About the Blazer Band

STAFF

Jaye Ingram | Director of Percussion/Arranger Jaye Ingram has been the Director of Percussion at Ridge View High School since 1996. His duties include teaching and arranging music for the marching percussion section, directing the percussion ensemble, and teaching private lessons at Ridge View. Both the percussion ensemble and the marching percussion ensemble have received numerous superior ratings at solo & ensemble events and various marching contests. Jaye was also the arranger and caption head for the percussion section of the University of South Carolina marching band from 1999-2002. Under his direction, the ensemble performed exhibitions for various contests in the state including the 4A and 5A State Finals. In the summer of 2001, Jaye helped reinstate the annual USC Marching Percussion Camp for high school percussionists who are looking to improve their technique and ensemble performing skills. Jaye received his Bachelor of Music degree from USC in 1997 in Percussion Performance. While there, he was a member of the USC Orchestra, USC Concert and Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Palmetto Pans Steel Band, and the Marching Band(1992-94). Outside of Ridge View, Jaye stays busy as a performer and audio engineer. He performs with the Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, the Florence Symphony, South Carolina Philharmonic, as well as numerous theaters and churches. He has also performed at the Piccolo Spoleto Festival He is one of the original percussionists for the Palmetto Concert Band and continues to perform with the group. Jaye also owns Ingram On Tracks, a digital recording company that specializes in on-location recording of concert bands, orchestras, and choruses of all levels, including All State Band and Chorus for the past several years. They record all across South Carolina and parts of Georgia, producing all CDs in-house. Jaye and his wife Lisa reside in Irmo with their three "children", Tux and Tails (their two cats), and Honey (their Golden Retriever).

Jason Frith | Assistant Director of Percussion/Arranger Jason Frith has been on our percussion staff since 1998. He is responsible for instruction of the front ensemble in the fall and assisting the instruction of all facets of percussion performance at Ridge View. As a performer, Jason has enjoyed working in several diverse musical idioms. His marching percussion experience includes playing in the USC Drumline (1992-96), and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps' front ensemble (1995). Additionally, Jason has also been seen playing around the state in such groups as: Djoliba Don West African Ballet, Borenya West African Ballet, USC Percussion Ensemble, Palmetto Pans Steelband, USC's West African Drum and Dance Group, and The Palmetto Concert Band. Aside from working with Ridge View's percussion sections, Jason has spent the last 16 years working with numerous school percussion ensembles across North and South Carolina. He has been an instructor with the University of South Carolina Drumline (1997-2002), Swansea HS (2002-2005), and Co-Director of the USC Marching Percussion Camp (2001-03, 2005-present). Jason also serves as director of percussion studies at Blythewood Middle School (2002-2006, 2007-present), as  director of percussion with the Kelly Mill Middle School bands (2004-present), and on percussion staff with Blythewood HS (2005-present).  Jason also serves as front ensemble instructor and associate director of the CWEA and CIPA gold medalist Verdigris independent indoor percussion ensemble (2006-present). Jason and his wife Kerry were married May 31st, 2008.  The Frith's live in Northeast Columbia with their three dogs, Berkley, Elliot Peart, and Maxwell Edison.

Mathew Smith | Director of Jazz/Music Arranger Mathew Smith has been the Director of Jazz at Ridge View High School since 2003. He also teaches and arranges music for the marching band. Under his direction, the jazz program has grown to include as many as three ensembles that perform at numerous events across the state each spring. Mathew received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Carolina in 1997 in Music Theory and Composition. While at USC, he performed with the Left Bank Jazz Ensemble, the USC Symphonic Band, Brass Choir, Trombone Ensemble, USC Marching Band, and Carolina Alive stage band, along with a variety of jazz combos. While in school, Mathew toured throughout the southeast with the Root Doctors (trombone) and local ska/funk band Eartha Baxter (trombone/keyboards/vocals). He recently completed a stint with the Columbia-based rock band Autonomous (keyboards/vocals) with John Stout and Craig Butterfield. Since 1992, Mathew has arranged, taught and consulted for various band programs throughout South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia, including his recent work with the jazz program at Blythewood High School here in Richland School District 2. His marching experience includes performing in the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps (1989) and the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps (1990-1991). Mathew owns a design and digital recording studio in Irmo, where he lives with his wife Julia and their five children, Auburn, Riley, Grace, Olivia and Nathan.