Joel Cosner
Director of Bands
Mr. Cosner is a 2011 graduate of James Madison University, a 2007 graduate of Turner Ashby High School, and is a former member of the JMU Marching Royal Dukes, Wind Symphony, and Jazz Ensemble in the JMU School of Music. Prior to his work at Sherando High School, he taught in both Rockbridge County and Rockingham County. He has teaching and administrative experience with many different musical groups, including Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Combo, Music Theory, Music History, Percussion, Guitar, Indoor Percussion, Indoor Color Guard/Winter Guard, Pep Band, small chamber ensembles, and others. His students have been selected for various honors and events, including District, County, District Jazz, and All-State Jazz and Concert/Symphonic bands. He has directed many groups to VBODA “Superior” ratings in both Concert and Marching Assessments during his career, along with multiple VBODA Honor Band Awards and VMEA Blue Ribbon School Awards as well.
A lifelong Shenandoah Valley resident, he highly enjoys having the opportunity to live in the Stephens City area, and also highly values the opportunities to serve the students and community of Sherando High School. Outside of music education, he enjoys playing music in multiple gig bands (Everyday People, Jump Alley, Jumptown, and subbing with others), motorcycling, golf, and watching various sports in his spare time. Feel free to contact him at anytime at cosnerjo@fcpsk12.net.
Kayla Wright
Director of Color Guard
Mrs. Wright is a 2013 graduate of Purdue University where she was a member and technician of the Golden Silks Color Guard in the Purdue All-American Marching Band. Her passion for color guard began at the age of 4 when her dad would take her to Indiana Marching Band State Finals every year. Not only was she an active participant and captain at Westfield H.S. beginning in middle school, other performance opportunities included 2005-06 BOA Summer Symposium, 2007 Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corp, and 2009 BOA Tournament of Roses Honor Band. In 2013, she took on the role of color guard director at Westfield High School in Indiana, and led the team to its first IHSCGA state finals appearance in four years.
New career opportunities led Kayla and her husband Michael to explore the U.S., residing in Arizona and South Carolina after college. They moved to Stephens City, VA in 2018 where she started directing color guard at Sherando H.S. within two weeks. Throughout these past several years, the color guard program has continued to grow in talent and size. The 2022 Winter Guard made school history by being the first SHS Guard program to be promoted into the next class. She appreciates all of the support from Mr. Cosner, students, parents, and administration in the continuous efforts to strive for success!
Scott Kittrell
Director of Percussion
Mr. Kittrell was born in Falls Church, VA. He has performed in DCI with several corps between 1990-1994. Dutch Boy (1990 – 1992), Bluecoats (1993), and the DCI World Champion, Blue Devils (1994). He also Marched with the Westshoremen Drum Corps (1995 – 1996), winning high drums in 1995, and going undefeated to win a DCA World Championship in 1996. Scott was a member of the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps from 1997-2001. He retired from the Marines in 2009.
Mr. Kittrell started teaching in 1993 at Franklin High School and won two back to back KIDA Championships in 1993 and 1994. He continued to teach at numerous high schools throughout the years and has taught numerous Drum Corps, including the Bluecoats and Blue Devils.
Devon Stein
Band Assistant
Mrs. Stein is excited to join the team as band assistant! She has been a volunteer with the Sherando Band Boosters for the last several years and fell in love with the “band mom” life. She is looking forward to spending even more time with this talented group of students, staff, and volunteers.
When she’s not doing band things, Mrs. Stein enjoys photography, playing board games, spending time with family, and is an avid figure skating fan. She’s a proud mom of a mellophone/French horn player and a color guard member in the Sherando band.