Band Director for Cainhoy Middle and Daniel Island Middle Schools and HHS Marching Band
Assistant Director

John Spitler is a native of Findlay, Ohio, and graduated in 1975 from the Findlay Senior
High School, whose band is listed as one of the High School Honor Bands by the John Philip
Sousa Foundation, 1960-1980 project. Mr. Spitler is a distinguished trumpet player who
performs professionally throughout the Charleston area and maintains a private studio.
Mr. Spitler received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Music Education at Bob Jones
University. He has taken graduate work at the University of South Carolina, Charleston Southern
University, and The Citadel. He recently completed a Masters Degree at the American Band
College of Southern Oregon University.
The Bands
Mr. Spitler has performed with various Bands, Orchestras, Brass Choirs and other small ensembles. Mr. Spitler taught for
nine years in private schools both establishing and building instrumental and vocal music programs before teaching at
Moultrie Middle School where bands received state and regional recognition under his direction. Mr. Spitler is currently a
member of the American School Band Director's Association, MENC, SCMEA, NBA, and SCBDA. Mr. Spitler serves the South
Carolina Band Director's Association as a member of the Concert Festival Committee. He has received the NBA Citation of
Excellence, three times been nominated to "Who's Who Among America's Teachers," has been nominated to "Who's Who
in America," and is active as a guest lecturer, clinician and conductor. Mr. Spitler is a past President of the Charleston
County Band Director's Association and has served on the Board and as the director of the Charleston Community Band.
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Hanahan Middle School Director

James Stroman (Jim) is a graduate of James Island High School and Furman University. He
received a Bachelor's Degree in Instrumental Music Education from Furman.

After college, Mr. Stroman worked for Pecknel Music Company for three years as an instrument
repairman. He accepted a teaching position at James Island High School at the request of his
nephew, who was in the band at the time. He came to Hanahan Middle School as the Band
Director over 20 years ago and holds that position currently. He also served as the Assistant
Director of the Hanahan High School Marching Band for many years.

Under Mr. Stroman's direction, the Hanahan Middle School Band has earned the Outstanding Performance Award from the
SCBDA for 20 consecutive years. This impressive accomplishment is even more significant considering that Hanahan Middle
School's enrollment is approximately 500 students.
Last updated on 17 Oct 2008
Hanahan Marching Band Color Guard Instructor

Mr. Renard Milford attended Timberland High School where he graduated in 2000. He began instructing color
guard during his senior year after the instructor resigned. He instructed the Timberland color guard from 1999 to 2004.
Renard is proud to be the color guard instructor at Hanahan. He says, "color guard is the music set motion. It's what makes
it all come to life. It's almost like it becomes tangible. " Currently he attends the College of Charleston where he is working
on a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.
1984 - Hanahan moves to 2-A level
1985 - 4th in State
1986 - State Marching Champs/Lower State Marching Champs
1987 - State Marching Champs/Lower State Marching Champs
1988 - State Marching Champs/Lower State Marching Champs
1989 - Lower State Marching Champs
1990 - Lower State Marching Champs
1991 - State Marching Champs/Lower State Marching Champs
1992 - Lower State Marching Champs
1993 - Lower State Marching Champs
1994 - Lower State Marching Champs
1995 - Lower State Marching Champs
1996 - State finals (Top 6 or less)
1997 - State finals (Top 6 or less)
1998 - Lower State Marching Champs
1999 - State finals (Top 6 or less)
2000 - State finals (Top 6 or less)
2001 - State finals (Top 6 or less)
2002 - State finals (Top 6 or less)
2003 - 8th place
1984 - Malaguena
1985 - Pictures at an Exhibition
1986 - A Tribute to Challenger
1987 - West Side Story
1988 - New York Fantasy
1989 - Cowboys
1990 - Firebird
1991 - Simply Streisand
1992 - Broadway
1993 - Aladdin
1994 - Sounds of Gershwin
1995 - Sweet Charity
1996 - Gershwin II - Crazy for You
1997 - West Side Story
1998 - City of Angels
1999 - Perfectly Frank
2000 - Evita
2001 - Robin Hood
2002 - Evita II
2003 - Tommy
Winter Guard

2008 - CWEA Championship / Scholastic Regional A Class /Score = 56.10
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Katy Vogt
Show Names

1982
1983
2004 - The Blues Brothers
2005 - La Nouba
2006 - Landmarks
2007 - Conflict: Struggle in the Pray for Peace
2008 - Music From A Darkened Theater
Dr. Bowles
2008 - 11 place
Director

Gerald Polk
Gerald Polk
Awards

1982 - 3rd in State
1983 - 2nd in State
2004 - 7th place
2005 -
2006 -
2007 - 14 place
John Spitler
John Spitler
John Spitler
John Spitler
Meet the Director and Staff

Dr. Gretchen Bowles comes to Hanahan High School with a background in teaching all ages of students. She has
taught general and instrumental music from five year olds to fifty year olds. Specializing in low brass instruments she has
been a sought after teacher and performer. Currently in her first full year of teaching band and strings at Hanahan High
School, she has lived in the Charleston area since 2000.

Prior to moving to South Carolina, Dr. Bowles earned her Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Southern
Mississippi. While at Southern Miss she had the opportunity to teach lessons to undergraduate music majors, conduct the
tuba ensemble, and perform with the internationally acclaimed USM Wind Ensemble. Dr. Bowles earned her Masters of
Arts in Euphonium Performance from George Mason University where she studied with Roger Behrend, soloist for the
United States Navy Band. She earned her undergraduate degree in Music Education from The Pennsylvania State
University where she spent four years playing in the Wind Ensemble, Brass Choir, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and the
Penn State Marching Blue Band. Dr Bowles' love of music, and band specifically, started in high school in Ann Arbor
Michigan, where she played in her high school's concert and symphony bands, jazz band and was the drum major for her
schools' marching band. She was also very fortunate to spend part of her summers at the Interlochen Arts Camp in
Interlochen Michigan.

Dr. Bowles has worked as a brass clinician, adjudicator, and marching band instructor throughout the Midwest, Southeast,
the Eastern Seaboard, and the Gulf Coast of the United States. She has maintained a private brass studio since 1992,
with her students consistently earning chairs in All-County, Region, and All-State bands. She was invited to spend the
summer of 2000 as the euphonium/trombone instructor at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lakes, Michigan.
Dr. Bowles has been active as a member of many varied performing ensembles. She has played with the Penn State Brass
Choir at the 1993 New York Brass Conference, and she has performed with the Penn State, George Mason, and USM
Tuba Ensembles at the United States Army Band Tuba Euphonium Conference, and the International Tuba Euphonium
Conferences in Lexington Kentucky, Evanston Illinois, Minneapolis Minnesota, and Regina Saskatchewan. Her Tuba
Quartet finished second at both quartet competitions at the Colonial Euphonium Tuba Institute in Albany New York and the
ITEC in Minneapolis Minnesota. As a soloist, Dr. Bowles has been a finalist in numerous international solo euphonium
competitions, most notably the CETI in Albany New York and the ITEC in Riva del Garda Italy. Dr. Bowles has been invited to
audition for the United States Marine Band, the United States Army Field Band, and the United States Army Band at West
Point.
Past Shows and Accomplishments
Hanahan Marching Band Percussion Instructor

Mr. Tim Bonomo is a graduate of Penn Hills High School located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he received an
"Outstanding Instrumentalist Award". He later pursued his musical career by attending The Musicians Institute in Hollywood,
California and graduated with honors. Among his many accomplishment, he as performed with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
artists the Drifters including the original vocalist, Charlie Thomas and performed with Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Artists, The
Platters, at the New York State Fair. He has competed internationally with the Steel City Ambassadors, a DCA Drum Corps.
Tim has performed and recorded soundtracks for the Saltworks Theater. He has been a featured columnist for Rock'n Roll
magazine on drum-related issues.

Tim has 18 years teaching experience which include both private instruction and high school drumlines. In 2007, he
participated locally in the Gospel Christmas Concert with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, he participated in
the Piccolo Spoleto Festival with the CSO Gospel Choir. Currently Tim attends and is a band member at Seacoast Church.