Kara VanVickle

Kara VanVickle is the assistant band director at Blanchard. She previously taught elementary general music for 3 years, her first year in the Orlando, Florida area and 2 years in Norman, Oklahoma. In 2018, Kara also taught at El Sistema Oklahoma as the high school trumpet teacher. She graduated from Shawnee High School in Shawnee, OK and went on to earn a Bachelors of Music Education from the University of Oklahoma in 2015. Kara also spent time pursuing a Masters in Music for trumpet performance at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida from 2015-2016.

As a trumpeter, Kara has had the privilege to perform in many locations across the country with appearances at the 2013 and 2014 National Trumpet Competition and with the University of South Florida Wind Ensemble in Charleston, South Carolina for the 2016 Southeastern Conference of the College Band Director’s National Association.

Outside of music, Kara’s hobbies include taking adventurous backpacking trips with her husband, Jared, and trying to achieve their goal of traveling to every National Park in the United States. When she’s not traveling or teaching, Kara also enjoys spending time with her three adorable cats, Sandy, Patrick, and Winston.

Todd James

Todd James is an Oklahoma City based Adjudicator, Clinician, and Entrepreneur that brings focus and energy to those he serves and works with, his clients, and the performers that engage in his relatable commentary and expertise. Todd holds duel Bachelor’s Degrees from Texas State University that concentrated on Music and Education- areas that highlight his passions and provide a foundation to find dynamic work in the Pageantry Arts. He is the former Program Coordinator, Visual Designer, and Colorguard Director at Winston Churchill High School in San Antonio, Texas. Under his artistic leadership the band soared in membership and found themselves achieving at competitive high levels.

Todd brings the experience of orchestrating large scale visual art projects, a few he was recruited to be involved with include: Choreographing and Staging 20+ San Antonio Schools in the Annual Battle of the Bands/Battle of Flowers Band Festival; Producing and Staging the Grand Opening Celebration of the Alamodome, and Organizing over 4,000 Vocal and Colorguard Performers for the Northeast Fall Festival. He is also a past Guest Speaker for the Texas Bandmasters Association.

Being a Performing Arts Enthusiast and Educator found him serving as the Director of Musical Theater at South Texas' premiere Fine Arts High School, Northeast School of the Arts (NESA) in San Antonio, an institution that has been named one of the Top 10 Arts High Schools in the Country with an impressive list of Alumni that have gone on to find work on Broadway and in Film. Under his Artistic and Musical Direction, his all-encompassing Musical Theater Productions were selected not only for both Texas and National Thespian Convention Performances, but for The Edinburgh Fringe Festival- known as one of the greatest celebrations of arts and culture on the planet in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Todd is also no stranger to the stage and camera as an active performing artist himself. He used his talents as a working artist and has a background that includes various summer stock, regional, and national productions as well as a cast member of two international tours. He has appeared on numerous cruise ships and serves as the emcee of America's Youth on Parade. Reality television fans may know him from Toddlers and Tiaras!

When not inspiring those in the Arts, he is the owner of Thompson's Creations in Oklahoma City, a Specialty Fabric Showroom providing winning looks and designs for a multitude of performance ensembles and individuals throughout multiple performance genres. Todd has a special eye for color and design and knows just how to get it right for his clients to look their best.

Recently he joined the Regional Sales Team at Fruhauf Uniforms, embracing the opportunity to work in partnership with band directors throughout the state of Oklahoma to help them achieve their “perfectly unique look”!

Todd keeps a busy calendar year-round between family, the business, and Adjudication/Consulting Bookings. Todd is thrilled to be on the Active Adjudicator Roster for Bands of America, once again allowing him to celebrate and reward Visual Performances in a new impactful way.

2024 finds Todd even more in demand Visually Designing, Consulting, and Serving as a Guest Clinician for Various Programs throughout the Country- Specializing in Achievable Design and Effect for Smaller Programs. He loves giving the “answers to the test”... and has often stated it would take a special program for him to return to teaching... and that is what he believes he has found in Blanchard! He is proud of the growth of the Blanchard Band program in the past year and thrilled with the infectious excitement each student is sharing as they prepare for a new school year!!!

Amy Stone

Amy is our guard sponsor and a Blanchard Band mom. She is graduate from McLoud High School, where she was a 5 year member of color guard and played the flute for 7 years. She has a degree in education and currently teaches 2nd grade at Blanchard Elementary. Before moving to second grade she spent 9 years in pre-k, 4 as a teacher and 5 as a teaching assistant. In her free time she enjoys traveling, listening to music, baking, and spending time with her family. 

Emily Wolf

Emily Wolf is our newest staff member and will be working with our guard. She is a Mechanical Engineering Student at the University of Oklahoma. She is originally from Wichita Falls, Texas, where she was in Orchestra for 11 years playing the viola, Band for 5 years as a Clarinet and Contrabass Clarinet player, and guard for four. At the University of Oklahoma, she participates in the Pride of Oklahoma with the guard, adding four more years of experience, and was a captain for two of those years.