ORHS Band Staff

Michael Spirko

Mr. Spirko is the Band Director at Oak Ridge High School where he has taught for 12 years. He is in his 27th year of teaching in the region. After beginning his career in Sevier County, he served as Director of Bands at Halls High School and then taught for 11 years at West Valley Middle School. Mr. Spirko holds a Bachelors of Music in Music Education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. While at UT, Mr. Spirko played in many ensembles and pursued a double major in Studio Music and Jazz. He was an active member of the "Pride of the Southland Band" for 6 years and was honored to serve as Drum Major in 1997. Mr. Spirko has been an active trumpet player and performer in the Knoxville area for 30 years. He is currently a member of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra, The Fine Columbians (a Steely Dan tribute band), and leads his own swing big band, The Streamliners.

Mr. Spirko lives in the “Old North” area of Knoxville and when not teaching or performing, he enjoys spending time with his two adult children, Jake and Luke.

Sean Rutherford

Mr. Sean Rutherford is the Assistant Band Director and Director of Percussion at Oak Ridge High School (ORHS). Since taking over percussion leadership at ORHS, the percussion program has achieved remarkable success, earning a medal at the East Tennessee Percussion and Arts Association (ETPAA) Championships every year since 2018—including three gold medals. Under his direction, the ensemble has been a multiple-time WGI Regional Finalist and proudly earned a spot as a 2023 WGI World Championship Finalist, finishing in 10th place.

Prior to joining the ORHS staff, Mr. Rutherford served two years as Band Director at Jefferson Middle School. He also spent one year as the Assistant Director at Fulton High School and six years as Director of Bands at Clinton Middle School, where he also assisted at Clinton High School.

Mr. Rutherford holds a degree from the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of the “Pride of the Southland Band” and participated in various wind, percussion, and chamber ensembles.

His marching experience includes four years in Drum Corps International (DCI). He marched two years in Division III, spent one year in the front ensemble for the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps, and aged out in 2000 as a tenor with the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps. During his time in DCI, he studied under renowned instructors Thom Hannum, Lee Beddis, Colin McNutt, Brian Tinkel, James Ancona, and Ian Moyer.

Mr. Rutherford is a member of MENC, TMEA, ETSBOA, PAS, and is proud to be part of the Vic Firth Education Team. He and his wife, Missy, reside in Knoxville with their son, Silas, and daughter, Marley. The family is rounded out by their three beloved dogs—Luna, Comet, and Cosmo.

Alex Cantrell

Mr. Cantrell is the Band Director at Jefferson Middle School and also assists with the Oak Ridge High School Band. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Mr. Cantrell holds a Bachelor's of Music and Masters in Music Performance. During his time at UT, he performed with the Wind Ensemble, the Symphony Orchestra, and the “Pride of the Southland Band”.

Since graduating, Mr. Cantrell has been active both as an educator and performer. From 2014 – 2019, he was the Band Director at Whittle Springs Middle School and assisted at Fulton High School, both in Knoxville, before joining Oak Ridge Schools in 2019. During his time at Jefferson, the JMS Band has enjoyed consistent success, regularly earning high honors at festivals and competitions. He has also been an active private horn instructor since 2006, with several students who have been placed in honor bands and received music scholarships. Mr. Cantrell has also played professionally across East Tennessee, most notably with the Chattanooga, Knoxville, and Oak Ridge Symphonies. Mr. Cantrell lives in Oak Ridge with his wife Julia and their son Jack.

Daniel Mull

A native of Hayesville, North Carolina, Mull earned both a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude, from Western Carolina University. While at WCU, he performed with the nationally recognized Pride of the Mountains Marching Band, the University Wind Ensemble, the University Concert Choir, and the Shades of Purple Barbershop Quartet. He was also recognized as a North Carolina Teaching Fellow and a Marian Drane Graham Scholar.

Mull began his teaching career as an elementary music teacher at Shining Rock Classical Academy in Waynesville, North Carolina, before transitioning to instrumental music as Band Director at Christian Academy of Knoxville. There, he taught beginning band and middle school band while directing the high school concert and marching bands. He later joined South Doyle High School in Knoxville where he served as Band Director, directing the marching and concert bands while also teaching Jazz Band, Music Theory, and Development of Rock and Roll.

An active member of the music education community, Mull is affiliated with the Tennessee Bandmasters Association, the Tennessee Music Education Association, the East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America.

Mull is excited to continue the tradition of excellence at Robertsville Middle School and looks forward to collaborating with and supporting the Oak Ridge High School Band.

He resides in Oak Ridge with his wife, Candace, and their sons, Elijah and Julian.

Ireri Jacobo - Colorguard, Band TA

Ms. Jacobo is the Colorguard Director at ORHS and also is the band TA. She comes to the high school with four years of teaching experience, after three years as the Gibbs Colorguard Director. Helping build their colorguard program and starting the very first middle school prepguard program at Gibbs Middle School. She then served one year as a guard technician and Junior Varsity Guard Director at Farragut High School.

Ms. J has experience marching in the ORHS colorguard from 2015-2019. She then went on to perform and compete with Beau Monde Independent in their inaugural year and made it to the WGI World semi-finals. Learning and creating with the help of Beau Monde and FHS Director, Mollie Mcgill, Ms. Jacobo has enriched her teaching curriculum and helps students not only spin and dance, but hold values and growth within the guard program.

She would like to thank her parents for their continuous support towards the Wildband program. Raising three wonderful daughters and supporting them through the ORHS Guard programs, and their son now entering the Wildband world.