Wm. Scott Gordon , Director of Bands

Mr. Gordon is in his eighteenth year at Powhatan High School.  He graduated in 1991 from
Liberty University with a degree in Music Education, and Powhatan is his first and only teaching assignment.

Mr. Gordon has arranged for many ensembles, has had numerous compositions in public performance, and is an accomplished drill writer and clinician.  He is also currently a music leader at Powhatan Community Church, an active member of Bugles Across America, and has served on the board of directors for the Performing Arts Foundation of Powhatan.

Mr. Gordon marched in 1990 Star of Indiana Drum & Bugle Corps, and was on brass and visual instructional staff with Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps from 1991-1993.  He was also visual designer for the '98 and '99 Virginia Helmsmen, the 1998 WGI Independent Open Class Percussion Silver Medalist.

Mr. Gordon is married to Tammy, his wife of fifteen years.  They have two daughters, Emily Skye and Madeline Adair, and two very loving cats.

Neil Landini , Asst. Director, Percussion Specialist

Steve Raybould , Asst. Marching Band Director

Mr. Raybould is in his seventh year with Powhatan County, with more than ten years in music education. He has a degree in music and physics from the University of Virginia and degrees in Music Education and Secondary Education from James Madison University.

Mr. Raybould is also an active professional musician. He has performed throughout the country, including Los Angeles, New York, and Washington DC, as well as marching with the 1986 Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps.

Mr. Raybould is married to Tricia, his wife of seven years.  They have two daughters, Alyssa and Gabrielle, and one very loving cat.

Robyn Kotte , Colorguard Instructor

This is Mrs. Kotte's fourth year as colorguard instructor at Powhatan.

Mrs. Kotte began teaching in the Richmond area in 1993. An Alumni of Powhatan High School, she received her BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2000. Since 1993 she has had an extensive teaching & choreographic career with groups across the nation in Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, Maryland, & Arizona.

Mrs. Kotte is currently the Associate Artistic Director & Director of Youth Programs at Bon Air Dance and Pilates.  Mrs. Kotte was a company member and choreographer for the Latin Ballet of Virginia. In 2000 she performed with the Pearson/Widrig Dance Theatre in Ordinary Festivals,  and in 2005 she performed with the Starr Foster Dance Project in Heroin(e).

Mrs. Kotte marched with the Magic of Orlando Drum and Bugle Corps from 1991 to 1994 and the Concord Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps in 1995. Mrs. Kotte won the DCI Individual and Ensemble Flag Champion title in 1993 and in 1995 won the Individual and Ensemble Auxiliary title.

Mrs. Kotte marched with Dominion Winter Guard ,where she was also a movement choreographer, from 1995 to 1996. She also won the WGI Flag Champion title in 1996. In 1997 she was asked to guest perform with Dominion Winter Guard at Winter Guard International in Phoenix, Arizona. While Marching Mrs. Kotte had the great pleasure of studying under such esteemed instructors as Scott Chandler, David S. Duffy, Carl Lowe, and Adam Sage, to name a few. From 1999 to 2003 Mrs. Kotte was a movement judge for the Atlantic Indoor Association.

Mrs. Kotte is married to Jason, her husband and best friend of thirteen years and they have one amazing daughter, Aleyna Fae, and one wonderful son, Kalien El. She also has three great cats, Sitha, Puck, and Black Belt "limpy" Jones!

This is Mr. Combes fourth year as a percussion instructor at Powhatan.

Mr. Combes is currently accruing credits towards a bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University . During his time at VCU, he has performed in a variety of ensembles while studying symphonic, chamber, and solo percussion. Sean has also had the opportunity to study under other world class performers, including Greg Giannoscoli, Andy Harnsberger, T. Howard Curtis and the late Mr. Donald A. Bick. Outside the university, Sean’s marching experience includes performing in the front ensemble with the 2001 DCI world champion drum corps, The Cavaliers.

Mr. Combes has been active arranger, instructor, adjudicator and clinician in the Mid-Atlantic area since 1997. Notably, he was percussion director at Monacan High School for three years, helping them achieve a silver medal in the Atlantic Indoor Association Championships in 2001. Sean is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society