton, Joseph Gramley, among many others.
Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Garett was a busy percussionist prior to his time in Indiana. His summers were full of percussion-related camps, masterclasses, and competitions. Most notably Garett was invited to perform as a cast member for the the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps for their 2018 and 2019 tours, and to study at The Juilliard School in 2017.
During his undergraduate Garett was heavily involved in gigging and teaching persuasion to many students around the Bloomington, IN area. Garett is the Percussion Coordinator for Zephyrus Drum & Bugle Corps (Bixby, OK) and helped lead Edgewood Highschool (Ellettsville, IN) to their first IPA PSA State Championship in the 2022 season as the Front Ensemble Coordinator. Recently, Garett has worked with artists such as Bootsy Collins, Kenneth " Babyface" Edmonds, and is frequently in the recording studio.
Kylee Hubbard joins the Union team in 2022 as Color Guard Programs Director.
Ms. Kylee Hubbard, Union Color Guard Director
She has previously worked in Indianapolis with the World-Class programs Fishers High School, Avon High School, and Center Grove High School.
Her drum corps teaching and leadership experience includes Carolina Crown from 2012-2016 (winning the George Zingali Outstanding Color Guard Award in 2016), and the Boston Crusaders from 2017-present (winning the George Zingali Oustanding Color Guard Award in 2018 and 2019).
Additional experience includes judging for Color Guard Alliance of the Philippines Inc., clinician work with SASi-The Leadership People, and educational webinars and seminars with ColorguardEDU, Marching Arts Education, and the Calgary Stampede.
Ms. Hubbard continues to expand her studies in performance, education, and leadership. With a curiosity in creativity and a passion for problem-solving, she feels that growth is boundless and will always be in pursuit of excellence. She is absolutely thrilled to be joining the team at Union Bands.
Ashley McAlister joined the Union Bands as Assistant Director in 2022. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Arkansas and her Master’s degree in Instrumental Music Education from the University of North Alabama. She was a member of the Razorback Marching Band, and she served as a graduate assistant for the University of North Alabama Marching Pride. She was also a member of the Sigma Omicron chapter of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity.
Mrs. Ashley McAlister, Union Bands Assistant Director
Previously, Mrs. McAlister was the Director of Bands at Poteau Public Schools. During her time at Poteau, she directed the Pride of Poteau marching band. She was also the director of the high school symphonic band, high school jazz band, high school percussion ensemble, 6th grade beginning bands, 7th grade bands, and 8th grade bands. Her ensembles achieved superior ratings at both the district and state levels. Mrs. McAlister taught elementary music at Kilby Laboratory School in Florence, AL and at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School in Tulsa. She has been an adjunct band staff member for numerous high school bands throughout the states of Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
Mrs. McAlister marched with Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps in 2005, 2006, and won a DCI World Championship with Memphis Sound in 2007. She also served as trumpet section leader in 2007. She finished her drum corps marching career by aging out with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps in 2009. After aging out, she was a visual technician and assistant visual caption head for Forte Drum and Bugle Corps. Mrs. McAlister continues to serve the drum corps community as a member of Box 7 Ministries.
Ashley lives in Tulsa with her husband Will and their beautiful daughter Adeline. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and playing with her two dogs Bailey and Moose.
Members of the Union H.S. Drumline participated in a Make-A-Wish event for Benjamin, held at Union Tuttle Stadium and sponsored by Crossland Construction on Thursday, June 3, 2021.
Benjamin, age 4
4-year-old Benjamin was diagnosed with cancer at a very young age, but despite his diagnosis, Benjamin maintained hope, strength and resilience.
After some tough battles against his illness, Benjamin’s doctors and family have
hope that his fight against cancer has been conquered. In early 2021, Benjamin was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, but his bravery hasn’t wavered a bit.
Benjamin has dreams of becoming a construction worker when he grows up. On his many drives to treatment, he would drive by construction sites rebuilding the highway and was always intrigued by the large equipment that poured concrete and picked up large amounts of dirt and debris to get the job done!
Benjamin is so thrilled for his true, heartfelt wish to come true and can’t wait to spend the day building and creating with Make-A-Wish Oklahoma supporters, Crossland Construction Company!
Make-A-Wish® Oklahoma , Crossland Construction, and Union Public Schools Grant Benjamin’s Wish to Be a Construction Worker
WHAT: 4-year-old Benjamin’s wish to be a construction worker stems from passing by construction on the highway on his many drives to treatment. Benjamin was intrigued by the concrete mixing trucks and excavators he saw as he drove by. Benjamin wants to be a construction worker or firefighter when he grows up!
On Thursday, June 3, 2021, Benjamin’s wish day will start at the Union High School Football Stadium where Crossland Construction and Union Public Schools will allow Benjamin to do construction work involving the big rigs, making something to take home and much more! He will then head to Crossland Construction Company’s facility for lunch, where Benjamin will get a full tour of their facility and then be surprised by a fire truck and firefighters!
Make-A-Wish® Oklahoma creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We seek to bring every eligible child’s wish to life because every child deserves a childhood. Research shows children who have wishes granted can build the physical and emotional strength they need to fight their illness. Since our chapter’s founding in 1982, more than 3,200 wishes have been granted for children in the local community. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 34,000 volunteers, Make-A-Wish Oklahoma and 59 other chapters throughout the U.S. have granted more than 330,000 wishes nationwide. For more information about Make-A-Wish Oklahoma, visit oklahoma.wish.org.
