Page 5 - 2021 Kings Invitational Digital Program

Kings Invitational 2021 Judges

MUSIC ENSEMBLE

Stephen M. Cross Hometown: Plymouth, Michigan

Stephen Cross began his love of music through many of his teachers at the School for
Visual and Performing Arts at Governor Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick,
Maryland, where he grew up. After high school, he was honored to be a member of
the 1993 Drum Corps International World Champion Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps.
Mr. Cross received his degrees from Ball State University (Bachelor of Science – Music
Education), Central Michigan University (Master of Music in Performance –
Conducting), and Eastern Michigan University (Master of Arts in School
Administration).
During his career, Mr. Cross has had the opportunity to teach music at schools in
Michigan, Ohio, and Missouri, as well as Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Northern Aurora
Drum and Bugle Corps, Legends Drum and Bugle Corps, as well as design for LSM
Winds (WGI Bronze Medalist, 2016 and 2017). His ensembles have received high
acclaim from adjudicators all over Michigan as well as performances in Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, New York, West Virginia, Florida, Tennessee, and Massachusetts.
Mr. Cross has had a distinguished career with such awards as a NARAS/Grammy Award
Signature School Nomination, four State-level runner-up marching band finishes, five
State Champion Winter Percussion titles, several WGI World finalist placements in
Winter Percussion and Color Guard, as well as Reserve Champion in AA for the Bands
of America Grand National Marching Band Championships. Mr. Cross is an active
clinician and adjudicator in the areas of marching band, concert band, and solo and
ensemble festivals. Mr. Cross currently resides in Plymouth, Michigan, with his wife
Jennifer, daughter Keira, son Aaric, and their cat Maestro.

MUSIC GENERAL EFFECT

Patrick W. Flynn Hometown: Kalamazoo, Michigan

Mr. Flynn recently retired and had been a band director for the past 37 years, the past
35 as the Director of Bands at Portage Central High School in Portage, Michigan.
Portage is a community of 50,000+ and is the largest suburb of Kalamazoo. A new state
-of-the-art high school opened in September 2012, a new Natatorium in 2018, a new
stadium complex in 2019, and a new Central Middle School opened this past January,
all on the same campus footprint.

He received his Bachelor of Music degree from Western Michigan University and his
Master of Education from Grand Valley State University. He is in demand as a clinician,
conductor, adjudicator and consultant for middle school and high school concert bands
as well as high school marching bands throughout Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio,