About the UNC Bands
Alumni Association

Founded in 2021 by alumni and friends of the UNC Bands, the UNC Bands Alumni Association was created to provide opportunities for band alumni and community members to continue to engage with the band program and support current student musicians.

Mission Statement

UNCBAA serves to enhance the experiences of current UNC Bands members by providing a platform for alumni to connect, give, and serve.

Board of Directors

Marc Sanders (’00), President

Dr. Marc Sanders is the senior pastor of Grove Park Baptist Church in Burlington, NC. He played clarinet while in the band. He has served on multiple non-profit boards and is passionate about engaging communities to pursue actions that bring about equitable justice for all. Marc and his wife, Eliza, enjoy spoiling their niece Scarlett and playing with their doodles, Shelby Foote and Howie Carter. Some of Marc’s happiest memories at Carolina involve his time in the band, and he considers it an honor to be able to once more serve a group that was so instrumental in his life.

Connie Sawyer (’00), Vice President

Connie is a native of Camden, NC and a 2000 graduate of UNC. He played alto sax with the Marching Tar Heels and served two years as a drum major. After college, he graduated from Columbia Law School, and currently serves as Corporate Counsel for a biotechnology research company. He and his wife Alicia, a fellow MTH alum, are the proud parents of two children.

Adam Sheinhaus (’18), Secretary

Adam is a former member of the baritone section of the Marching Tar Heels. He earned a BA in Economics at Carolina and currently works in the aviation industry in Atlanta. He is thankful to be able to continue to give back to UNC Bands, an organization which has given generations of Tar Heels so much.

Sarah Petrucci (’01), Treasurer

Austin Seamster (’18)

Austin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Administration and Interpersonal and Organizational Communication. While at UNC, he served as Drum Major of the Marching Tar Heels and co-founded the UNC Bands Alumni Association. Austin began his career in NYC with the New York Mets’ sales department. After three years, he returned to UNC as the Bands Administrator before relocating again to Atlanta. He now serves as the Manager of Education and Safety at Associated Builders and Contractors of Georgia.

Allen Reep (’72)

Allen was a Marching Tar Heel and proud drumline member during his time at UNC. From 1973-1990, Allen served as Assistant Director under Major John Yesulaitis. For 40 years, his day job was fundraising and administration of large non-profit organizations. His evening and weekend job was helping administer the UNC Bands program. He has also served as the producer and director for the US Olympic Festival, Gubernatorial Inaugurals, museum openings and Broadway fundraisers. In retirement, Allen operates ARTZ Estate Sales. He has two step sons and three grandchildren.

Samantha Dikolli (’19)

Samantha Dikolli is a digital strategist and community builder, currently leading social and digital strategy at Events DC. During her tenure, she has played a pivotal role in enhancing the brand’s digital presence and deepening audience engagement. An alumna of the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, Samantha served as an ambassador for the school, contributed to The Daily Tar Heel and participated in the Marching Tar Heels and Sigma Alpha Iota – Iota Tau.

Katie Holt (’21)

Katie is a graduate of the class of 2021. She is in her second year at ECU’s Brody Medical School and is hoping to pursue a career in Internal Medicine. While in the band at UNC, Katie played the mellophone for three years and served as drum major her senior year. Band provided her with some of the best memories and friendships she has, and she would love the opportunity to serve the organization that gave so much to her and countless others!

Kirby Matthews (’80)

Kirby was a tuba player and Squad Leader from 1976-1980. He is married with two daughters and three grandchildren. Kirby lives in Denton, NC and currently works on Game Day Staff with the Marching Tar Heels.

Kevin Bullard (’97)

Kevin serves as the Chief Leadership Officer for the city of Garland, TX. He’s a 1997 graduate who served as a drum major and played the trumpet. Kevin brings a wealth of experience and passion for leadership development. He resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with his wife, Cetelia, and their three young adult children: Max, Caitlin, and Kuria Joy. Kevin is dedicated to fostering leadership excellence and community engagement.

Ryan Ripperton (’98)

Ryan (BMEd ’98, MBA USI ’08) lives in Richmond, Virginia with his wife Danielle and two kids (Ella age 15, Alex age 12). Ryan is an independent consultant to nonprofit organizations, having served in both executive and board leadership roles over his 25-year career. At UNC, Ryan majored in music education, studying with Jeff Fuchs, Jim Hile, Jim Ketch, JR Richardson, and many more icons of the UNC Bands community. Ryan arranged many songs for the Marching Tar Heels, including co-arranging “The Blue & White” warm-up chorale with friend and fellow senior student assistant Joshua Potter.

Dianna Wald (’07)

Dianna is a 2007 graduate and former member of the trombone section. She has attended the UNC Bands homecoming with her dad (also a former band member) since she was 6 months old. She currently lives in Denton, NC with her husband and 3 cats. She works in Child Protective Services as a Guardian ad Litem child advocate for families involved with DSS. She is an active member of Asheboro Rotary and Denton Lions Club and enjoys spending her time doing volunteer work, reading, cooking, and attending concerts.

Jesse Watson, Jr.

Jesse is a former tenor saxophonist and drum major for the Pride of the ACC. He currently serves as the Equity-Centered Design Implementation Manager at Lumen Learning, whose mission is to enable unprecedented learning for all students. Based in Salisbury, NC, Jesse has been an active Social Committee member of the UNC Bands Alumni Association since it was founded in 2021.

Jeff Fuchs

Jeff Fuchs (Professor of the Practice; Director of University Bands) has led the UNC Band program since 1995. He directs the Marching Tar Heels, the UNC Basketball Bands, and the University Band, while also overseeing all aspects of the University’s band program, including multiple concert and pep bands. In addition to his band leadership, he teaches in the Music Education curriculum and is active in university and athletic department service.

Before coming to UNC, Mr. Fuchs held band director roles in Missouri and served as Assistant to the Director of Bands at both the University of Kansas and Truman State University. He is a past President of the ACC Band Directors Association and has received the University’s prestigious C. Knox Massey Award. He remains active in numerous professional music and education organizations.

Anna Scott

Dr. Anna Scott is the Assistant Director of University Bands. She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting from Arizona State University and began her tenure in this role on July 1st of 2024.

Dr. Scott is an active guest conductor, saxophonist, clinician, and adjudicator. She taught saxophone at Morningside University and instrument method at Western Iowa Tech Community College. As a native of Chester, South Dakota, she has served in the South Dakota Army National Guard since 2007. A soldier in the “Governor’s Own 147th Army Band,” Dr. Scott is currently the principal saxophonist in the concert band and tenor saxophonist in the music performance team, SGT Rock.

Policies and Procedures

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About the UNC Bands Alumni Association