DCHS Band Staff
Director of Bands
Tim Cox
Asst. Director of Bands
Adam Bess
Color Guard Director
Harley Blane
Email: tcox@decaturproud.org
Phone: 317-856-5288 ext. 27200
Email: abess@decaturproud.org
Phone: 317-856-5288 ext. 01626
Tim Cox is a Ft. Wayne, IN native who earned a B.S. in Music Education and a minor in Jazz Studies from Ball State University. He also earned a Master’s degree in Conducting from the same university.
Ensembles under Mr. Cox’s direction have traveled across the county (including the Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade and Disney World).
In his time at Decatur Central ensembles have won numerous awards including 3 time BOA Regional Champions, 5 time IPA State Champions, WGI National Percussion Champions, performances at the Indiana Music Educators Conference, ISSMA Marching Band and Jazz Ensemble State Finals.
Mr. Cox has been honored as the DCHS "Teacher of the Year" and the MSD Decatur Township "Teacher of the Year" in 2018, 2021 IMEA High School "Teacher of the Year", Top 50 Teachers who make a difference National award, and has been nominated 28 times for "Most Influential Teachers" by his students.
Mr Cox lives in Decatur Township with his wife Carrie. His two children, Evan and Emily, are Ball State and Decatur Central graduates. Interests include spending time with his family, traveling, and music. He gives glory to God who has blessed him with his amazing family and a wonderful opportunity to do what he loves to do.
Adam Bess is the Associate Director of Bands at Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana. Adam is a native of Brownsburg, Indiana, and a 2018 graduate from Indiana State University.
Previously, Adam was the Director of Bands at Chesterton High School in Chesterton, Indiana, where he directed the concert bands, percussion ensembles, jazz ensemble, and Trojan Guard marching band.
Adam graduated from Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Indiana, and was a four-year member of the Sound of Brownsburg Marching Band.
Adam completed his bachelors degree in music education at Indiana State University and was honored to serve as a three-year Drum Major of the Marching Sycamores and as President of the Lambda Lambda chapter of the band service fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.
Adam comes from an extensive family tree of educators and is married to his forever adventure partner, Lexie. Together, they spend their time finding great restaurants, enjoying Sunday night homemade pizzas, and finding any opportunity they can to get back to Walt Disney World.
Harley Blane is a native of Hopkinsville, KY and moved to Indianapolis in July of 2022. He is very excited to be a part of our dynamic team. He is the founder of the Harley’s Youth Performance Ensemble (HYPE) previously known as Hopkinsville Youth Performance Ensemble.
Formerly, at Hopkinsville High School, he served as one of the Band's Administrators, and color guard director. As well as the director of color/winter guards for Christian County Public Schools from July 2006- Jan 2018. He spent the last Five years as Color guard Caption Head at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, KY and also collaborated with other notable bands in the northeastern KY area and southern IN area.
Mr. Blane began his marching career in the Hopkinsville Jv (middle school) winter guard. The following year he joined the Hopkinsville High School Marching band and was an active member in the Marching Band, Concert Band, and winter guard until graduation. Mr. Blane is also an alum of Bluecoats (drum corp), Eklipse Winterguard, and Onyx.
As a director, technician, designer, and choreographer, Mr. Blane, has had the opportunity to work with several organizations including HYPE (KY), VERVE (KY), Eklipse (TN), Moxie (TN), Columbus North HS (IN), Eastern HS (KY), Barren Co (KY), Todd Co (KY), Paducah Tilghman (KY), Caldwell Co (KY), Hopkinsville HS (KY), Christian Co (KY), Clarksville HS (TN), Kenwood HS (TN), McCracken Co, (KY), Anderson Co (KY), Bourbon Co (KY), Floyd Central (IN), Butler Co (KY), Oasis Winter guard (KY), Station Camp (TN), Beech HS (TN), Hendersonville HS (TN), Garland HS (TX), Earl Warren HS (TX), Camden Central (TN), Henry Co (TN), D’Evelyn HS (CO), Douglas Co (CO), Bullitt Co (KY) and a host of other groups from KY, IN, OH, TX, AL, IL, FL, CO, and TN from 2004 until now. Mr. Blane looks forward to making many more great memories and wonderful experiences to come here at Decatur Central High School.
Percussion Director
Coming Soon
DMS Director of Bands
Maya Davis
Email: mdavis2@decaturproud.org
Phone: 317-856-5274 ext. 05125
DMS Asst. Director of Bands
Mia Nunokawa
Email: mnunokawa@decaturproud.org
Phone: 317-856-5274 ext. 05124
Maya grew up in Northwest Indiana and graduated from Highland High School, where she worked part time on the band staff as she completed her BME in Music Education.
She earned her degree at Butler University and landed at DMS as Associate Band Director.
She loves band in all its forms and is thrilled to be on the Decatur team!
Mia is originally from Japan and immigrated to the US when she was 12.
She graduated from Center Grove High School where she served as a drum major for 2 years and founded Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter. She completed bachelor's degree in P-12 General and Instrumental Music Education degree from Butler University, Indianapolis, IN. During her time at Butler, she taught private lessons in Perry Meridian, Avon, Center Grove, and Brownsburg schools.
As a passionate music education researcher, Mia presented at state, national, and international music education conferences on the topic of cross-cultural comparison of band programs specifically focusing on Japanese and American band programs.
Outside of music, she is a certified medical interpreter and works in the hospitals all around Indiana to help facilitate the communication between the patients and the hospital staff. She loves to spend time with her husband Jake, bake and eat the baked goods, and hike around the state parks in Indiana!