Dr. Chris Strange, director
Dr. Christopher Strange, a native of Windham, Maine, has been teaching the Lafayette Jazz Ensemble since 2008. He has taught instrumental music at public schools in Maine, Indiana and Kentucky. Dr. Strange holds a bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Maine, a Master’s and Doctorate from the University of Kentucky. Upon completing his Master’s degree he spent a year touring the country with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as its’ lead Tenor Saxophonist. In addition to teaching at Lafayette, Dr. Strange enjoys teaching private lessons and band at Jessie Clark Middle School and Wellington Elementary. He currently lives in Lexington with his wife Julie.
Brian Lewellen, director
Brian Lewellen is an active instructor and performer in Fayette County. As an educator, he works with a wide range of students from elementary through high school. Mr. Lewellen has served several schools in Fayette County, both as a band director and a percussion specialist. He is currently the Director of Percussion Studies and Jazz Band director at Lafayette, assists with the concert band, and teaches percussion at Morton Middle, E J Hayes, and SCAPA. At Tates Creek Middle School, he created and directed a novelty and world percussion performance group modeled on Stomp.
As a freelance consultant and percussion arranger, Lewellen has worked with several high schools in the central Kentucky area. He has played drum set at Immanuel Baptist, Victory Baptist, and the Baptist Church at Andover and has performed with the Lexington Brass Band, Saxton’s Cornet Band, and the ACT Theater at Fort Knox.
Originally from Frankfort, Kentucky, Mr. Lewellen graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1999 with a degree in Music Education under the instruction of Frank Kumor, Marcus Reddick, Doug Patko, and James Campbell. Mr. Lewellen is in the process of completing a Master’s Degree in School Counseling at EKU. Brian lives in Richmond, KY with his wife LeeAnn and their three sons Jacob, Daniel, and Joshua.
