The 2025 Southeastern Virginia Music Games
Saturday, September 27th, 2025
LOCATION
Hickory High School
1996 Hawk Blvd
Chesapeake, VA 23322
Registered Bands
First Colonial HS
Gates Co. HS
Kempsville HS
Pasquotank HS
Riverheads HS
Cox HS
Kecoughtan HS
Landstown HS
Great Bridge HS
Poquoson HS
Perquimans County HS
Princess Anne HS
Salem HS
Tabb HS
Currituck HS
Gloucester HS
Ocean Lakes
Grassfield HS
Tallwood HS
Woodside HS
Hickory HS
REGISTER YOUR BAND HERE VIA COMPETITION SUITE
On the last Saturday of September, the Hickory Marching Hawks host the Southeastern Virginia Music Games, or SEVMG. This event is a competition of bands from around the region. It features renowned judges and enables the audience to view many exceptional bands. SEVMG is a Virginia Marching Band Cooperative sanctioned event. More information about VMBC can be found HERE.
Our competition goal is to provide bands with invaluable feedback from a distinguished panel of adjudicators early in the season, to facilitate continued improvement throughout the band season. These judges are selected based on their experience in education, the judging field and their creative writing experiences. It is our feeling that you and your students will benefit greatly from such a wonderful panel. We are looking forward to having a wonderful audience in the 7,500 seat stadium here at Hickory HS. It is also our hope that you are able to enjoy some of the many activities available in this area. Virginia Beach is 25 minutes away, and Williamsburg’s Busch Gardens and Colonial Williamsburg are just an hour away.
Ticket Information:
Adults (ages 13 and up): $15
Youth (ages 6 to 12): $10
Children (ages 5 and under): No Charge
Band Registration Fee $150
Payable to: Hickory Band Parents Association (HBPA)
Hickory High School Band
Attn: Mitchell Reed
1996 Hawk Blvd
Chesapeake, VA 23322
2025 Judges
Music Effect – Marc Whitlock
Mr. Marc Whitlock is a nationally respected music educator, clinician, and administrator with over 33 years of experience building, leading, and sustaining high-achieving band programs across the country. From Marian Catholic to Hebron High School to the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park, Marc has guided ensembles to Bands of America national championships, state championships, and national concert festival appearances. His work consistently blends musical excellence with strategic program development and student-centered instruction.
Marc has been a leading force in the drum corps activity for over 40 years, serving as an instructor, designer, and consultant to elite ensembles such as the Academy, Blue Stars, Cadets, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Star of Indiana, and the Troopers. His work has helped numerous corps reach DCI Finals, earn High Brass Awards, and capture World Championship titles. Marc also served as the music manager for the Tony- and Emmy-winning Broadway production Blast! and was the inaugural Chief Judge for WGI Winds.
Marc has authored numerous articles, trained adjudicators, and serves as a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician. Known for his attention to pedagogy, passion for musical storytelling, and collaborative leadership style, Marc brings energy, expertise, and a servant heart to every single rehearsal and performance.
Music Ensemble – Andres Gonzalez
Gonzalez received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Stetson University in 2021. Before starting his Army career, he was the Director of Bands at Merritt Island High School in Merritt Island, Florida (2021-2023) where his ensembles consistently earned superior ratings and he won the award for First Year Teacher of The Year.
In 2018, he was a member of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps and is currently serving on the Madison Scouts Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Gonzalez is happily married to his wife Megan, a trumpet player and middle school orchestra director.
Visual Effect – To Be Announced Soon!
Visual Ensemble – Dr. Trevor Butts
Trevor Butts joins the University of South Florida School of Music faculty in the fall of 2022. His responsibilities at USF include directing the USF Herd of Thunder Marching Band, the Rumble Pep Band, conducting the University Concert Band, and teaching the marching band techniques course.
Butts earned his Doctor of Musical Arts in wind band conducting at Louisiana State University. He holds both a Master of Music degree in instrumental conducting and a Bachelor of Science degree in music education from USF. During his time at USF, Butts marched trumpet and later served as drum major of the Herd of Thunder Marching Band. Before returning to USF for his master’s, Butts taught high school band and orchestra in the Hillsborough County Public Schools system.
Butts is an active clinician and adjudicator in the state of Florida and Louisiana. Recently, Butts was selected as a conducting fellow for the 2022 United States Army “Pershing’s Own” Conducting Institute. Butts has marched with Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps. He has served on staff with drum corps including Heat Wave Drum and Bugle Corps, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, and is currently on staff with the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. Butts hold professional affiliations with Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Pi Kappa Lambda.