Tampa Youth Brass Band

Director

Ms. Jones is the Director of Bands at Davidsen Middle School, Center for the Arts, where she teaches the Beginning, Concert, Symphonic, and Jazz ensembles.

Ms. Jones graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from The University of South Florida. In her time at USF, Ms. Jones was a member and leader in the Herd of Thunder Marching Band, and studied conducting and music education under the baton of Dr. Matthew McCutchen, Dr. John Carmichael, and Dr. William Wiedrick. She also studied trumpet with Dr. Jay Coble, and served as a principal member and performer of the USF Symphonic and Wind Ensembles, as well as the Jazz Band and “Rumble” Pep Band. She is also an member of the National Women’s Music Fraternity, Sigma Alpha Iota, and served as President in her final year at USF. She also maintains active memberships with The National association for Music educators, the Florida Bandmasters Association, and The North American Brass Band Association.

In addition to being a band director, Ms. Jones is also a freelance trumpet player, clinician, and private teacher. She has performed with the Florida Wind Band, Florida College, and the University of Tampa, and maintains a modest studio of private trumpet students ages middle through high school. She is a founding member and personnel manager of the Tampa Brass Band, where she plays solo Cornet.

Ms. Jones believes that music education is essential, and is a fierce advocate for The Arts in our schools. She lives in Tampa with her perfect mutt, Gryffin.

Associate Director

  Hannah Caraker is in their senior year at the University of Tampa pursuing a bachelor’s in music education.   While pursuing a degree in instrumental education, Hannah actively explores a variety of other musical areas. Through this exploration, they are able to work to improve upon their teaching skills, as well as striving to acquire a level of musicianship that transcends the categories of instrumental and vocal technique. Their activity in both the brass and vocal world has provided them with unique insight into the parallels between the musical concepts in each discipline. Hannah has been named the recipient of the Outstanding Musicianship, Performance, and Academic Achievement Award for two consecutive years, as well as the Sally and Jack Jenkins Music Service Award. In addition to their responsibilities and recognition within the University of Tampa, Hannah also performs as the Solo Baritone with the Tampa Brass Band and has been appointed as the Assistant Director of the Tampa Youth Brass Band for this coming spring.

      In the fall semester of 2023, Hannah has had the opportunity to conduct two pieces with the University of Tampa Wind Ensemble in combination with an independent study on wind band conducting with the Director of Bands, Dr. McDannald. This past summer Hannah was recently awarded the University of Tampa’s Student Undergraduate Research Fellowship to travel to London to research a late nineteenth century professional ladies orchestra. Hannah intends to attend graduate school to further their studies of music, and strives to grow as a performer, educator, and overall musician.