NEWSLETTER GEORGIA MUSIC EDUCATORS ASSOCIATION
APRIL
2019
" Wh e n yo u r d a y ' s w o r k i s o v e r Th e n yo u a re i n c l o v e r, A n d l i f e i s o n e b e a u t i f u l r hy m e , No trouble annoying, Each one is enjoying, Th e g o o d o l d s u m m e r t i m e . "
Ren Shields
Inspiring Truth for Teachers
#almostsummer
IN THIS ISSUE APRIL NEWSLETTER AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT 1 DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT 6 DISTRICT 7 DISTRICT 9 D I S T R I C T 10 D I S T R I C T 11 D I S T R I C T 12 D I S T R I C T 13 D I S T R I C T 14 YEAR OF RE TIREMENT
DEREK ABLE
SUZANNE LOGUE
ANDREW C. BELL
K AY PAC E
ROBERT BURTON
MICHELLE RICKARD
R AY E L L I S
KATHY SAUCIER
JOHNNY FOLSOM
MICHAEL S. THOMAS
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2019 NAfME All-National Honors Ensembles November 7-10, 2019, Orlando, FL All-National Selection Procedure Rationale or Purpose The NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles is a program to recognize the finest high school student musicians for their accomplishments, as well as to provide each participating student with the highest quality honors ensemble experience available in the United States today. NAfME believes that its strength comes from its State Federated Associations; therefore, the All-National Honor Ensembles program is designed to support each State’s efforts of advancing the vision of providing a high-quality music education for every student by recognizing their most accomplished high school student musicians. The purpose of this policy is to engage state federated associations in the building, development and quality of the national honors ensembles to highlight and recognize the finest student musicians at the national level. Policy Statement NAfME shall have an All-National Honors Ensemble program. The NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles will directly involve State MEA Presidents in the selection process ensuring that each of the All-National Honor Ensembles: Band, Orchestra, Mixed Chorus, Jazz Ensemble, Guitar Ensemble, and Modern Band are representative of every state in the Nation as applications allow. Student selection will be based on total NAfME active membership percentages within each of the federated state associations. It is the policy of NAfME that its selection procedure will set it apart from all other National Honor Ensemble programs with the intention that every State Federated Association will be represented. The musical processes within each ensemble will reflect components of the 2014 National Music Standards. The following individuals should be present and are responsible for the selection procedure: NAfME Staff Member(s), NAfME All-National Honor Ensembles Program Chair, and Ensemble Managers Selection Criteria 1. Each state will receive a quota based upon the number of active NAfME members in their state. This quota must be filled first unless a particular state does not provide enough student applications for each ensemble. 2. If your state Music Education Association (MEA) does not sponsor a particular All-State Festival, the state MEA will determine which students are eligible to apply. 3. Each state will provide the NAfME Staff and the ANHE General Chair a ranking (by instrument and/or voice part) of their students who have applied. These rankings must be followed during the selection process (i.e.: the selection committee cannot select a 3rd ranked clarinet from MA over the 1st ranked clarinet from MA.). When All-State rankings are not available as the primary ranking criteria, the state MEA may use students’ audition media to determine rank. 4. Each student applicant will submit an audition to be used for part assignments and/or to fill any seats that are vacant due to a lack of applications from a particular state. The auditions will not supersede the state quotas or the state rankings. 5. All woodwinds, brass, and percussion applications are considered for both band and orchestra. National Association of Music Education 1806 Robert Fulton Dr. Reston, VA 20190 1-703-860-4000
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2019 NAfME All-National Honors Ensembles November 7-10, 2019, Orlando, FL Harp and Piano auditions may be considered for band and/or orchestra based upon repertoire requirements.
6. In the event that a state MEA cannot determine eligibility due to that state not offering or sponsoring a
particular ensemble (ex. All-State Guitar or All-State Modern Band), students will be permitted to apply as long as they are sponsored by an NAfME member.
Selection Procedure 1. Begin selection with Washington DC and Europe by taking their first ranked instrument/voice student for BOCJ. 2. Continue selection with the smallest states trying to keep a balanced representation and instrumentation. 3. Continue to select in reverse order of the states’ quotas; keeping the instrumentation balanced as much as possible i.e.: equal numbers of woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, and voice parts for BOCJ. 4. Try to maintain a mini wind ensemble, string ensemble, vocal ensemble, etc. that represents each instrument voice part from each state for BOCJ 5. Band and Orchestra Managers should select winds and percussion by rotating through the states from smallest to largest to fill each state’s quota while adhering to each state’s rankings. When looking at solo/small numbers of instruments such as piccolo, double reeds, orchestral winds, etc., review audition media, resume information, and other experience and/or defer to large states for selecting these instruments due to the fact that the all-state selection process may be more competitive in larger states. 6. After Orchestra Winds and Percussion are selected, Band and Orchestra Managers can then fill remaining seats by going to the highest rank/state working from smallest to largest states keeping a balanced representative instrumentation as much as possible for each state. 7. Mixed Chorus Manager should select SI, SII, AI, AII, TI, TII, BI, and BII by going to highest rank from each state working from smallest to largest states keeping numbers in each voice part as equal as possible to fill each state’s allotted quota. 8. Check to see that each state has at least the minimum total number of selected students listed on the spreadsheet to fill their quota. Also, double check that the student instrumentation for each state is balanced as much as possible. In the event that there are not enough applications to fill a state’s quota, other states may receive additional students in the ensembles. Audition tapes may be consulted to help fill any extra seats, however state rankings must still apply. 9. Jazz Ensemble selection will be done by the manager in conjunction with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Modern Band selection will be done by the manager in consultation with Little Kids Rock. Consideration should be given to having as much representation from a variety of states as possible. 10. Due to the limited size, specific instrumentation, and the uniqueness of the Guitar Ensemble and Modern Band Ensemble, a specific number of seats from for any given state cannot be guaranteed. Consideration should be given to having as much representation from a variety of states as possible. Selection will be based primarily on student audition media. 11. Select Alternates for every instrument and voice part by filling in spots, alternating from state to state starting with the largest states in reverse order of the initial selection. Try to select an alternate instrument/voice that may not have been selected, or may have fewer numbers, from a particular state. For example, if a tenor sax was not selected for CT, try to select an alternate tenor sax from CT.
National Association of Music Education 1806 Robert Fulton Dr. Reston, VA 20190 1-703-860-4000
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THE
MANILOW MUSIC P R O J E C T L E A R N
M O R E
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#WoO (without Opus)
LOOKING FORWARD TO SOMETHING NEW
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AROUND STATE Events and News from our 14 Districts
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DISTRICT ONE
DISTRICT FIVE
• News from the Golden Isles Youth Orchestra (GIYO): The 2018 annual GIYO recital was held on November 11, 2018 at The Cloister on Sea Island followed by the yearly Winter Concert on December 16, 2018. On December 20th, Sea Island’s The Lodge hosted the annual GIYO Chamber Ensemble and Alumni concert. The GIYO Spring performance will take place on May 5th at 4 PM in the Glynn Academy Auditorium.
• The Westminster spring season featured the 80-member Westminster Symphony Orchestra, performing Adelina de Maya with guitar soloist Dr. John Huston and Adventures on Earth (from E.T.) by John Williams with a student-produced video montage. The Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Linda Cherniavsky and Scott Stewart, combined forces with the Westminster Chorale for Holy Week, presenting the Mass in G by Franz Schubert. April rounds out the semester with a “Tea Concert,” themed by Equity and Inclusion—music of composers who, due to race, faith, gender, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation, represent identities which have experienced (and may still be experiencing) bias, marginalization, and discrimination. The final performance of the semester is at the annual Baccalaueate service, featuring Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance March No. 4 and Janacek’s Idyll.
• After a seven-year hiatus, string instruction returned to Burroughs-Molette Elementary School due to a generous grant from Rich’s Consumer Brands Charitable Fund. Currently under the leadership of GIYO’s Melissa Chappell, with the assistance of two Glynn Academy seniors, Beauty Nelson and Eunice Quartey, sixteen BMES fourth and fifth grade students come to school an hour early two days per week for class.
DISTRICT TWO
• Anita Brensinger will be retiring from a 36year career as a music educator. For the past 26 years she has taught band and/or general music at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School, where she started the band program eighteen years ago. Previously, Mrs. Brensinger taught in various public and private schools throughout Texas and Pennsylvania.
• After 45 years of directing bands Johnny Folsom will be retiring. At Folsom’s final concert his ABAC Band and Quincy Hilliard had the South Georgia premier of his composition, “As The World Watched.” This work was inspired by Betty Ann Folsom who 4 years ago gave Quincy the book “While the World Watched” which chronicles the 1963 Birmingham church bombing. It was the centerpiece of the ABAC Band’s “From Darkness to Light” concert.
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AROUND THE STATE
DISTRICT SIX
food and fellowship at the midday pot-luck dinner. This event is non-denominational and emphasizes participation, not expertise.
• The Bennett’s Mill Middle School Orchestra, under the direction of Kevin Anderson, will give their annual Spring Concert on Thursday, May 16, 2019 at Bennett’s Mill Middle School in the Gymnasium beginning promptly at 7:00 PM. This concert is free to the public and ALL are welcome to attend.
DISTRICT SEVEN • The Ridgeland High School Chorus from Rossville, under the direction of Dr. Cody Goss, recently competed in the Music USA Festival at Universal Studios Orlando earning a superior rating and first place in the concert choir division. Kourtney Funderburk, soprano, also won first place for best high school soloist. The RHS Chorus will present their spring concert on May 16, 2019 at 7:00 PM.
• After over 40 years as a music educator, Dr. Kay Pace will be retiring as Choral Director and Music Theory Instructor from the Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts in Clayton County Public Schools. Dr. Pace’s final concert/celebration will be Tuesday, April 30 at 6 pm in the Clayton County Performing Arts Center (PAC). The concert is entitled “Passing the Baton.”
DISTRICT NINE • The River Ridge High School Chamber String Ensemble has been invited by the Georgia Wind Symphony to perform "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Lauridsen at their spring concert. The concert is on May 19th at 4 pm at Cherokee High School in Canton, GA. The Georgia Wind Symphony is a community concert band under the direction of Dr. David Vandewalker and guest conductor, Dr. David Gregory, Ret. The RRHS
• Sacred Harp Singing event at Clayton State College. On Saturday, July 20, from 10:00 am to 3:00 PM, singers and history buffs alike will thoroughly enjoy this annual singing event held in the acoustically phenomenal Spivey Hall. Repertoire includes folk songs, psalms, hymns, odes, and anthems in four-part harmony. Enjoy
RIDGELAND HIGH SCHOOL AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS!
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Chamber strings are under the direction of Ms. Christin Lawhorne. Students participating are Madison Park, violin; Brandon Gibson, violin; Kelly Pena, violin; Ciara Miles, violin; Ava Henager, viola; Jazz Peek, viola; Thomas Fallon, cello; Michael Burns, cello; and Lucas Mattos, Bass.
DISTRICT TEN • Augusta University Wind Ensemble participated in a one-day tour to perform at Stevenson High School, DeKalb County and Rockdale County High School on March 26, 2019. Included in the music performed was “Black Granite” by James Hosay, “Nabucco Overture” by Giuseppe Verdi/Cesarini, “Epinicion” by John Paulson and “Portrait of a City” by Philip Sparke. • The Augusta University Wind Ensemble Concert will be on April 30 at 7:30 in Maxwell Theater at the Augusta University Summerville Campus. The concert is titled, Rejouissance: A Concert of Uplifting Music. Programmed composers include Holst, Ticheli Mozart, Sparke, Curnow, Holsinger, Mahr, and Giannini.
AUGUSTA STATE UNIVERSITY APPOINTS
MICHAEL A. KATTERJOHN
• Michael A. Katterjohn has been appointed Director of Bands at Augusta University. He will continue teaching percussion students and the percussion methods class but will also be teaching the conducting classes as well as conducting the wind ensemble. Michael will be also be teaching the marching band methods class, offered during the Fall Semesters. During Spring Semester, he will be directing the Augusta University Pep Band at all home basketball games.
• District Ten was fortunate enough to have international composer Philip Sparke work with the eleventh and twelfth grade honor band. In addition, the community band Savannah River Winds, commissioned a piece of music by Philip Sparke. It is titled, “Highland Dawn,” and was premiered at the District Ten Honor Band opening night concert. Savannah River Winds is under the direction of Richard D. Brasco. • Langford Middle School’s Performing Arts and World Language Department will have their annual Spring concert on Thursday, April 25, 2019 at 6:00 PM. The program will be in the Langford Middle School Gymnasium.
DISTRICT ELEVEN • The Gordon State College Chorus and Community Big Band present their annual Spring Concert on April 25, 2019 in the Fine Arts Auditorium of Gordon State College in Barnesville, Ga. The concert is free and open to the public.
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AROUND THE STATE
community together to celebrate the school year and unite the cluster. The Jordan Middle School Guitar Ensemble will begin their performance at the Castle at 1 pm. The ensemble consists of top performing students from the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade guitar classes. This is the first year Jordan Middle School has had a year-long guitar program. These students have been working diligently to get performance ready and look forward to continuing their music education through performance-based guitar classes.
DISTRICT TWELVE • Please join us in congratulating Michelle Rickard on her retirement from Durham Middle School. On Thursday, May 16 at 7 PM in the Allatoona High School Gymnasium and Cafeteria, the Allatoona and Harrison Bands will join along with alumni to present a concert to honor Michelle followed by a reception celebration.
DISTRICT THIRTEEN • Congratulations to Dr. Andy Edwards and the Roaring Records music technology program. Dr. Edwards has been selected as one of the 2019 Music Education Innovators Award recipients from Give A Note Foundation. Dr. Edwards will be traveling to Nashville to attend the County Music Association's Music Teachers of Excellence award banquet as an honored guest on April, 30th and will be presenting more information about Roaring Records at the 2019 National Association for Music Education National Conference in November. Additionally, Give A Note Foundation is awarding a generous $4,000 grant to Roaring Records for future innovations in music technology. Next school year, Roaring Records plans to build an acoustic guitar and provide students more experience in composing and recording for the movie industry. • On Saturday, April 20th, the Central Gwinnett Cluster Foundation is hosting its second annual Spring Fling at the Central Gwinnett High School Castle. From noon to 3 PM, families will have access to bounce houses, music, vendors, food and fun. Cluster school groups will also perform during the event. This event is to bring their
DR. ANDY EDWARDS PEACHTREE RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
2019 MUSIC EDUCATION INNOVATOR RECIPIENT 10
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DISTRICT FOURTEEN • Join us for a night of spirited celebration as the Georgia Children’s Chorus presents their annual spring concert, Give Voice to Your Dreams…Sing! on May 14th at 7pm. Be inspired by an evening of jubilant melodies and calming ballads as we perform an imaginative selection of songs, including timeless classics like Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Sing for Joy and Peter Piper. The voices of the Georgia Children’s Chorus feature youth ages 7-18 from the Northeast Georgia area, directed by Carol Reeves. Be sure to save the date to be uplifted as children’s dreams come to life in this vibrant performance! The Georgia Children’s Chorus (GCC) is a 100-voice children's chorus in-residence at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia. GCC singers from the Athens area, ages 7-18, achieve high artistic standards in a nurturing atmosphere. They build teamwork, self-expression and confidence and develop chorally while having fun.
• Haymon-Morris Middle School presents the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade choruses, along with the Vocal Ensemble, in a Spring Chorus Concert. The performance, directed by Mr. Bruce A. Nunley, will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Monday evening, May 6th, at Bethlehem Church. Bethlehem Church is located at 548 Christmas Avenue in Bethlehem, Georgia. All are invited to attend this joyous celebration of springtime and singing.
Fun Fact
In addition to being a nationally recognized music teacher, Dr. Edwards also is the official photographer for GMEA. www.aceofphotos.com
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YEAR OF RETIREMENT
YEAR OF RETIREMENT
Derek Able
Derek Able is retiring after 30 years as a high school band director in the
West Georgia area, having taught at Mt. Zion, Lithia Springs, Villa Rica, and Bremen High Schools respectively in District 7. Groups under his direction have consistently received superior ratings at marching contests and LGPE. Throughout the past 10 years, he has been active as a judge, drill writer, and arranger for schools throughout the southeast. He recently served on the GMEA Marching Band Committee and is also a member of Percussive Arts Society, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha music fraternity. His final concert will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at 3PM at the Carroll County Schools Performing Arts Center.
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Andrew C. Bell Andrew C. Bell earned his bachelor’s degree in Music Comprehensive at Glenville
State College, Glenville, West Virginia. Later, he was awarded a master’s degree in Music Education from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Professionally, Mr. Bell is a member of Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). He has served this group as Band Chairman for District XI and District I, and District Chairman for District II. He also has served as State Marching Band Chairman and served as Research and Advocacy Chairman for the state. Mr. Bell also belongs to National Association for Music Education (NAfME), Percussive Arts Society, National Band Association, Conductors Guild, National Education Association and Georgia Association of Educators. He was inducted to Phi Beta Mu an international Bandmasters Fraternity in February of 2015. He has been awarded Star Teacher in 2006, 2012, 2015, and 2019. He was voted and Teacher of the Year in 2002. Mr. Bell was also the 2018 GMEA Music Educator of the Year. Andrew C. Bell has taught music for 32 years at the middle and high school levels. After teaching band at Washington Middle School in Cairo, Georgia, Mr. Bell moved to Sylvania, Georgia. At Screven County High School, he rebuilt the band program from 17 to 150 students. When he left the Screven County program in 2000, the band was consistently receiving superior ratings at both marching and concert festivals. In 2000, Mr. Bell moved to Macon and taught at Central High School. He rebuilt the “Sugarbear Band” in number and ability. Along with his duties at Central High School, he was adjunct professor at Georgia Military College. He is now in his fifteenth year at Crisp County as director of bands. Mr. Bell was added as adjunct Professor at Darton State College, Albany State University teaching music classes along with director of percussion studies. He remains an adjunct instructor at Georgia Southwestern University & Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College (ABAC).
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Robert Burton Mr. Robert Burton is retiring after 33 years of teaching in Georgia
public schools. He has been at JC Booth Middle School since August,1994. During his years at JC Booth, his bands have consistently scored superior ratings at the GMEA District VI Band Festivals. The Symphonic Band was selected to perform for the 2006 Georgia Music Educators Conference in Savannah, GA, the 2007 Troy State University Southeastern United States Middle School Band Clinic in Troy, AL, and at the 2008 University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival in Athens, Ga. Mr. Burton was at Cedartown High School in Cedartown, Georgia from 1986 to 1994 where he was the director of bands. While at Cedartown High School, his bands consistently scored superior at marching competitions around the southeast and at district band festivals. In the spring of 1990, Mr. Burton was named Star Teacher for Cedartown High School and the Polk School District. He was named Teacher of the Year for JC Booth Middle School for the 2007-08 school year. Mr. Burton has served as a clinician for several honor bands, has judged Large Group Performance Evaluations in Georgia, teaches private lessons on trumpet, and plays trumpet with his church’s orchestra. He is currently a member of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters’ Fraternity, Music Educators National Conference, Georgia Music Educators Association and Georgia Association of Educators. Mr. Burton makes his home in Fayetteville, Georgia, with his wife Melanie. They have four adult daughters and two sons-in-law; Robin and Matt Ankerich, Shelby and Trey English, Brittney Burton and Rachel Burton.
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Ray Ellis
Ray Ellis is retiring after 30 years of teaching. He taught at Myers Middle School
in Chatham County for 5 years, Liberty County High School for 7 years and his last 18 years have been spent at South Effingham County High School where he taught Chorus, Musical Theatre and Piano.
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apply to present apply to perform
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Jo
ohnny Folsom John Lewis Folsom, Jr. (Johnny)is in his 45th year
teaching and his seventh year as the director of the Abraham Baldwin Concert Band. Mr. Folsom spent 38 years directing high school bands. He spent twenty-five years as a successful band director in Alabama, first at Geneva (eight years) and then at TR Miller in Brewton (seventeen years). Folsom then spent thirteen years with the prestigious Cairo High School Band in Georgia. Mr. Folsom is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association and is the Past-District Chairman for GMEA District II. He is also a Past-President of the Alabama Bandmasters Association. Troy State University’s music faculty selected Mr. Folsom as its 1996 Alumnus of the Year. He has judged numerous marching and concert festivals in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Mr. Folsom is a member of the Alabama Bandmasters Hall of Fame and the High School Band Directors National Association Hall of Fame. Johnny and his wife, Betty Ann, have two married daughters, both of whom were band members and majorettes at Auburn University.
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Suzanne L
Suzanne Logue remembers the day Kathy Bizarth, then State Choral Chair, called her as
a baby teacher to ask if she would like to organize an All-State chorus. What a feeling that was, to know that one of the “bigwigs” in an organization she was beginning to love knew her name AND had enough faith to ask such a young director to take on such a large task. Organizing for Lynn Gackle that year led to organizing for Henry Leck the following year, and Suzanne’s involvement in GMEA never turned back. Organizational positions eventually turned to leadership positions, and throughout it all Suzanne has continued to accompany state and district level events, area schools, and eventually for the J.W. Pepper crew, Hal Leonard, and Alfred Publishing teams. The experiences and knowledge gained through so many accompanying
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Logue
opportunities has been taken straight back to the classroom to share so that her students can cultivate, grow and ultimately share the talents with which they possess. Watching student faces as they sing (especially as they listen to a recording of themselves!), hearing and experiencing the loveliness they create as human beings, and having the conversations about everything behind the music has brought much joy these 30 short years. Suzanne finishes her public school career at Hightower Trail Middle School in the Cobb County School District, but also taught at Gardner Newman Middle School (Troup County) and Seminole County Elementary School. Her career has been filled with asking many questions of others (who have been most patient to answer), seeking professional growth opportunities and contacts, staying on top of repertoire, and reading her GMEA handbook.
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Dr. Kay Pace has had a long and distinguished career as a music educator,
concert pianist and choral director. She is presently on the music faculty of Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts (formerly Fine Arts Magnet at Mt. Zion High School) in Clayton County Public Schools, Jonesboro, GA. Before coming to Stilwell, Dr. Pace taught at North Clayton High School and at several universities: Southern Illinois (Carbondale), Alabama State (Montgomery), Morgan State (Baltimore), and Clark Atlanta (Georgia). 22
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Kay Pace At Alabama State University (ASU), her post of longest tenure, Dr. Pace served as music professor and Interim Dean of the School of Music where she received many recognitions and awards for her numerous contributions to the School of Music and for her work as director of the ASU Choir. In 2013 her former choral students established The Kay Pace Choral Excellence Scholarship in her honor—to be given annually to an outstanding choral music major at ASU. In her work in Clayton County Public Schools (CCPS), Dr. Pace has served as high school Choral Lead Teacher and presently serves as Head of Vocal/Choral music at Stilwell where she also teaches chorus and music theory classes. She has been recognized by the CCPS Board of Education on several occasions for her outstanding work with students and she was selected as “Star Teacher” in 2008 & 2015 and Stilwell’s first “Teacher of the Year” in 2014. In 2017-18 the CCPS Board voted unanimously to name the newest fine arts school after Dr. Pace—The Kay R. Pace School of the Arts—which opened in the Fall of 2018 for elementary children in the arts. Dr. Pace has had award-winning choruses perform in venues such as Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Apollo Theater (New York), the International Beethoven Festival (Bonn, Germany), Spivey Hall, Meyerhoff Symphony Hall (Baltimore, Md) and at the 2014 and 2019 GMEA In-Service Conventions in Savannah and Athens. She is also well recognized as a versatile concert pianist who works as both a collaborative artist as well as a solo pianist. Dr. Pace holds degrees from Xavier University, Southern Illinois University, the Peabody Conservatory of Music and Pacific Western University. In recognition of Dr. Pace’s life-long dedication and service to music education, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum (Atlanta) presented her with a framed letter from President Jimmy Carter on December 11, 2018 congratulating her on her many years of service to the educational and musical communities and for the excellence of her work.
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Michelle Rickard is a graduate of Presque Isle High School (Maine) and University of
Nebraska at Omaha, where she received the Bachelor of Music, cum laude. Ms. Rickard also attended University of Nebraska, VanderCook College of Music and Kennesaw State University. She has studied clarinet with Allan Harris, Victor Zajec, John Ziegler and Ed Riley. She has studied conducting with the HE Nutt, Dr. James Saker, Peter Witte and Dr. John Culvahouse. Ms. Rickard taught band with Music in the Catholic Schools in Omaha, Nebraska for one year before enlisting in the Air Force.Michelle Rickard served as clarinetist and bagpiper in the Strategic Air Command Band
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Michelle Rickard (Nebraska) and the Band of the Air Force Reserve (Warner Robins, GA) until 1988. While in the Air Force, she served as solo clarinetist and woodwind quintet specialist and performed for President Reagan, Pope John Paul and many other dignitaries. She was a distinguished graduate of the NCO Preparatory School, received the Air Force Achievement Medal and was chosen Airman of the Quarter and Airman of the Year. She has performed clarinet with the Macon Symphony, Georgia Winds, Nebraska Wind Symphony along with freelancing in the Chicago, Omaha, Macon, and Atlanta areas. She currently is the clarinet section leader with the Cobb Wind Symphony under the direction of Alfred Watkins. The Cobb Wind Symphony has performed numerous times at the College Band Directors National Convention, the Georgia Music Educators' State Convention, UGA JanFest and the Midwest Band Clinic. She is also a member of the North Georgia German Band, which performs throughout Georgia in the fall months. Ms. Rickard was Director of Bands at Lost Mountain Middle School for seven years and this is her nineteenth year as Director of Bands at Durham Middle School. The Durham Bands have consistently received superior ratings at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation. The Durham 8th Grade Symphonic Band, under her direction, performed as a guest band at the 2003, 2018 University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival, 2005 Georgia Music Educators' State Convention, 2010 National Concert Band Festival, the 2016 and 2017 Music for All Southeastern Concert Festival and 2018 UGA Middle School Band Festival. Ms. Rickard has received four Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association. She was the Durham Middle School 2010-2011 Teacher of the year. She has been a guest clarinet clinician/performer and conductor throughout the state of Georgia. She is on staff as clarinet instructor for the Athena Leadership Camp and the Cobb County Middle School Camp. Michelle is an adjunct faculty member at Reinhardt University, teaching woodwind methods to music education majors. She will be on staff as a clarinet instructor at Sequoyah HS, Woodland HS, and Lovett. Ms. Rickard maintains membership affiliation with Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and the National Band Association. She looks forward to traveling, teaching/playing clarinet, riding her bike and hiking in her retirement.
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Kathy Saucier Kathy Saucier is currently in her 13th year as director of the Union
Grove Middle School Orchestra Program in Henry County and has been teaching orchestra for a total of 30 years. A Louisiana native, Ms. Saucier holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Loyola University in New Orleans. She moved to the Atlanta area in 1989 and began her teaching career in Clayton County. Throughout her tenure there she served as co-conductor of the Clayton County Honor Orchestra (1989-1993) and the Clayton County Youth Symphony (1994-1998). In 2006, Ms. Saucier was honored as the recipient of the STAR Teacher Award. In 2017 she was recognized as the Georgia American String Teacher Association (GA ASTA) Teacher of the Year and was also a finalist for the Henry County Schools Teacher of the Year. Orchestras under her direction have consistently earned superior ratings at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations, and she has had groups perform in 2002, 2010, and 2016 at the GMEA In-Service Conference. Throughout her teaching career, many of her students have been selected to participate in the Georgia All State Orchestras, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Governors Honors Program. In addition to her public-school teaching, Ms. Saucier is the director of the Southern Crescent Youth Orchestra. She also frequently serves as an adjudicator and clinician in many counties throughout the metro area. She is a veteran staff member of the Encore Summer Orchestra Camps where she has been both a chamber coach and orchestra director. Ms. Saucier currently resides in Jonesboro with her husband, David and son, Austen.
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Michael S. Thomas, Director of Bands for the Thomas County
School system has announced plans to retire at the completion of the 2018-2019 school year. Mr. Thomas was a student of CW5 Retired R. Rush Gavin at Selma High School, Selma Al. The family moved where he spent his senior year at Tuscaloosa, AL. with Mr. Bill Benton. During this time Mr. Thomas was a member of the Charioteers Drum & Bugle Corps under
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Michael Thomas the direction of Mr. Dick Beasley and percussion instructor Mr. Jimmy Dinkins. Mr. Thomas is a graduate of Troy University and served under the direction of Dr. John M. Long. During his first year of college Mr. Thomas took time to begin serving his country as he entered military training which landed him in the 151st Alabama Army National Guard Band under the command of CW5 Retired Gavin who, of course, was his past public-school band director. After Mr. Thomas returned to Troy University he served as an adjunct percussion instructor at Charles Henderson High School in Troy, Alabama. In 1980 he was installed as the assistant Director for the Troy City Schools serving with Director Pascal Ward. A few short years later He followed in the foot-steps of Mr. Ward becoming the Director of Bands at Charles Henderson High School. Mr. Thomas would continue to serve CHHS as the Director of Bands for 23 years with a number of notable staff teachers; Mrs. Jane Seanor, Mr. Geoffrey Spann, Mr. Jeff Griffin, Mrs. Teresa Sims, Mr. Tim Sims, Mrs. Lisa Nonnenmann, Ms. Kathy Ryles, Mr. Jim Bell and Ms. Amanda Ford. During this same time, he also was in service with the 151st Army Band advancing both his military and professional teaching careers. During his Alabama time Mr. Thomas served on the Alabama Bandmasters Board for 12 years. Mr. Thomas retired from Alabama teaching in Troy and was called to teach at Cairo High School as assistant director to Mr. Johnny Folsom. Some 9 years later Mr. Thomas would become the Director of Bands at Cairo High School serving on staff with Mrs. Amy Amaro, Mr. Patrick Ballew and Mr. Brad Moore. Mr. Thomas retired from the 151st Army Band under the command of CW4 Mark A. Mills in 2012 at the rank of 1SG with a total of 39 years of service. In 2015 Mr. Thomas was asked to join the precious Thomas County Schools in Thomasville GA. Mr. Thomas has served as the Director of Bands for TC with a staff that includes; Mr. Ryan Booth, Ms. Anne-Marie Holland, Mr. Paul Johns, Mr. William Majors, Mr. C. Michial Mayhall and Ms. Lynn Wise. Mr. Thomas says, “Throughout my career there have been tons of accomplishments, however the people; students, parents, fellow teachers and directors, administrators, board members, custodians, soldiers, command personnel, friends, and especially family were, and will be the most important points that I lift up with all thanks and respect. My family; Teresa (wife), Mitchell (son), Jeremy (son), and Tessa (daughter) have supported me in everything I have done and have always deserved my love and full respect. I will certainly miss making music but I will always remember it’s the people that make it happen. I have been so blessed…” 29
Newsletter | April
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Newsletter | April
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