Meet Our Front Ensemble Staff

THOMAS WHARTON

Front Ensemble Caption Head
​Music Arranger​

Thomas Wharton is the Front Ensemble Caption Head/Music Arranger at Dakota High School for the Dakota High School Band. This is Thomas' 6th indoor season with Dakota Winter Drumline. He is a front ensemble instructor and music arranger who works all around Southeast Michigan.
 
In his heyday as a performer in the marching arts, he marched at Lake Orion High School, Northcoast Academy (2015-2017), The Cavaliers (2015), Carolina Crown (2016), and Cavaliers Indoor (2018).  Thomas has done work multiple programs, including Apex Percussion, Ferndale HS, Lamphere HS, Plymouth Canton Educational Park, Southgate Anderson, Cap City Percussion, and Carolina Crown. Additionally, he is the current Percussion Director at Lake Orion High School.
 
Thomas holds a BA in Philosophy from Oakland University. While at Oakland, he minored in music and performed with the Wind Symphony and Oakland Symphony Orchestra. Thomas also writes percussion arrangements for Marching Band and Indoor Drumline which can be found at his website harmonicperc.design.

BEE FAIRMAN

Front Ensemble Instructor

​Bee Fairman is a Front Ensemble Instructor for Winter Drumline. She is a graduate of Dakota High School and this is her first season instructing at Dakota. She marched two seasons on vibraphone and six seasons on marimba while attending Dakota. Her senior year, she was center marimba and section leader for both fall and winter seasons. Bee is majoring in music education at Grand Valley State University to pursue a career teaching band.

JOSH MCMAHON​

Front Ensemble Instructor/Electronics

Coming Soon!