STAFF AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Michaelle Perros

Executive Director

Great American Brass Band Festival

Michaelle Perros is a Danville native and graduate of Danville High School, and attended the University of Kentucky earning both a BS in equine science and a BM in music education while studying saxophone. Since her time at UK, she has been the Assistant Band Director at Danville High School and a performer with several Kentucky bands as a saxophonist, multi instrumentalist, and vocalist. She has also worked extensively in the thoroughbred industry at sales and on horse farms.

Michaelle has enjoyed the festival all her life as a patron and is thrilled to be on the team as the Executive Director.

Executive Board Members - 2024 Festival

Zach Shelton

Chairman of the Board

Boyle Co High School Band Director

Zach Shelton received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music Education from Campbellsville University. He has been Director of

Bands with the Boyle County School District since August 2019. He previously spent 11 years rebranding and building a program to be proud of at Campbellsville Middle School and Campbellsville High School.

Throughout his career, his bands consistently increase in size and earn numerous distinguished ratings in both the marching and concert band circuits. Many of his students have participated in All-District and All-State bands, some even placing within the top 10 in the state on their instrument. He is an active member of KMEA and served as the Fourth District’s President-Elect and President, and is currently serving as President-Elect of the 11th district.

Bill Bandy

Vice-Chairman of the Board

PowerPlay, Founding Member

Bill Bandy (left) is no stranger to the Brass Band Festival, serving as Executive Director for 2 years.

Bandy is a graduate of Danville High School, where he was a member of the DHS Admiral Band under Bill Gravely. After 45 years in the corporate world, he and his wife, Kathy, returned to Danville where he became Executive Director of the festival 2 years ago. Upon his return, he also reunited with local musicians as the trombonist in the band, PowerPlay, ROCK “N” SOUL WITH HORNS, which he was a founding member in 1974. Bandy also lends his musicianship to the Advocate Brass band, one of the core performing groups at every Brass Band Festival.

Brian Hutzley

Treasurer

Centre College, CFO

Brian Hutzley joined Centre College in 2016. A Michigan native with a B.S. in accounting from Michigan State University and an M.B.A. from Syracuse University, Hutzley served most recently as vice president for finance and administration at Colgate University in Hamilton, N.Y. He has an impressive 30-year record of service in both the private and not-for-profit sectors, including key leadership roles at public and private universities.

Before Colgate, Hutzley served as vice-chancellor and CFO for the State University of New York (SUNY), which includes 64 campuses and is the country’s largest public higher education system. Hutzley was responsible for overseeing the $12 billion annual operating budget, along with relevant finance and budget areas in addition to financial aid and information technology.

He came to oversee the entire system after six years as vice president for business and finance at SUNY’s Delhi campus, where he managed an annual budget of $80 million. Prior to his career in higher education, Hutzley spent some two decades in the private sector, ending that part of his career as director of financial planning and analysis for Mead/AT-A-GLANCE, in charge of a $1.2 billion annual budget.

Dusty Wesley

Secretary

Pro Sound and Lights

Dusty is a part-owner and technician for Pro Sound and Lights. An avid supporter of music, he has always made strides to support live music as well as the Kentucky music scene. As a fan of homegrown and original bands, Dusty promotes many acts around the state with his radio show and founded a podcast called Kentucky Music Preview. Dusty has a lovely wife and two children.

Additional Board Members

John Albright

President, Caldwell Stone Company

John is the President of Caldwell Stone, a local business, and has been a key volunteer from the Festival’s beginning. John stepped forward to lead GABBF when George Foreman stepped down in 2005. John was inducted into the Hall of Fame for GABBF in 2011. His ongoing mission is to maintain the highest quality Festival and to enhance audience experience by evaluating every aspect and continuing to upgrade staging and sound equipment. John has been a Festival volunteer and member of the board for many years.

Anthony Gray Jr. “Tony”

Police Chief of the Danville Police Department

Tony is a Danville native and a graduate from Danville High School. He has been the Chief of the Danville Police Department since 2012. In his spare time, Tony enjoys being a basketball official. He has two children. Tony has had a long relationship with the Festival in his role as police chief.

Haley Perros

Wilderness Trail Distillery

For six years, Haley Perros has been a rising leader in the distilling world. After several years of working in healthcare, event planning, and the nonprofit sector, she found an expansive opportunity in her hometown at Wilderness Trail Distillery. There she is a Consumer Experiential Manager who handles state distribution and account relationships, brand education, social media, and off-site event planning. She has worked extensively on Wilderness Trail Brand building and launching their products nationwide. She has gained notoriety for her knowledge of fermentation, palate training, Whiskey blending, and the science of maturation. A Danville native, Haley Perros, attended the University of Kentucky, where she graduated with an Associate degree in Biology, a Minor in Communications, and a Bachelor’s in Integrated Strategic Communications. Haley has always had a passion for music and loves to support live music whenever possible.

Rob Caudill

Commercial Loan Officer, Farmers National Bank

Rob is a native of Danville and a graduate of Danville High School. He is also a graduate of Centre College, where he earned a degree in Economics and Finance and pitched for the baseball team. Currently, Rob is a commercial loan officer at Farmers National Bank in Danville, where he’s been since 2020. He also serves as a board member for the Danville Rotary Club and as the Treasurer for CASA of the Bluegrass. He’s been an avid Brass Band Festival attendee his entire life and will help continue the long-standing partnership between Farmers National Bank and the GABBF.

Clay Albright

Caldwell Stone Company


Clay is a third-generation owner of Caldwell Stone Co., a family-owned and operated quarry located in Danville, Kentucky. He actively represents his company and his industry in his local community, state association and national association. He serves on the Kentucky Crushed Stone Associations Board of Directors, is Chair of the National Stone Sand and Gravel Association’s (NSSGA) Small Producer Committee and is the NSSGA's Young Leaders 2023-2024 Chairman. He was born and raised in Danville and is a graduated of Danville High School & the University of Kentucky. Clay grew up around the Brass Band Festival helping his Dad, John, since it began. Clay has helped with logistics for many years and More recently, oversees the youth workers that help make the festival such a success. Clay and his wife Megan, have 3 children, Jackson, Kherington and Keightley.

Contact Us

P.O. Box 429

Danville, KY 40423

859-319-8426

info@gabbf.org

Giving

The Great American Brass Band Festival is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by the generosity of our donors and sponsors. Every donation helps us keep the Festival going.

Copyright © 2024 Great American Brass Band Festival | Site Designed and Managed By The Idea Farm, Inc. |

This site is hosted on the Ideal™ software platform