Erik W. Harris, Director of Bands
Erik Harris is in his fourteenth year as Director of Bands at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, NC. Originally from Nash County, Mr. Harris graduated from Northern Nash High School in 1992.
The Northern Nash Band Program has received only superior ratings at all concert festivals since 2000. The Northern Nash Wind Ensemble has been a featured performing ensemble at the 2004 North Carolina Music Educator’s Association Conference, the 2006 University of South Carolina Band Clinic and was one of only 16 bands nationally invited to perform at the 2006 and 2010 Music For All National Concert Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Northern Nash Wind Ensemble is the only ensemble from the state of North Carolina ever to perform twice at this prestigious event.
An active clinician and guest conductor, Mr. Harris has been the featured guest conductor at the University of South Carolina Summer Band Camp and East Carolina University Summer Band Camp. He has conducted the NC All-Eastern District Band, the NC Christian Schools All-State Band, as well as several All-County Honor Bands across North Carolina.
Mr. Harris was selected as the Nash-Rocky Mount Schools 2005-2006 Teacher of the Year as well as one of only sixteen Regional Finalists in the North Carolina Teacher of the Year competition. Additionally, Mr. Harris received the 2006 NC Bandmaster’s Eastern District Award of Excellence as well as a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association.
Mr. Harris received the Bachelor’s Degree in Brass Performance from East Carolina University in 1997 and became the band director at Northern Nash High School the same year. He received National Board Certification in 2004.
Mr. Harris is a former marching member of The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps having performed with the Cavaliers during the 1992 season helping to clinch the first DCI World Championship in the Corps' history. Mr. Harris still mainatains an active performing schedule as both a trombonist and euphoniumist with the Tar River Symphonic Band and the Englewood Baptist Church Orchestra. Additionally, he enjoys composing and arranging music for the Northern Nash Marching Band as well as various ensembles in North Carolina and Virginia.
Mr. Harris currently resides in Rocky Mount, North Carolina with his wife Jennifer. They are the proud parents of daughter, Chloe Elizabeth, and son, Caleb Joshua.
Mr. Harris (left) with Mr. Craig Kirchoff at the 2006 Bands of America National Concert Festival
James Boyce, Associate Director
James Boyce received the Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education with a concentration in Percussion from East Carolina University in 2006. While studying at ECU, Mr. Boyce actively taught marching percussion for high schools in and around Eastern North Carolina and Southeast Virginia.
Since graduation, he has continued to teach and arrange for several high schools in North Carolina. From the fall of 2005 through the summer of 2010, Mr. Boyce was the Percussion Coordinator and Arranger for the award winning Havelock High School marching percussion section in Havelock, NC.
In 2009, James founded and directed the WGI Independent A percussion ensemble, Craven. In 2010 they received a Bronze Medal at the WGI World Championships.
In addition to teaching marching percussion ensembles, Mr. Boyce taught middle school band for four years in Havelock, NC where he also maintained an active private studio for 6-12th grade percussionists, many of whom were selected for the North Carolina All-State Bands.
Mr. Boyce is currently the Associate Director of Bands at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, NC and a designer and arranger for Craven Indoor Percussion. Mr. Boyce is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, the North Carolina Band Master’s Association, the Percussive Arts Society, the North Carolina State Marching Band Committee and the Winter Guard International Percussion Advisory Board. Mr. Boyce hopes that his teaching and arranging will lead students to more fulfilling lives through their enjoyment and performance of quality music.