This Years Senior High Conductor (2024)

Mr. Ben Fong is a retired music teacher from Reeds Road Elementary School in Galloway, NJ where he taught Instrumental Music to grades 3-6. He has held several clinics at the February NJ Music Educators Conference using his elementary band as a demonstration group. And, Mr. Fong is a Former President of the SJ Band and Orchestra Directors Association. Prior to Reeds Road, Mr. Fong has taught General Music at Atlantic County Special Services and Instrumental Music at Egg Harbor Township High School. He has also taught Instrumental Music in the Philadelphia area and began his teaching career in Sacramento, CA.

Mr. Fong holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from California State University, Sacramento and has graduate credits from Combs College of Music and St. Joe’s University in Philadelphia. While in California, he studied under Noel Smelser, principal trumpet for the Sacramento Symphony. Mr. Fong was also a former member of the Sacramento Camellia Symphony Orchestra and a freelance trumpet player in the greater Sacramento area. Currently, Mr. Fong performs with the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble and is the Assistant Conductor for the Atlantic Pops Community Band.

Mr. Fong also has a long history with the DCI World Class Mandarins Drum Corps; First, marching 7 seasons as a mellophone soloist and then as a Drum Major and finally as the Brass Caption Head/Music Arranger for an additional 6 seasons.

         Mr. Fong has also been an active member of NAfME and the South Jersey Band and Orchestra Director's Association. And, an adjudicator for the National Judges Association (TOB) and for US Bands. He is incredibly grateful for this opportunity. It is exactly 10 years ago that he conducted the Olympic Junior High Honors Band.

This Years Junior High Conductor (2024)

Mr. Timothy Trout has been a music educator in New Jersey for 11 years and is currently the Director of Instrumental Music at Berlin Community School (BCS). At BCS, he teaches 4th grade through 8th grade instrumentalists, which includes the Jazz, Concert, Intermediate, Beginning, Parade, and Summer Pops bands, as well as 2nd and 3rd grade music classes. Prior to teaching at BCS, Mr. Trout has taught choral and instrumental music in the New Jersey Districts of Millville, Jackson, Weymouth Twp., and New Hanover Twp. After school, Mr. Trout teaches as an adjunct professor in the music departments for both Eastern Gateway Community College and West Georgia Technical College.

Mr. Trout obtained his Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Tuba Performance, studying with tubist Brian Brown, from Rowan University in 2012. While at Rowan, he started a Dixieland Jazz sextet which was instructed by Dr. Robert Rawlins and George Rabbai. He received his Master of Music degree in Music Education from Boston University in 2016. In August of 2020, he completed an Education Specialist degree in Administration, Planning, and Policy from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell as well as a Graduate Certificate in Educational Policy from University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Timothy Trout lives in South Jersey with his wife of 5 years and two boys (Vaughn and Jaiden). He is excited to conduct the 2024 Junior High Olympic Honor Band