Derek Gipson
Mr. Gipson began his drum corps career at age 12 with Expressions Drum and Bugle Corps. He later marched Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps and culminated his performing years with 4 years with the Cadets of Bergen County. After aging out with Cadets, he was a member of the brass staff of Carolina Crown in 1999 and then spent 3 years on brass staff with the Cadets. In 2005 and 2006 he was the brass caption-head of Capital Regiment. And before landing the head brass position at the Bluecoats, he was on staff for the Santa Clara Vanguard and the Blue Knights. Mr. Gipson received his bachelors degree in music education from Louisiana State University. Upon graduation, he earned a position as trumpet performer, under-study soloist, piccolo trumpet and percussion with the Broadway production Blast! The cast won a Tony Award during its 6 month run. After Blast, he continued his professional trumpet-playing career with a show band for Norwegian Cruise Lines.
Since then, Derek Gipson has been a middle school band director for North Gulfport 7th and 8th Grade from Gulfport, MS and Sherwood Middle School from Memphis, TN. Mr. Gipson has been judging high school marching bands since 1999 for the USBands circuit and has judged the USBands National Championships twice. He is also a winter guard judge for the Louisiana/Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
In addition to the Bluecoats, he is currently an adjunct staff member and private lesson teacher for the Gulfport City Schools band programs as well as a substitute teacher and for schools throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Outside of his various roles in music education and the marching arts, Mr. Gipson enjoys cheering on his New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers!
Since then, Derek Gipson has been a middle school band director for North Gulfport 7th and 8th Grade from Gulfport, MS and Sherwood Middle School from Memphis, TN. Mr. Gipson has been judging high school marching bands since 1999 for the USBands circuit and has judged the USBands National Championships twice. He is also a winter guard judge for the Louisiana/Mississippi Color Guard and Percussion Circuit.
In addition to the Bluecoats, he is currently an adjunct staff member and private lesson teacher for the Gulfport City Schools band programs as well as a substitute teacher and for schools throughout the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Outside of his various roles in music education and the marching arts, Mr. Gipson enjoys cheering on his New Orleans Saints and LSU Tigers!
