John Belcher
Visual Instructor
Email:  johnwegl@comcast.net

John Belcher marched with the Auburn University Marching Band for five years from 1995-1999, serving as a trumpet section leader from 97-99.  In 1997, John marched first soprano in the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps.  Throughout his college career he has worked with many different high schools, perfecting both visual and musical aspects of their shows.  In 2004, John joined the Pariah Drumline visual staff to help with marching techniques and show concepts.  In 2005, John helped form a new independent world drumline called Odyssey Percussion Theatre.  In the following years John served as the Visual Caption Head, a Visual Tech and as a show designer.  He currently sits on the Odyssey Board of Directors, staying active in the show design process and helps direct the day-to-day operations of Odyssey.

John works fulltime for a television production company called TV-CREWS in downtown Atlanta as a production coordinator for many popular tv shows that air everyday.  John has worked with TV-CREWS for 6 years, and in that span he has coordinated shoots for FOX, ABC, NBC, MTV, VH1, CMT, BET, ESPN, FOX Sports Net, FOX News, CNN, TLC, HGTV, The Food Network, The Discovery Channel, The Weather Channel, The History Channel, HBO, Bravo, Channel 1, Comcast and for syndicated shows like Entertainment Tonight, Extra, Insider, America’s Most Wanted, COPS, Ellen DeGeneres Show, Oprah and many more.  John works with clients to put together shoots throughout the country on a daily basis providing production expertise, the necessary gear and skilled labor to make each shoot a success.  ↑ Top

Russell Bertles
Guard Instructor
Email:  rlbrmsband@aol.com

Russell Bertles has been teaching band and color guard for the past 29 years in Alabama, Florida & Georgia.  He is currently the band director at Dutchtown Middle School in Hampton, Georgia.  In 2006, Mr. Bertles completed his masters degree in conducting at the American Band College in Ashland, Oregon.  In December of that same year, he received the Legion of Honor Award at the Mid-West International Band & Orchestra Clinic, Chicago, Illinois, given by the John Philip Sousa Foundation.  Marching band color guards Mr. Bertles has instructed have consistently received superior ratings in all festivals and contests, as well as winning numerous champion and grand championship titles.  Winter guards under his direction have received numerous recognitions including - WGI Regional Scholastic A Finalists, WGI World Championships Scholastic A Finalist, GCGC, SCGC & SAPA Class Championships as well as several silver and bronze medals awarded.  Mr. Bertles and all of us at RCHS are very proud that our Winter Guard recently (April 2009) won the SAPA Scholastic AAA Class Championship - Gold Medal.  Mr. Bertles is also a drill designer writing for bands across the Southeast, including RCHS.  He is often asked to serve as a clinician or adjudicator in both the band and color guard worlds.  ↑ Top

Nigel Conton
Drumline Instructor
Email:  nconton@yahoo.com

Nigel Conton is a 2003 graduate of George Walton Academy, where he marched for 7 years.  He has marched with Spirit Drum & Bugle Corps and Odyssey Percussion Theater, and was part of the 2004 Spirit Cymbal Ensemble that won Gold at I&E.  After aging out of indoor drumline, Nigel returned to Odyssey as a Visual Instructor and Bass Technician.  He has taught drumlines around Georgia including George Walton Academy, The Wesleyan School, Roswell High School, and Fayette County High School.  Nigel has been with the RCHS Drumline for 4 years, and has consistently helped the line achieve Superior ratings at competition.  Nigel is currently a member of the Georgia Tech Drumline and a member of the Falcons Drumline.  He is working towards his second degree at Georgia Tech.  ↑ Top

Sarah Anne McLaughlin
Front Ensemble Instructor
Email:  sarahanne2008@hotmail.com

Sarah Anne McLaughlin is a graduate of Walton High School and is currently a student at Georgia Tech where she is in the front ensemble.  She is a member of Tau Beta Sigma, an honorary band service sorority.  Sarah Anne has marched three years of DCI with The Magic, Memphis Sound, and Blue Stars, and one year of WGI with Odyssey Percussion Theatre.  ↑ Top