Raider Band Staff:
Our music faculty is always here to talk with you and your child. If you ever have a question or concern for us, please don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an e-mail. We will get back with you at our first opportunity. Working together, we can accomplish great things!
Mr. Emmerson Young III
Director of Bands
Mr. Emmerson Young III is a native of Miami, Florida, and product of the Miami-Dade County School System. He graduated from American Senior High School while also serving as president of the American Senior High Tri-M Music Honor Society. Mr. Young graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. While matriculating through Florida A&MUniversity, Mr. Young served as Saxophone Principal Section Leader in FAMU’s Incomparable Marching 100, president of FAMU’s National Association for Music Education Collegiate and performed with the Florida A&M University Wind Symphony. Following the completion of a successful student internship at James S. Rickards High School -under the tutelage of Mr. George, M.M.Ed.- Mr. Young returned to James S. Rickards High to serve in an assistantship capacity.
Mr. Young was appointed as Director of Bands and Instrumental Music at Rickards in 2021. His duties at Rickards include facilitation and instruction of the Symphonic Band, Jazz Ensemble, Marching Band, Orchestra, Guitar, AP Music Theory,and a plethora of other chamber ensembles. He believes that a strong foundation for continued success and growth exists at Rickards. This foundation can only be built upon via effective instruction, leadership, and communication, and cohesion of all participating parties.
Mr. Malik Woodson
Associate Director of Bands
Mr. Malik Woodson was born in Tallahassee, Fl and is a proud 2016 graduate from James S. Rickards High school. Woodson has had a love and passion for music since he was 8 years old as he spent most of his life traveling and performing with the Boys Choir of Tallahassee with and for A-list celebrities. Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce, and Tyler Perry to name a few. Woodson also spent time dancing throughout his years as he spent some time in New York with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. While Woodson attended Rickards High School he was apart of the Marching and Concert band all four years playing the Euphonium where he served as section leader his Sophomore, Junior and Senior year. While in high school Woodson took part in the bands’ show planning committee. This committee was responsible for creating dance routines and planning the halftime shows. After high school Woodson obtained his Associate in Arts degree from Tallahassee Community College. Woodson has now moved on and is now a senior at Florida A&M University where he will be earning his degree in Music Education. In 2018, just two years after he graduated high school, Woodson returned to Rickards where he received a job with the school’s security and I.T. Personnel. Later that year, Woodson was offered a position with the band to be a part of staff as a band staff member and Assist. Dance Coach under Mr. Jeremy George as band director. Woodson proudly served this position for 3 years and in 2021 Woodson was named the Creative Director of Bands. His love for music and creativity drives him to produce notable half time shows and performances throughout the academic school year.
Ms. Joy Williams
Color Guard Coach
Joy R. Williams, Royal Jewels Color Guard Coach, is a native of Tallahassee, FL and a proud alumna of Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Joy is also a proud graduate of James S. Rickards High School, class of 2005. She has served as the color guard coach since 2010 and has assisted the band auxiliary in receiving multiple Superior ratings at Music Performance Assessments and Solo & Ensemble Performances. Joy attributes her strong passion for band and the arts to her past experiences including being a former clarinet player in the James S. Rickards High School Marching and Symphonic Band during all four years of high school, a former viola player, a former dancer with the African Caribbean Dance Theatre, a former member of a liturgical dance team, amongst many others. Joy is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., where she has held numerous leadership positions and is the owner of a public relations and event planning company, The PREP Circle, LLC. She counts mentoring, event and show planning, creating, and choreography as a few of her many talents.