Foley Band
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Foley High School
1 Pride Place, Foley, Alabama 36535
Mighty Band
from Lionland
Meet the Foley Band Staff Members
David Samuel
Director of Bands
Mr. David Samuel is the Director of Bands at Foley High School. He is a native of Pensacola, Florida. Mr. Samuel came to Foley High School in the 2015-2016 school year, and is currently entering his fourteenth year of teaching. While at Foley, Mr. Samuel has directed the Jazz Bands, the consistently superior rated Wind Ensemble, and the "Mighty Band from Lionland" Marching Band; in addition, he started the piano program at Foley High School, which has grown into multiple course sections. Prior to his time at Foley High School, Mr. Samuel served six years teaching in Escambia County, Pensacola, Florida.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Samuel is currently has published music through Excelcia Music Publishing, Jalen Music Publishing, and Matrix Music Publishing. He has received several “Editor’s Choice” Awards from JW Pepper. Mr. Samuel has been writing the halftime music for the Foley “Mighty Band from Lionland” since 2016. Mr. Samuel is a sought-after arranger and adjudicator throughout the Southeast having written music for high school and university bands in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Louisiana.
Mr. Samuel received his Bachelor and Master of Music Education degrees from the prestigious School of Music at Troy University. He is a member of the Alabama Music Educators’ Association, Alabama Education Association, National Association for Music Education, and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers.
In his free time, Mr. Samuel is a freelance Jazz Pianist who performs at all types of performing events: weddings, parties, any social gathering. He also serves as church musician at Life Changing Experience Worship Center in Pensacola, Florida. He has two dogs named Ace and Sonny.
Office Phone: 251-943-1340
email: dsamuel@bcbe.org
Jimmy O'Cain
Associate Director
Jimmy O'Cain is in his eighteenth year of teaching at Foley High School. At Foley High School, Mr. O’Cain is the Associate Director of Bands in charge of all Percussion Studies, and the Music Production and Engineering studio.
He came to Foley after teaching three years at St. Stanislaus College in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. While at St. Stanislaus, the band received numerous awards under Mr. O’Cain’s leadership. During Mr. O’Cain’s tenure at St. Stanislaus, he established their Winterguard and Winter Drumline programs.
Jimmy O'Cain received his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He also holds a Master of Arts Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix and a Master Educational Leasership from the University of West Alabama. During his college career he was a member of The Pride of Mississippi Marching and Concert Bands where he was the principal percussionist, and member of the USM Percussion Ensembles. Jimmy was a member of the USM Steel Band I where he performed as a double second soloist. He also instructed the University's Steel Band II as a student at the University.
Jimmy O’Cain is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Alabama Music Industry Educators Association (Founding Member), National Association for Music Education, and the Percussive Arts Society. Mr. O’Cain is also an Educator Endorser for Pro-Mark Drumsticks. Mr. O'Cain is listed as an Educator Endorser on the Pro-Mark drumsticks website. With this endorsement he will perform exclusively with products from the Pro-Mark Company.
Mr. O’Cain is an avid Percussion Instructor and Arranger for bands in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. Mr. O’Cain has also been an Adjudicator for Band programs across the Southern United States. Jimmy has been married for 27 years to Mrs. Aimee O’Cain. They have 2 children; Hope- 22, and Iain- 17 years old.
251-943-1340
Michael Roy
Associate Director
Michael Roy has been teaching secondary music since 2010. From 2010-17, Mr. Roy served as Director of Bands of the Houston Tiger Pride Band in Houston, MO. He is currently serving as Associate Director of Bands, Trombone Choir Director and Director of Guitar Studies at Foley High School in Foley, AL.
Mr. Roy holds degrees from Louisiana State University (Bachelor of Music Education), Southwest Baptist University (Master of Education Administration), University of the Cumberlands (Education Specialist in Instructional Leadership), and is expected to complete his Education Doctorate, also from University of the Cumberlands, in Fall 2022.
Mr. Roy has been involved with Drum Corps International for over a decade as both a performer and educator. He performed with the DCI Division 2 World Finalist Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 and 2005. He was also a performer with the 2006 and 2008 DCI Division 1 World Champion Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps. He currently serves on brass staff with the Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps. Mr. Roy is an avid marching instructor and drill writer having worked field and indoor shows for schools in Louisiana, Missouri, and Alabama.
Mr. Roy is a member of the National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), Alabama Music Educators Association (AMEA), and is a founding member of the newly established Alabama Music Industry Educators Association (AMIEA).
Mr. Roy is married to his wife Paula with her son, Paul. They have two dogs named Renee and Gustav. Aside from music and teaching, Mr. Roy enjoys traveling, hiking, gaming, and spending time with family.
251-943-1340
Michael Whitaker
Foley Middle School Director
Michael Whitaker is currently the band director at Foley Middle School in Foley, Alabama. His duties include teaching the concert and symphonic bands, percussion ensemble, and jazz band. He also assists with the Foley High School band, where he teaches the front ensemble at Foley High School and provides private lessons and sectionals.
​Mr. Whitaker's undergraduate studies were completed at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. While there, he was a part of the wind symphony, blazer band, and the marching blazers. As a proficient woodwind doubler, he also played with the UAB symphony band saxophone quartet, flute, and clarinet choirs.
During his time at UAB he performed all over the United States, Ireland, and Italy and was the MVP of the Intramural volleyball team. He has also had the opportunity to perform for the Dalai Lama and recorded a saxophone track for Stevie Wonder in 2015.
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His professional affiliations include National Association for Music Education, Alabama Band Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi. He is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Music Education at the University of South Alabama in Mobile, AL. He resides in Foley, Al, where he enjoys traveling, food adventures, DIY projects, and spending time with his golden doodle, Molly.
251-943-1255
Todd Stehr
Colorguard/Winterguard Instructor
Bio coming soon
Heather Perrin
Assistant Colorguard/Winterguard Instructor
Bio coming soon