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 the Director of Percussion at Lafayette High School. Mr. Lewellen has served at several schools in Fayette County since beginning his career in 2001, both as a band director and a percussion specialist. In addition to his percussion duties at Lafayette, Mr. Lewellen also serves as director of the LHS Jazz Band, assists with the concert band, and is the percussion instructor for the School for the Creative and Performing Arts and Morton Middle School.
Mr. Lewellen joined the staff at Lafayette High School in the fall of 2005 as a marching instructor under former percussion director John Willmarth. In 2006, Mr. Lewellen became the assistant to Mr. Willmarth and assumed the director position in 2010. He began teaching with the jazz program in 2007 and continues to do so alongside Dr. Chris Strange.
Originally from Frankfort, Kentucky, Mr. Lewellen graduated from the University of Kentucky in 1999 with a degree in Music Education under the instruction of James Campbell, Frank Kumor, Marcus Reddick, and Doug Patko. Mr. Lewellen is in the final stages of completing a Master’s Degree in School Counseling at Eastern Kentucky University.
Brian lives in northern Madison County with his wife LeeAnn and their three sons Jacob, Daniel, and Joshua.
