Tabitha Peck is the Director of Choral Activies at Leon and FineArts Department Chair, where she teaches Capital Singers, Madrigals, Melodears, AP Music Theory, and two classes of Technical Theatre. She is a proud graduate — and former marching band Drum Major — of Tallahassee’s James S. Rickards High School, and holds a B.M.E. (Magna Cum Laude) and M.M.E. in Choral Music Education from the Florida State University College of Music. She studied voice under Janice Harsanyi (undergraduate) and Roy Delp (graduate).
Under her direction, ensembles have performed at the Florida ACDA conference, the FLACDA President’s Concert, the FMEA President’s Concert, and the Southern Region ACDA Conference. Under her direction, choirs have received “Choir of Distinction” titles at the State Music Performance Assessment. She has presented sessions at the FMEA State Conference on the topics of Music Theory and a cappella music. Each summer, Mrs. Peck produces and music directs the Leon Summer Musical, and is active in Leon’s Thespians, selecting and assisting with musical numbers that perform at District and State. The musical numbers are frequently chosen “Critic’s Choice” and “Best in Show” at the District and State level.
While at Leon, Mrs. Peck has founded the national award-winning pop a cappella group “The Mane Event”, as well as the Theatre Tech program, which develops the skills necessary for facilitating all productions and performances in the District’s most comprehensive Performing Arts program. She manages the Leon Performing Arts theatre, which oversees approximately 120 events in “LPAT” each season.
Students from Mrs. Peck’s programs have consistently gone on to place in collegiate voice, music education, music therapy, musical theatre, and technical theatre programs. Former students have performed on Broadway, Broadway National Tours, and in Opera Houses throughout the United States and Europe.
Mrs. Peck has been active in leadership with FMEA, FVA, and ACDA throughout her professional career, along with membership in USITT and NAFME. She is currently serving as FVA District 3 Treasurer, and is a member of the Executive Board as State Treasurer and Webmaster for Florida ACDA. Mrs. Peck enjoys adjudicating choirs, performing as a soloist (her favorite roles to date are the Witch in Into the Woods and Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast) and raising her two beautiful daughters with her husband Tim.
Lee Commander (Director of Bands) instructs Symphonic, Concert, Jazz and Marching Bands. Prior to his appointment to Leon High School, he served as the Director of Bands at Pinellas Park High School (Largo, FL) for three years. Bands under Mr. Commander’s direction have continuously received outstanding ratings throughout district and state assessments.
Prior to earning his B.M.E from The Florida State University Mr. Commander was highly involved with the College of Music where he worked on the Board of Advisors for the College of Music, Marching Coordinator and later Staff Manager for the illustrious Marching Chiefs. He was awarded the Manley Whitcomb Scholarship in 2010 for his continued support and effort to music education and a Medal of Honor from The Marching Chiefs.
Mr. Commander is highly active in Tau Beta Sigma as a Southeast District Counselor where he works with collegiate students to develop leadership and post collegiate skills. He was granted honorary membership in this organization in spring of 2013. His other professional affiliations are NAfME, FMEA, and FBA.
An active saxophonist, he currently sits as the principal saxophonist for the Tallahassee Wind Community Band and sought after as a pit musician for local musicals.