Brass Lessons
Trumpet
French Horn
Euphonium
Trombone
Tuba
Christopher Jones
Junior Instructor (Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba)
Hello! My name is Christopher Jones. I am a music teacher in the Greenwood Public Schools and graduated with my Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith in May 2019.
My principle instrument is trombone but have had many experiences in both vocal and instrumental music. I was born and raised in Fort Smith and graduated from Northside High School in 2014.
I married my wonderful fiancee, Aleyah Youngblood, in October 2019. I also have two older brothers, Kenneth and Daniel, as well as an identical twin brother, Christian. I have a passion for music, technology, and cats.
William Ratcliff
Master Instructor (Trumpet, French Horn)
Recently retired, William Ratcliff served as the Director of Bands at Alma HS in Alma Arkansas, where his program was recognized nationally for its excellence during his 16-year tenure. Previously he taught at Northside HS in Fort Smith AR, Kimmons Junior High School in Fort Smith AR and at Jonesboro HS in Arkansas. Mr. Ratcliff also served for a number of years as the Trumpet Instructor at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. Mr. Ratcliff is a frequent guest clinician and adjudicator in Arkansas and surrounding states.
Currently he serves as an adjunct band faculty member for the Fort Smith Arkansas Public Schools and Charleston Arkansas Public Schools. Additionally, he currently serves as the Music Director of the Arkansas MusicWorks Brass Band and the 2018 U.S. Open Brass Band Grand Champion Ensemble. As a professional musician he has performed with the North Arkansas Symphony, Fort Smith Symphony, Ozark Mountain British Brass Band, Arkansas Musicworks Brass Band, the Western Arkansas Jazz Orchestra, and The Marshals of Swing Big Band. He has also performed with The Temptations, The Four Tops, Marvin Hamlisch, the Guy Lombardo Orchestra, and other touring groups.
Mr. Ratcliff’s professional affiliations include the Arkansas Bandmaster’s Association, Arkansas School Band and Orchestra Association, National Band Association, Texas Bandmaster’s Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmaster’s Fraternity, American School Band Director’s Association, the International Trumpet Guild, and was included in the 2002, 2004, and 2006 editions of “Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers.” William Ratcliff holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education and a Master’s degree in Music from the University of Arkansas. He resides in Van Buren Arkansas with his wife Cheryl and their two German Shepherd dogs, Freyja and Karma.