Mr. Corey Hermens
Grant County High School
Director
Corey Hermens is a professional music educator and trumpet player based in the Central Kentucky area. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Eastern Kentucky University as a member of the Honors College with Bachelor degrees in both music education and trumpet performance in the Fall of 2019. After graduating, Corey accepted a position as Safety Monitor at Silver Creek Elementary in Berea, KY. He then attended The Pennsylvania State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a Masters of Music in trumpet performance in the Spring of 2021. During his time at Penn State, Corey was a Graduate Teaching Assistant to the trumpet studio under the tutelage of Dr. Langston Fitzgerald III.
As a music educator, Corey has taught trumpet lessons privately both in Kentucky and Pennsylvania for the past seven years. In addition to teaching privately; he has worked with marching bands in both Ohio and Kentucky including Williamstown Independent, Grant County, West Jessamine, South Laurel, Madison Southern, and Milford High Schools. He is currently performing around Kentucky and has had the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall with the Penn State Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the baton of Dennis Glocke. Corey has attended Domaine Forget de Charlevoix in Saint-Irénée, Charlevoix; a internationally recognized summer music festival. During the Spring of 2019, Corey won the Kentucky State Young Artist Division of Music Teachers National Association Performance Competition.
Throughout his time in college, Corey was a part of several performing ensembles including the EKU Symphony Orchestra, EKU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, and EKU Jazz Band. In addition to performing, he was drum major of the EKU Marching Colonels during the 2016 season. Other ensembles that he has appeared with are the Video Games Live Orchestra, Madison County Community Band, Kentucky Intercollegiate Band, PSU Symphony Orchestra, PSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Centre Dimensions Jazz Ensemble, Outer Dimensions Jazz Ensemble, PSU Graduate Brass Quintet.
Corey is a member of National Association for Music Education, International Trumpet Guild, Jazz Educators Network, Pi Kappa Lambda Zeta Iota Chapter, and Kentucky Music Educators Association.
Mrs. Nichelle Wolfe
Grant County Middle School
Director
Nikki grew up in Grant County and was an active member of the music programs (clarinet) that Grant County had to offer. After graduating from Grant County High School she earned a full scholarship to the University of Louisville to begin a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. While at UofL she was principal chair of the symphonic band, a member in the wind ensemble, and section leader and uniform crew manager for the Cardinal Marching Band. One of her favorite memories while being at UofL was traveling to San Jose, California for an international band conference. In 2017 Nichelle graduated with a bachelor's degree in Music Education and continued her studies at UofL to receive her Master's degree in May, 2018. She is looking forward to giving back to the educational community that molded her into the person, musician, and teacher she is today!
Mr. Jayson Smith
Director of Percussion
Jayson Smith is a graduate of the University of the Cumberlands with a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Masters degree in Educational Leadership. A Grant County High School 2011 graduate, he now teaches music at Sherman Elementary in Dry Ridge, KY. Mr. Smith has worked with other band programs including: Ryle High school, Beechwood High School, Williamstown High School, and Corbin High School; as well as the World Class WGI Legacy Indoor Percussion Group. While in college, Jayson performed with intercollegiate ensembles, performed in the WGI 2012 world finals with Tates Creek Indoor Ensemble and has performed with the Southern Stars Symphonic Brass Band in Crossville, TN. He joined the Grant County Band programs as our Percussion Director in 2018.
Mrs. Bethany Holland Pasley
Color Guard Director
Bethany Holland Pasley grew up in Winchester, KY and was part of the George Rogers Clark Marching Band and Winter Guard programs from 2009-2015. After graduating from GRC, she went on to march with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps, a member of Drum Corp International, in 2015. She continued on as a member of Lexis Winter Guard in 2016 and 2017. Mrs. Holland Pasley has directed students within in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati area since 2015 including Ryle, East Central, Colerain and Dixie Heights. She is excited to be a part of the Grant County program and help with the continuation of growth and success of the Grant County Color Guard and Winter Guard.