Retired after 37 years of experience as a successful band director in Alabama public schools, Mr. McAfee now serves as the Executive Secretary for the Alabama Bandmaster's Association. His bands always received highest ratings on both the concert stage and the marching field and performed in many prestigious events both in the United States and abroad. Mr. McAfee received his Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of Montevallo and also earned a Master of Science Degree at the University of Illinois placing emphasis on instrumental conducting and band literature. He is retired from the U.S. Army Reserve after 26 years of meritorious service with the 313th Army Band. Memberships include the Alabama Music Educators, National Association for Music Education, The National Band Association, The International Trumpet Guild, and Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Directors Fraternity. Along with serving as conductor of the Celebration Winds, Mr. McAfee conducted the Alabama Ambassadors Band European Tour in the Summer of 2013. As an active member of the Birmingham Musicians Union he plays with the Alabama Winds Community Band, local shows and church work, and as an extra with the Alabama Symphony. He is also a member and director of the orchestra at Metropolitan Church of God. He and his wife Amy, who plays French horn, have two daughters, Kate and Erin, who are All-State Band musicians.

Dr. Jacobs is retired Supervisor of Bands for the Jefferson County, Alabama School System. Prior to his appointment to this position he served as band director at Dixie Jr. High School, Minor High School, Hewitt- Trussville Junior High School, and Berry High School. Dr. Jacobs holds degrees from Birmingham-Southern College, the University of Illinois, and the University of Alabama. Concurrent with his services in public education, he played for ten years with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and taught in the trumpet studios of Birmingham- Southern College for thirty years and Samford University for eleven years. Dr. Jacobs is a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame and the Alabama Music Educators Hall of Fame. He presently serves as private teacher and consultant in five public schools in the Birmingham area. He resides on his old family home place near Warrior, Alabama where he serves as deacon in Water Stone Church. He and his wife Carol, who plays clarinet, have five children and ten grandchildren.

Deanna Bell is the music teacher at Vestavia Hills Elementary East, conductor of the Birmingham Wind Ensemble, and an adjunct music professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She has worked in Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia teaching elementary music, choir, and band in all grade levels from kindergarten to college. As the Director of Bands at Linkhorne Middle School in Virginia, her bands consistently earned superior ratings. Deanna joined the Shades Valley High School Band staff in 2006 and worked with the high school marching band for seven years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Music Education from The University of Alabama and her Master of Music Education from Samford University. Deanna studied conducting with Dr. Gerald Welker and Dr. Ken Ozzello. In 2010, Deanna was awarded National Board Certification in Early and Middle Childhood Music. Deanna received Orff Levels I, II, and III Certification from Samford University and Kodaly Levels I and II Certification from The University of Montevallo. She serves on the Alabama Kodaly Educators Board, the Executive Board for the Alabama Chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association, and is a District 3 Chair for the Alabama Music Educators Association. Deanna is the 2016-2017 Elementary Teacher of the Year for Vestavia Hills City Schools.