Jon Gifford - Brass Caption Head

Mr. Gifford hails from Rocky Mount, NC. He currently attends East Carolina University where he will soon be graduating with a degree in Music Education. He is an active brother with Kappa Kappa Psi - National Honorary Fraternity for College Band Members where he is currently serving as a district officer.

Jon is no stranger to the drum corps activity. Upon entering his 11th straight year in the activity, Jon has been involved with such organizations as Tarheel Sun, East Coast Jazz, Carolina Gold, Rochester Crusaders, and the Ghostriders Mini Corps. He was a soloist for Carolina Gold from 2002-2006 and was also a featured soloist with East Coast Jazz during his age out season in 2004. In 2007 and 2008 he served as both a brass and visual teach for the Rochester Crusaders. In 2008 he won the gold medal in the DCA I&E competition on Trumpet.

Aside from Drum Corps, Jon has participated with several other ensembles. He has been principle trumpet for the ECU Wind Ensemble, was a musician for musicals performed but the ECU Theatre Department, served as the 2nd trumpet player for the ECU Trumpet Ensemble, a member of the elite ECU Jazz Ensemble A where he served as a lead trumpet player. While in the ECU Jazz Ensemble A, he has performed with such musical greats as Fred Wesley, Jon Faddis, Terrell Stafford, and Vanessa Rubin. In July of 2009, he was selected as the principle trumpet player for the National Intercollegiate Band at the Kappa Kappa Psi/Tau Beta Sigma National Convention in Phoenix Arizona.

Jon currently resides in Greenville, NC with his beautiful wife Brenda, who is also a drum corps enthusiast.