Masterclass Instructors and staff for the 2025 Treasure Coast Summer Band Camp include:
Ashley Ajpacaja
Murray Middle School Band
Jonathan Cooper
Jonathan Cooper is in his 4th year as the Director of Bands at J.P. Taravella High School, where he conducts two concert bands, the jazz band, and marching ensembles including the Marching Trojans and the Winter Guard programs.
Mr. Cooper is a graduate of the Florida State University College of Music with a Bachelor’s in Music Education, Magna Cum Laude. As a student there, Mr. Cooper was a member of the Trumpet Studio, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Swing Machine Jazz Band, Seminole Sound, and the Marching Chiefs. Additionally, he has served as a Row Leader and Section Leader for the trumpet section for three years.
Mr. Cooper is a proud alumnus of Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, marching trumpet in the Summer of 2019 and contributing to a Jim Ott High Brass Award.
Prior to his graduation, Mr. Cooper completed his student teaching internship at Vero Beach High School teaching the concert, jazz, and percussion classes.
Mr. Cooper is a member of FMEA, FBA, NAFME, and an alumnus of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Christopher Bowen
Christopher Bowen has been Director of Bands at Osceola Middle School in Okeechobee, FL since 2008, where he has led the program to steady growth and success. He also serves as Assistant Director at Okeechobee High School, working primarily with percussion.
Mr. Bowen is also an adjunct faculty member at Indian River State College, where he teaches Applied Percussion and Music Appreciation. He holds music degrees from Florida Southern College and the University of South Florida.
In 2025, he was honored as Osceola Middle School’s Teacher of the Year.
He is an active performer with the Orlando Philharmonic and various other ensemble. He is a frequent adjudicator throughout the state, and an active composer and arranger.
He lives in Okeechobee with his wife, Jenny, and their two sons, William and Jameson.
Amy Clark
Amy Clark is a retired band director of Murray Middle School in Stuart. During her 28 years at Murray, she was twice selected as Teacher of the Year, and was also Middle School Teacher of the Year for the School District of Martin County. She has been invited to guest conduct several All-County honor bands and is a life member of the Florida Bandmasters Association.
Focusing now on her second act, Amy is an active flutist and private teacher in the Treasure Coast area. She currently performs with the Treasure Coast Flute Choir, Treasure Coast Wind Ensemble, Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra, Florida Flute Orchestra, Metropolitan Flute Orchestra, Indian River Pops Orchestra and is currently serving as conductor of the Teachers Flute Orchestra for the Florida Flute Association. Her previous performances have taken her to Australia, Brazil, Europe, Iceland, as well as numerous locations throughout the United States.
Thomas C. Dougherty
Thomas Dougherty has been the Director of Bands at Jensen Beach High School since 2007. Under his direction, the program has grown in size and consistently earned the highest ratings at local, state, and national festivals. The JBHS Band Program has travelled to Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Savannah, New York City, Chicago, Boston, and Washington D.C. under his direction.
At Jensen Beach High School, Mr. Dougherty directs the Marching Band, Beginning Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble (JB2), Brass Techniques Class, Woodwind Techniques Class, and AP Music Theory.
Prior to his appointment at Jensen Beach High School, Mr. Dougherty coordinated the instrumental music curriculum at Alfred I. DuPont Middle School in Jacksonville, FL.
Mr. Dougherty received his undergraduate degree in Music Education (BME) from the Florida State University College of Music, magna cum laude. While at FSU, he was a member of the Campus Band, Concert Band, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Chiefs, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Mr. Dougherty received his graduate degree in Music Education (MS) from Florida International University.
Mr. Dougherty was honored to have been selected as the 2010 Martin County School District Teacher of the Year. He currently holds professional memberships in the FMEA , FBA, Phi Beta Mu, NAfME, and the FEA.
Mr. Dougherty has served the Florida Bandmasters Association as a District Secretary (2012 - 2014) and District Chairman (2015 - 2018). He has also served the FBA as member of the Mentor Committee (2019 - 2024) and Sight-Reading Committee (2021 - 2024). Currently, Mr. Dougherty serves the state of Florida as the Sight-Reading Committee Chairman.
Mr. Dougherty is a sought after adjudicator and clinician, presenting Leadership Workshops at several schools along the Treasure Coast. He is currently the coordinator of the leadership curriculum for the Penny’s Marching Arts Training Camps held at Eckerd College in the summer. Mr. Dougherty presented a clinic on student leadership at the FMEA All-State Professional Development Conference in 2016 and has served as a conductor for the Indian River State College Honors Jazz Ensemble (2011), Florida State University Summer Music Camp Osceola Band (2015), St. Lucie County MIOS Honor Band (2018), Big Bend High School Honor Band (2019), Polk County High School Honor Band (2020), Palm Beach County 9/10 Honor Band (2023), and Indian River State College Aaron Copland Band (2024).
He currently maintains a private trumpet studio in Jensen Beach and is proud to be one of the founding members of the Treasure Coast Summer Band Camp.
Mr. Dougherty and his wife Colleen are proud residents of the Treasure Coast. Together, they enjoy spending time with their children, Brandon and Ryan and their Goldendoodle, Bentley.
Johnny Egan
Johnny Egan has been the Band Director at Dr. David L. Anderson Middle School for the last four years where he has just recently been named AMS Teacher of the Year. A graduate of the University of Florida and Martin County native, Mr. Egan has been thankful for the opportunity to return to his hometown to continue the tradition of music excellence in the Martin County School District.
During his short career as Band Director, Mr. Egan has grown the music program to over three hundred students and is currently celebrating, in its short history, the school’s first two Superior ratings at District Music Performance Assessments.
Mr. Egan runs an active Saxophone studio, and continues to support the overall strength of the Martin County School District music programs.
Al Hager
Al Hager received degrees from FSU and UF, taught public school music since 1968 and retired in 2009.
He maintains a teaching studio, performs regularly with Flutes Renaissance, Cornerstone, McCartney Mania and directs the Treasure Coast Flute Choir, FDO - The BIG Swingin’ Band and the FMEA Directors Jazz Band.
Since 2007 he has won seven National Barefoot Water Ski championships in his divisions.
Emma Haley
Emma Haley just completed her tenth year as a middle school band director and currently teaches at Northwestern Middle School in Zachary, LA. Prior to her appointment at NMS, Ms. Haley taught in Palm City, FL and Tallahassee, FL. Ms. Haley’s concert and jazz programs have historically had great success at performance assessments and festivals both in and out of state.
In addition to her school teaching responsibilities, Ms. Haley has served as an instructor for many years at the Metro Saxophone Symposium (Atlanta, GA) and the Treasure Coast Summer Band Camp (Jensen Beach, FL). Most recently she was on staff as a saxophone instructor for the Athena Honor Band. Ms. Haley holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Music Education from Florida State University.
Christopher Kalwa
Christopher Kalwa is the Band Director at Martin County High School. He is currently in his 16th year of teaching.
He has taken his Wind Ensemble, Jazz bands and Symphonic bands to consecutive appearances at the Festival Disney, MPA and other performances and competitions where the bands have earned the highest of ratings and trophies.
During his time as a band director, Mr. Kalwa has served as the Director of the Stuart Community Concert Band, performing five to six concerts per year, as well as served as the Assistant Band Director at Jensen Beach High School; he has also run workshops and rehearsals with schools from around area and the state.
Mr. Kalwa is a native Floridian, born and raised in St. Petersburg. In 2003 he returned to school and received an Associate in Arts Degree from St. Petersburg College. In 2005 he transferred to The Florida State University where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. While attending FSU he studied Saxophone Performance under the direction of Professor Patrick Meighan.
On June 29, 2013 he married fellow teacher, Kelloryn Dayton, now known as Kelloryn Kalwa. In their spare time Mr. Kalwa and his wife enjoy traveling and playing with their son and daughter, Erik and Ella, and their two dogs Pickles and Penelope.
Mr. Kalwa is a member of the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmaster’s Association, Florida Orchestra Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Charles Lukkari
Charles Lukkari currently teaches instrumental music at Hidden Oaks Middle School. Having successfully completed 10 years of teaching, he has served in the same role as director of bands at St. Lucie West K-8 School and South Fork High School and is a currently active FBA Member. An active clinician, Mr. Lukkari has served as a marching band clinician for St. Lucie West Centennial High School as well as low brass clinician at various middle and high schools around the Treasure Coast. Mr. Lukkari performs professionally as a member of the Oceanside Brass, a member of the Celestial Brass, the Treasure Coast Wind Ensemble and has performed with the Orchid City Brass.
Prior to teaching, Mr. Lukkari performed as a member of the Symphony Band, Wind Symphony, and Spartan Marching Band at various major performances such as the Rose Bowl, Carnegie Hall, the Midwest Band Clinic, and the Michigan Music Conference while at Michigan State University. He also enjoyed playing as a member of the Prountzos Brass Quintet. Prior to college, Mr. Lukkari performed as a 5-time All-State tubist, two-time international solo competition semifinalist in the International Tuba Euphonium Conference (ITEC) and Leonard Falcone Tuba Euphonium Festival, and performed as a member of the ASTA National Honors Orchestra in San Jose, CA.
A native of Michigan, Mr. Lukkari is a proud fan of the Michigan State Spartans and all professional Detroit-based sports teams. He also enjoys spending time with friends and family including his loving wife Kelli and amazing dog Remi. Additionally, he has run many 5k, 10k, and half marathon races since living in Florida.
The Treasure Coast Summer Band Camp is one of his ABSOLUTE FAVORITE WEEKS OF THE YEAR!
Emily Roberts-Asbeck
Emily Roberts-Asbeck is completing her sixth year as Director of Bands at Stuart Middle School. Under her leadership, the SMS bands have performed at over 20 venues annually, received high ratings at district jazz and concert assessments, and contributed to the development of lifelong music-makers. She maintains an active performance schedule as a clarinetist and is the private instructor for a studio of clarinet and saxophone students.
Originally from Carmel, Indiana, Mrs. Roberts-Asbeck attended Michigan State University, where she participated in numerous concert ensembles, chamber groups, pit orchestras, and the Spartan Marching Band. She most treasures her participation with the Musical Memories residency, a semester-long concert series designed to engage with memory care patients.
In her free time, Emily enjoys hiking, being outside, and supporting MSU athletics, Colts football, and Formula 1 racing. She also enjoys spending time with her two dogs, Tuta and Toby and her husband George.