2024-2025 Georgia Music News | Winter Issue

BAILEY SCHOOL OF

MUSIC

Friday, November 15

Saturday, February 22

Friday, March 7

Saturday, March 22

Saturday, April 19

In This Issue

The Effective Evaluation of Music Teachers

Dr. Jim Arnold

President Neil Ruby

President Elect Andy Esserwein

Vice-President for Performance Evaluation Events

Sara Grimes

Vice-President for All-State Events

Jay Davis

Past Presidents’ Council Representative

Dr. Richard Bell

Executive Director

D. Alan Fowler

Band Division Chair Chris Shumick

Choral Division Chair

Michelle Austin

College Division Chair

Dr. Josh Byrd

Elementary Division Chair Letricia Henson

Orchestra Division Chair Krissi Davis

Aleta Womack Advertising/Exhibitors

Cindy

Association News

The President Speaks

Neil Ruby

I am eagerly awaiting the 2025 In-Service Conference and our theme, Committed to Positively Changing Lives! The transformative power of music education offers us an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of our students and members, making a lasting, positive impact on their lives. The 2025 conference is packed with incredible opportunities. With over 120 sessions led by master educators, you'll deepen your knowledge and skills in music education. Be captivated by 35+ inspiring concerts featuring talented ensembles, all from Georgia! And explore and connect with over 150 exhibitors and business partners showcasing the latest resources and tools for music teachers.

The Opening Session will be held on Thursday, January 30th, at 10:30 a.m. Our theme for the opening session, Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Creating the Future, features Mickey Smith, Jr. as Keynote Speaker, GMEA District Music Educators of the Year awards, and the announcement of the GMEA State Music Educator of the Year. There are a few other surprises in store and NAfME Southern Division President, Susan Smith, will be joining us. This is an exciting event to kick-off this year's conference!

We are thrilled to once again host the CNAfME Reception on Thursday evening, January 30th, for our college students and the HBCU Reception on Friday evening, February 1st. Check the schedule for more details on both of these wonderful events!

Are you looking for a music teaching position? Stop by the Job Fair anytime between 2:004:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon, on the upperlevel concourse outside the Parthenon and Olympia rooms. Representatives from various Georgia school systems will be available to meet with potential applicants.

I encourage you to take time during the conference to visit the exhibit hall, where you will find many opportunities to learn about the latest resources, instruments, technology and so much more to support your teaching. Tech Town is back and will be even bigger and better! We will once again feature the MusicFirst Technology Lab, the Soundtrap Podcasting Station, and the MEG Mobile Recording Studio. Visit Tech Town for a hands-on exploration of the latest technology resources available to enhance teaching and learning in your music classrooms!

GMEA is honored to be recognized as one of the largest and strongest MEA's in the country and our members' dedication and tireless efforts ensure an even brighter future ahead. Whether you are a student, current teacher, or retired member, GMEA represents us all, and we are united to make you and your students’ future our mission. As we come together at the upcoming In-Service Conference, we are excited to collaborate and shape the future through the transformative power of music education. Together, as GMEA, we are Committed to Positively Changing Lives!

See you in Athens!

From The Executive Director D. Alan Fowler

Greetings once again from GMEA HQ East, and Happy December!

If you have read any of my columns over the past couple of years, it will come as no surprise that I continue to learn. But what has surprised me is the breadth of that new found knowledge.

When I began serving in this position, talking on the phone was not something I particularly enjoyed. Now, I look forward to those conversations. One day I might even find myself feeling good about my phone skills, but as of November, 2024, I continue to be a work in progress.

When I came on board, in the summer of 2022, I thought I had a broad understanding of the staff members’ various tasks and responsibilities serving our association. It is safe to say that awareness was overestimated. One example is our bookkeeper, Aleta Womack. I thought I had a good idea of what she did for GMEA and its members, but quickly I came to realize much of what she was doing, and has done for quite some time, far exceeded tasks normally associated with those of a bookkeeper. With the help of the rest of the staff, we have all worked to shift duties, so that Aleta is now able to more directly focus on bookkeeping.

Speaking of the staff, I have also learned the importance of documenting and streamlining our procedures and operations. It is essential we are prepared should any of us find ourselves unable to do our jobs for any reason. Much of what we do as a team relies on implicit knowledge— things we "just know." Ensuring that this knowledge is captured and shared will not only support our current efforts but also ease transitions for future team members.

I have also gained a new appreciation for the intricate details behind and all that goes into the In-service Conference and our All-State and Statewide events. It would be impossible to ever adequately thank all the volunteers who make those events possible. It really has been neat to be a part of so much of what GMEA does, but it is even more special to have seen our volunteers in action and to have gotten to know many of them throughout the state.

Today I know more about (in no particular order) Canva, Constant Contact, Issuu, Adobe, Outlook, LogicSpeak, Opus, JotForm, Vonage, QuickBooks, the IRS, insurance, hotels, hospitality, the Classic Center, NAfME, and

countless other apps, platforms, businesses, and other aspects of what GMEA does than I ever imagined.

Amid all this learning, one truth remains clear: GMEA is, at its core, a people-centered organization. We are clearly about supporting our members and delivering on our mission: To promote the advancement of music education throughout the state of Georgia. It is an honor to embrace this mission daily, and I find myself thankful we get to do this work. Coming into this role, I knew I wanted to embrace the needs of our people – our members, our staff, students and future members, and the many wonderful people with whom we work. I feel I have and continue to do that.

For me, as Executive Director, most of my daily interactions revolve around two groups: our members and our staff. Supporting our members is the driving force behind our efforts. As we continue to work together, I do hope I can be good for our staff, and I hope you have noticed that part of my vision for what the staff does to support you has been to place “Member Support” at the top of each of our lists of duties and responsibilities. When you reach out to us for assistance, please know that we genuinely want to help. And when you hear from us, whether via email, phone calls, or the newsletter, know that what we are sharing was thoughtfully crafted to keep you informed and supported.

Thank you for what you do. It’s a privilege to count myself among you, and I am endlessly grateful for the work we accomplish together. When you see me in Athens, please stop me and say hello; I would love the chance to connect with you in person.

Division News

Band

Chris Shumick

I hope everyone is enjoying a fantastic end to the Fall Semester and looking forward to all that is to come in the new year ahead. The 2025 InService Conference in Athens is on the horizon, and the Band Division will offer 24 sessions in addition to the many performances that will take place at the Classic Center. We received well over 120 session applications and those selected represent a wide range of topics that include:

Rehearsal Techniques - Conducting - Student Leadership Development - Brass, Woodwind and Percussion Instrumental Techniques - Diversity and Inclusion - LGPE Sightreading Procedures - Educational Psychology - MS/HS Collaboration - Audition Preparation - Electronics with Marching Band–Work/Life Balance - Student Motivation - Jazz Improvisation, and more…

These sessions will offer a wealth of professional development opportunities for educators in all stages of their career, and I hope that you will be able to join us in Athens for the 2025 ISC to share, collaborate, and learn from expert clinicians in these respective fields.

The day before the ISC begins, I am fortunate that my school district (Fulton County Schools) is sponsoring an educational session with one of the soloists who will be performing at the ISC, trumpet player Jens Lindemann. Jens is an internationally known artist and educator. I would like to open this session up to any band division director who is able and would like to bring trumpet players to this event. It is free of charge to all attendees, and you can register to attend with your trumpet students via the QR code below:

Milton High School Auditorium

13025 Birmingham Highway Milton, GA 30004

Wednesday, January 29th

6pm-9pm

Happy Holidays to all, and I look forward to seeing everyone in Athens in January!

Orchestra

Krissi Davis

Greeting Colleagues!

I trust that your first semester was both fulfilling and productive. As we wrap up this semester, I’d like to extend my congratulations to Bo Na and The Westminster Middle School Orchestra for their upcoming performance at the Midwest Clinic. If you’ll be attending the Midwest event this year, I encourage you to support their performance and celebrate their achievement.

After winter break, please make plans to attend the GMEA In-Service conference in January. We have an awesome lineup of performances and sessions that you do not want to miss. Congratulations to the groups performing at In-Service conference this year. They are:

Harrison HS Chamber Orchestra

John's Creek HS Chamber Orchestra

Lambert HS Chamber Orchestra

Hightower Trail MS Orchestra

Simpson Middle Orchestra

Flat Rock MS Orchestra

Urban Youth Harp Ensemble

As we gear up for All-State 2025, I would like to take moment to thank all the organizers who tirelessly work to make AllState a success in addition to running their own respective programs: Stephen Lawrence-Carroll, Amanda McClellan, Bo Na, Sam Lowder, Patricia Cleaton, Jacob Hood, Rae Litowich, and David Metrio. A very special thank you to Jessica Smith for graciously taking over hosting duties for the 2nd Round Audition at Riverwood International Charter School.

As we approach the busy holiday concert season and wrap up the first semester, I want to wish everyone a relaxing and well-deserved holiday break. Please remember to take a moment for yourself during this time to recharge. As always, if you have any questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out to me via email at orchestra@gmea.org. I look forward to seeing you all at the In-Service conference!

Choral Michelle Austin

As choral music educators, we know the incredible joy that comes from guiding our students through musical growth and self-exploration. Each rehearsal is an opportunity for our studentsand us - to explore new ways of music making. However, today’s students come with different perspectives, challenges, and learning styles than those of even just a few years ago. This evolution of our classrooms invites us to adapt our teaching approaches to meet them where they are and to foster a supportive, engaging learning environment.

Our upcoming In-Service Conference is a great time to connect, share ideas, and learn together. It is not too late to register! You can find information about this year’s conference on the GMEA website. Let us embrace this opportunity to support each other in becoming even more effective teachers for today’s singers.

In addition to conference sessions, we have some outstanding performance choirs who will be sharing their talents with us at First Baptist Church Athens.

Thursday Evening

Autrey Mill Middle School 8th Grade Chorus

Lassiter High School Tenor-Bass Chorus

New Manchester High School Jaguar Singers

Mill Creek High School Mastery Chorus

Columbus State University Schwob Singers

Friday Evening

Cherokee Bluff Middle School 7th/8th Grade Chorus

South Forsyth Middle School Advanced Treble Chorus

Heritage High School Chorale (Conyers)

Creekview Camerata Treble

Georgia State University Singers

Saturday Morning

Bay Creek Middle School Treble Chorus

Heritage High School Chamber Choir (Ringgold)

Berry College Tenor-Bass Choir

All-State Reading Chorus

I wrote this in last year’s Winter Issue, but still feel strongly of its importance: one thing I love about the GMEA choral community is the strong support we offer each other, both in our work and interpersonally. This work can take a lot out of us, but we do not have to do it alone. Check in on your choral colleagues before semester’s end. Ask them how things are going, both in their classroom and outside of their job. This is a small gesture that could mean a lot to a director who is struggling right now.

Wishing you all the best on your upcoming winter concerts and Large Group Performance Evaluations!

Elementary Letricia

Henson

Gratitude and Making Music

Greetings GMEA Elementary Directors,

As I reflect on the start of the Fall 2024 school year, I’m struck by how many unexpected challenges have affected our GMEA family. From the tragic shooting at Apalachee High School in Barrow County to the Bio Lab fire in Conyers and the devastation caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene, this has been anything but a typical start to the year for many of you.

Yet, despite it all, you have persevered. You’ve continued to pour into others, filling their buckets, even when your own may be running low. I hope you remember to take the time to fill your own bucket, too.

Thank you for registering for events, managing countless responsibilities, and finding ways to make things happen even when the workload feels overwhelming. GMEA deeply appreciates your unwavering commitment and dedication. And thank you to those of you who have taken the time to send a kind email or message. Those unexpected moments of encouragement truly mean the world, especially amidst the demands of major projects.

As we navigate this year together, I hope these four ways to fill your bucket bring you a bit of unexpected joy:

1. Take time to reconnect with a music colleague- talk about music or collaborate on a new project.

2. Make time in your music classroom for a gratitude moment- The students will gain time to appreciate each other and you for allowing them to share positive messages.

3. Reflect on three happy moments to write about each day. We should all have at least three, but you will probably have more!

4. Remember your passion- play your instrument, write a song, or just sing out loud.

In the months ahead, we’re excited to welcome both familiar and new faces at our annual Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus and the In-Service Conference in Athens. We can’t wait to see you there and hope you enjoy the fantastic sessions led by Elementary Directors from across the state. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at elementary@gmea.org with any questions. And remember—fill up your bucket because you are amazing!

Musically yours,

Division News

College

Josh Byrd

Happy Winter! I hope that everything is well with you, your students, and your classes. As our In-Service Conference approaches, I wanted to put our College Division Meeting on your radar. We will meet in Grand Hall 1 from 10:00-11:00 am on Friday, January 31, as well as hold a drop-in from 4:30-5:30 in the same location. This will be the first time we’ve had a meeting like this in quite some time, and I look forward to hearing everyone’s ideas regarding “all things College Division.”

After the meeting we have three fantastic presentations from Tamara Dworetz (Georgia State University), Brandon Meeks (Kennesaw State University), and Nicholas Williams (University of Georgia). In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me about any ideas, topics, etc. That you would like to discuss at the meeting, even if you are unable to attend. The goal is to increase engagement in our division; we would love to hear from you either in person or virtually. I hope that you all had a great fall semester; see you in Athens!

Historian

Matt Koperniak

Have you visited the GMEA History website recently? Over 150 artifacts were added this semester at www.gmea.org/history. This new content includes:

• 1922 newspaper article listing the conference program of the first Department of Music of the Georgia Education Association (GEA)

• 1931 newspaper article describing the first AllState Chorus

• 1958 adjudication sheet from the National Interscholastic Music Activities Commission, used for Band Festival & Large Group Performance Evaluation until 2011

• 1960 All-State program as part of GEA annual conference

• 1970 letter from GMEA to GEA regarding the formal integration

• 1970 Convention Program including Jimmy Carter as guest speaker for the choral division

Do you have older items that can be scanned and added to the website? If so, please contact me at koperniak@gmail com. Our goal is to make our history accessible for all to explore. Best wishes for a happy holiday season and see you in Athens for our 2025 In-Service Conference!

Guitar Caryn Volk

Our program is ramping up in preparation for our busy fall/ winter concert season, and we have trained some students to serve as section leaders, music librarians, attendance clerks, and general assistants. We work diligently with our student leaders to guide them in serving their peers— indeed many of us served in the same positions! We earned our teachers’ trust and proved that we could serve as leaders and mentors.

As teachers, we draw on those same skills—decisionmaking, foresight, and planning—to shape the direction of our student ensembles and the actions that support their growth. Leadership is at the heart of teaching, every single day.

But there is another call to leadership that often goes unanswered—the role of the teacher as a peer leader: to teach, to share, and to represent colleagues within the professional community. Embracing these responsibilities and the risks they entail isn’t so different from the roles many of us held as student leaders. The transition to adulthood simply adds a new dimension—the power of choice in how we lead and serve.

There is a growing need for teachers who are willing to step up, make decisions, and contribute to the growth and support of their colleagues. You might feel that you lack the talent, training, or experience to take on a leadership role—but this uncertainty can be overcome with a shift in perspective. The same confidence and determination you use to make instructional decisions for your students are powerful assets that can inspire and guide your peers as well.

Now is the time to turn your intention into action and take the first step toward leadership. Start small, in a way that feels comfortable, and build your confidence from there. Whether at the school, district, state, or national level, there is a place for you to make an impact. In just a few months, we will come together again at the GMEA 2025 In-Service Conference, where you’ll see your peers in action—serving as presenters, hosts, presiders, chairs, and officers. Why not imagine yourself in one of those roles? This could be your moment to lead!

All the best for the rest of your fall semester, and we look forward to seeing the piano and guitar students at the Giocoso Guitar Festival in March 2025!

Multi-Cultural Awareness

Maria Menendez

Programming multicultural music gives students a chance to explore different cultures and perspectives through music. By including a variety of musical styles, we can help students connect with the world beyond their own experiences, build empathy, and appreciate the richness of global traditions. Multicultural music also strengthens their musical skills while showing them how music can bring people together, no matter where they come from. As you program music this year, consider some of these

Retired Reflections

Jay Wucher, Retired Members Chair

It is an honor and a pleasure to highlight Dr. Richard Bell in this edition of the Georgia Music News. Dr. Bell continues to remain active in GMEA. During his career, he served as our state president and held several other leadership positions for our organization. He is a role model for all of us who know him, whether it be as a friend, colleague, husband, father or grandfather. Please enjoy reading about this cherished member of our profession.

Where did you grow up and go to school?

I grew up in Thomaston, Georgia. When our string orchestra program was discontinued as I began high school, I began traveling to Atlanta each Saturday to be a part of the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. I also attended Brevard Music Center for several summers. I attended Florida State for my undergraduate and masters programs and the University of Georgia for my DMA.

Tell us anything you would like for us to know about your interests beyond music (friends, family, hobbies…)

I enjoy running, yard work, and spending time with my grandchildren.

Where did you work up until you retired from full time teaching?

I taught string orchestra in Clayton County for 23 years and then began the string program in Henry County, where I taught for 7 years. After retiring from public school teaching, I taught at Clayton State for 10 years.

Since retiring from teaching full time, what have you been doing?

In addition to teaching part-time at Clayton State, I am currently in my 35th year as the conductor of the Southern Crescent Symphony and in my 18th year as the music minister at the First Baptist Church of Morrow, where I recently began a senior adult community choir. I also spend considerable time mentoring young string teachers.

What advice do you have for those who are considering becoming music teachers?

High school students should get experience in small teaching

situations such as leading sectionals and working with younger students. In addition to getting all you can from the classroom experience, college students need to take advantage of every opportunity to interact with teachers in the field – observing, questioning and emulating them as you begin to find your own path as a teacher. This is important work and we need you as our next generation of music educators!

What advice do you have for those who are retired or are about to retire from teaching music?

Find a purpose for your time. As retired music teachers we are in a unique position to impact our communities by fostering community music making and staying involved in the schools by mentoring young teachers. I encourage you to channel your wealth of knowledge and experience in these two areas.

JAN 23, 25

SYMPHONIES 1 + 3

JAN 30 / FEB 1, 2

SYMPHONIES 2 + 5

FEB 27 / MAR 1

SYMPHONIES 6 + 8

Nathalie Stutzmann and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra are set to deliver a sonic tour of Beethoven’s most memorable and acclaimed works, including all 9 symphonies— with his iconic Ninth Symphony being performed in the Fall.

MAR 6, 8, 9

SYMPHONIES 4 + 7

APR 3, 4 TRIPLE CONCERTO

MAY 8, 10, 11 MISSA SOLEMNIS

$10 TICKETS FOR EDUCATORS

aso.org/educators

2025 In-Service Conference Keynote Speaker

Mickey Smith Jr.

Inspiring Growth and Transformation in Music Education

GMEA is excited to welcome Mickey Smith Jr. as the keynote speaker for the 2025 GMEA In-Service Conference. His passion for music education, coupled with his remarkable ability to inspire both students and educators, makes him the perfect fit to set the tone for an outstanding conference. Mickey’s approach to teaching—centered on empowerment, relationships, and the transformative power of music—has impacted countless lives, and we look forward to hearing his insights as he joins us for this exciting event. Mr. Smith’s journey is a testament to the power of passion, resilience, and connection. Below, we share more about his background and achievements.

Educator. Encourager. Those are just two of the words that describe the Southwest Louisiana native Mickey Smith Jr. In the course of his career, Mickey has grown multiple band programs in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida by over 500%, encompassing over half of their school populations. Upon moving to Florida his program had 100% of the school population! Currently, Mickey teaches band to 4th through 8th grade students at The King's Academy. There the program has seen increased interest and growth with the new Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Concert Band, and Jr. Jazz Band. Throughout his nearly two-decade career, he has developed and grown not only band programs, but most importantly, he has helped young people realize what they are capable of through music. This 7-time Teacher of the Year and GRAMMY Music Educator Award Recipient believes in promoting education and the educators across the globe who make it possible. Mickey Smith Jr. has shared his unique combination of message and music with thousands of students as a teacher, all-state conductor, and clinician. In addition, he has taken his systems of joy for teaching to hundreds of educational conferences, school district meetings, and leadership development stages across North America sharing his "Keep On Going" approach. Mickey has extensive experience teaching in Title I, urban, suburban, rural, public, as well as private schools. Throughout the years, Mickey's classrooms have been filled with students from a variety of backgrounds. There are some who have experienced trauma and adverse circumstances, but they

have all been provided with the opportunity to find greater meaning and purpose through music. Mickey's classroom experience encourages students to do more than make music, but also to "discover their personal sound." In addition to teaching, he empowers educators to build genuine relationships with students in order to discover the unique sound of every child in their class. Throughout Mickey's career, he has experienced firsthand that every child is just one sound adult away from achieving success. Mickey was that very student that benefited because someone believed in who he could be. He believes that modern day teaching is a relationship-based approach, and that more than ever teaching cannot simply be about the subject matter, but also about showing students that they matter. In Mickey Smith Jr.'s classroom, his mission is to engage, educate, and empower every learner to excellence through music, so that every child feels loved, valued, and wanted. Mickey enjoys being a part of the Palm Beach community. West Palm Beach is now home to Mickey, Eugenia, and their two children, William and Mikayla. You can learn more about Mickey Smith Jr. by visiting his website, mickeysmithjr.com.

Dr. Lynne Gackle

Prof. Emeritus

Baylor University

Week 1: June 2-6

Col. Donald Schofield Commander & Conductor

US Air Force Band

Week 1: June 2-6

Dr. Anton Armstrong

Harry R. & Thora H. Tosdal Prof. of Music

St. Olaf College

Week 2: June 9-13

Dr. Linda Moorhouse

Prof. & Director of School of Music

University of Illinois

Week 2: June 9-13

The Effective Evaluation of Music Teachers

Dr. Jim Arnold

Of the 14,375 responsibilities school administrators struggle with every day, the effective evaluation of band, orchestra and chorus teachers should not create confusion or a sense of dread. The seemingly exotic and esoteric terms of those subjects, in much the same manner as AP Calculus or Chemistry, can be intimidating, misleading and confusing for those that allow terms, lexicology and mistaken assumptions to distract them from what essentially comes down to, when all is said and done, the recognition of good teaching when you see it.

Many teachers, regardless of the subject, often misunderstand their purpose and objectives when first beginning to teach. I went into my band room woefully unprepared and unaware of the actual work of teaching, and was hesitant to let my colleagues know I was unaware of the ins and outs of just what I was supposed to be doing. I was reluctant to ask questions or observe others to try to learn what I didn’t know, and was also under the mistaken assumption that music was unlike any other subject, and effective teaching in my chosen subject of music differed from effective teaching in any other subject in much more than just topic and venue. An experienced, patient and knowledgeable mentor teacher can resolve many of these misconceptions for newbies, and the use of planning times to observe other teachers (good and bad) of every other subject, along with a detailed analysis of what is seen, can present opportunities for growth and improvement.

One of the first things I learned from talking and observing others was the importance of rituals and established procedures to efficient and effective teaching. Experienced teachers call these “housekeeping.” When observing music teachers, watch carefully for these keys:

1) Do students go directly to their seats or assigned places after entering the room?

2) How much time is enough for instrument assembly, music procurement and seating?

3) Is roll taken without repeated exhortations for quiet, are the tasks for the day clearly displayed and are confusion and disorder and volumes kept to a minimum?

4) Is the room clean and set up before students enter?

5) Does the teacher greet students at the door as they enter?

6) Do students understand the procedures for backpacks, water bottles, cell phones, earphones and food?

7) Are behavioral expectations for the class well established and observed by students (and not just written on a sign)?

How the class begins is often a key as to how the class will proceed and conclude. When the teacher stands at the front of the class expectantly, begins to speak or gives a clear signal to the class that “we are now in session” are students attentive and ready to begin? The same expectations administrators have for core curricular classes should be applied to music classes. The vocabulary and specialized techniques and skills required may seem strange and mystical, but good teaching should be recognizable regardless of the subject.

One of the keys for successful and effective instruction is the voice level of the teacher. While volume is sometimes necessary as a result of the size of the classroom and the instruments involved, inflection and tone are keys to successful communication with students. Anger and frustration from the teacher are quickly noted by students. Remember they are experts at reading teacher moods, expectations and body language. They are also gifted at resolving or escalating teacher frustration levels at will. Anger is never a prime motivator for students or teachers. A combination of patience, resolve and empathy - easy to say but difficult to develop - can defray many situations before they escalate. A frustrated teacher quickly loses control - and respect - in a classroom situation. Students that are constantly berated, yelled at or subjected to sarcasm and demeaning comments will not be there for long.

In addition to writing an outline or plan of the day on the board, music teachers should have a detailed list of the specifics they intend to teach and/or correct during class, and should ideally identify beforehand musical spots, techniques, concepts and ideas for attention. If they are not using such a list, you might suggest they record each day’s lesson to give them material to review and list in preparation for the next day’s class time. Specificity in music is just as important as specificity in every other subject. Effective communication in classroom teaching is another important element of observational focus. General responses, observations that lack specificity, (e.g. “that’s good” or “we really need to work on that” or “that’s really bad” are useless if not counterproductive.

Notice also the posture, instrument position, music placement (stand height) and warm up routines used at the beginning of class. Unnecessarily loud tones or warmups may indicate both a lack of understanding or a lack of instruction from the instructor on proper personal warm-

up techniques and procedures. After the class begins, does the teacher follow an established pattern for group warm up and tuning or leave these to chance?

Evaluators with little or no musical training can determine for themselves whether or not:

1. Students are playing at an appropriate volume with no instrument standing out or dominating the group.

2. Errors are noticed and corrected in detail.

3. There is a continual emphasis on the fundamentals of tone production and instrument/body position.

4. Individual instruments, sections and groups play or sing in tune with each other; (if it sounds bad to you it probably does to everyone else, too).

5. There is specificity in directions and instructions; (i.e., trombones check your 5th position intonation with each other; trumpets, low D requires the 3rd valve key extension; clarinets, throat tones are generally sharp - here’s what to do, etc.).

6. Students are attentive and responsive to the director’s instructions.

7. Poor behavior is not ignored. What is not corrected is being taught.

Student comprehension and musical progress is the goal, and having students truly understand and retain the information presented is key to successful performance, whether individual or collective. The difference is that in most subjects the performance is judged by student performance on teacher made tests; in music the performance is often seen or heard by parents and the public at concerts or events. Speaking of events, evidence of an objective grading system - not one based on attendance at after school or evening competitions or eventswould also be an important item

for administrative consideration. If the grading system in use is not written, then you can just about guarantee there isn’t an objective one available. Ask for a written copy if you need to see one. If an evaluator can’t see it, chances are students can’t either.

Setting classroom rules and encouraging appropriate behaviors can improve learning and student progress. One of the most important observable traits is modeling the behaviors you expect students to use. Don’t think students don’t notice whether or not the teacher observes the same rules set for

students; of course they do. Classroom rules should be short, simply stated and few in number. The amount of attention students pay to lists of rules decreases exponentially with every posted rule past #3. Teachers with long lists of rules are usually the ones that think they need them; they generally do.

How teachers deal with behavioral issues during class time is also an important item. Effective teachers can clear up many minor issues with a look or with a quick “see me after class” instead of taking up valuable teaching time for the entire group. Teachers that spend class time dealing with minor issues can often turn a minor problem into a major one by confrontational behavior in the presence of other students.

Lesson plans, as in every other subject, should be expected. Generalized, repetitious terms in those plans are a tip-off that daily, weekly and yearly planning are not an important part of a teacher’s skill set. “Winging it” is often seen as standard operating procedure for some classes, and should be tolerated no more in music classes than in any others. Many directors use individual student performances of short musical phrases, sometimes 2 or 3 times per week, for checks on student practice and progress. The teacher/ conductor/director should have a detailed list of musical objectives written for the class, and the musical pieces covered that day written on the board before class begins.

A yearly calendar of event planning is a must for music classes because of the performance requirements expected. Teachers that begin with the end in mind and work backwards from the end of school to the present can help themselves (and students and parents) be prepared for performances and events. Knowing your repertoire 5 weeks before a performance, for example, helps students prepare along the way instead of waiting until the last moment to practice. A calendar should also show dates for ordering buses for trips, booster meetings, report card dates, school activities and beginning and ending dates for every fund-raising activity. This practice also models professional expectations and behaviors and serves to limit the pandemonium of last-minute emergency notice of practices or performances.

Student enrollment for the tenure of the teacher should also be charted. Drops in student participation over time are sometimes indicative of student perspectives

of teaching effectiveness. Students will always vote with their feet for elective subjects, and individual and collective motivation is the responsibility of the teacher. Few students will choose to be a part of what they see as a failing or low-level group. As a general rule, any volunteer student organization that students do not feel meets their needs will not be successful from a participatory POV. The reasons for this are all a direct result of the teaching and motivational abilities of the person in charge.

Administrators should also investigate whether or not scheduling issues or conflicts are negatively affecting student participation. Since music is a co-curricular subject, scheduling conflicts, especially in smaller schools, can create insurmountable issues with student participation.

Remember that remediation for new and struggling teachers is the first goal. Assigning an experienced mentor from the start can quickly help a young director turn classroom issues into teaching strengths. Asking experienced music educators and/or master teachers in other subjects to contact and visit a new music teacher and provide hints and teaching tips is another way to build on strengths and correct weaknesses.

Plato, on the importance of music in the curriculum stated “Music is a moral law. It gives a soul to the Universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, gaiety and life to everything. It is the essence of order and leads to all that is good and just and beautiful.” The importance of music in the lives of our schools and our students cannot be overstated, and it is our administrative duty to ensure our students receive the finest instruction possible in every subject. Your school, your community and your kids deserve the best in everything. Especially music.

Dr. Jim Arnold is a veteran of 50 years in public education, serving as a classroom teacher, assistant principal, principal, college professor and school superintendent. He currently lives in Midland, GA with his wife Betsy. He is a recovering band director, an active musician and has published 7 books available on Amazon. His articles cover a wide variety of topics and may be found at Substack Home - Docs by Doc.

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COMMITTED TO THEIR FUTURE IS OUR MISSION.

PRESENTERS

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Victoria Alvarez

PRESENTERS

• Bring a Friend to Choir Day: Reframing and Recruiting for Your Choral Program

Victoria Alvarez is completing her 6th year of teaching at Grovetown Middle School. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education and Masters of Music in Choral Conducting from Mercer University. She also holds an Education Specialist in Advanced Educational Studies with an emphasis in P-12 Music from Augusta University. Victoria currently serves as the District 10 Choral Chair and is an active member of GMEA and ACDA. She is honored to be selected as Grovetown Middle School’s 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year.

Juana P. Alzaga

• They come by Buses, Carpools and Taxis: The Buford Highway Orchestra Program

Juana P. Alzaga began her teaching career in 1978, establishing the orchestra programs at Miami Edison MS and HS in Miami, FL. In 1985, she joined the Gwinnett County Schools orchestra faculty, developing the orchestra programs at Pinckneyville MS, Summerour MS and Norcross HS. From 1988-1994, Mrs. Alzaga conducted the Gwinnett County Festival Orchestra (Kendall Orchestra). Between the 2012- 2019 school year, Mrs. Alzaga was conductor for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO), Associate Conductor for Emory Junior Chamber Orchestra and a visiting Orchestra Director at the Paideia School.

Trained as a violinist and orchestra conductor, Mrs. Alzaga was selected to the North Carolina Conductor’s institute Discovery Program under the direction of Donald Portnoy and Harold Faberman. She further her conducting studies at the Julliard Conductor’s Institute in New York. A sought-after clinician/adjudicator, she has served as guest conductor for the Fulton County Honor Orchestra, Gwinnett County Tapestry, Cobb County Schools and other Metro Atlanta organizations. Mrs. Alzaga is an active member of Georgia Music Educators and American String Teacher Association.

Mrs. Alzaga has received several accolades. Most recently in 2022 she received the GA ASTA Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2023 Telemundo Community Heroe Award. Her love for children and equity in education has been her driving force for more than 35 years. After her retirement in 2021, she founded the Buford Highway Orchestra Project, serving elementary school children from underserved communities. The program was chosen by The Latino Broadcasting Network (PBS) for a documentary which highlights her lifetime work and will premier in Atlanta 2025.

Dr. Jacob Augsten

• Leading the Charge: Fostering Student Leadership in Choral Communities

Georgia native Jacob Augsten is a conductor, teacher, and singer dedicated to building community through collaborative choral artistry. With a love for the intersection of voice building and choral art, Augsten is also a professional vocalist who regularly sings with choral ensembles throughout Atlanta and the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex; he was a featured bass soloist for the “Bach’s Lunch” concert series in Dallas, Texas, and recently sang the baritone solos in Brahms’ Requiem with the Dallas Symphony Chorus.

Augsten currently serves as an Assistant Professor and the Director of Choral Activities at Reinhardt University, where he conducts the Reinhardt University choirs and teaches conducting and secondary choral methods. Augsten holds the Bachelor of Music Education from Clayton State University and graduate degrees in choral conducting from Georgia State University and the University of North Texas.

Anthony Baglio

• Jam Session: Spice up your acoustic guitar ensemble!

• Techniques for the Advanced Guitar Ensemble

Anthony Baglio is a graduate of the University of Georgia and holds a bachelor's degree in music education. During his time at UGA, he studied classical guitar performance and education under Daniel Bolshoy and Philip Snyder. Since then, he served as the orchestra and guitar director in the Central Gwinnett cluster at Jordan Middle School from 2018-2021. Anthony Baglio has taken over the guitar program at Duluth Middle School in 2021 which currently has over 280 students enrolled. He is continuously seeking ways to grow his and others' programs and spread they joy of learning to play the guitar.

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Marc Baldwin

• Getting with the Program: How to bring karaoke crooners, SoundCloud druids, playground producers, woodshed shredders, praise-band pianists, and BandLab lab rats out of the shadows and into your program's limelight.

Hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina, Marc Baldwin has been performing, producing and educating for over twenty years. Growing up with rock, jazz and hiphop influences, Marc performed around the Southeast until deciding to take his music knowledge to the next level by entering the University of North Carolina at Asheville (UNC-A). At UNCA he received a Bachelor of Arts in Jazz Performance/ Composition. Studying complex music theory made Marc into a proficient musician and moving to Atlanta was a natural chord progression. Since becoming an Atlien Marc has had the honor of working with many influential companies, like the Atlanta Hawks as the NBA’s first live in game band! He also created good vibrations for Sony Records, the Atlanta Braves and the Jazz at Lincoln Center. Marc produces high quality music and sound design through his production company, Musical Mindz. He has had a multitude of song placements on several TV networks, created soundscapes for gaming companies, and provided corporate audio for Georgia Pacific and Home Depot. And you can’t forget the numerous local artists Musical Mindz has inspired over the years. Baldwin is also an avid endorser of music education. For the past fifteen years, he has been teaching guitar with the The Atlanta International School and Music Technology at SAE Institute. His education endeavors include being the director of the Day Jams Rock Day Camp as well as traveling the United States, South America and Africa with the American Music Abroad program, which brings creative awareness to diverse cultures regarding American music and society. Marc recently earned his Masters in Music Technology from Southern Utah University.

Sarah Ball

• Habits of a Successful String Class

Sarah Ball has been teaching orchestra for twenty seven years, currently at North Gwinnett Middle School in Sugar Hill, Ga. The NGMS orchestra program has 575 students enrolled in grades 6-8. The 8th grade orchestra was selected to perform at GMEA in January (2012 and 2024), and received the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award in 2009 and 2015. In December 2013, the NGMS Honor Orchestra was one of three middle school orchestras selected internationally to perform in Chicago, Illinois at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and has performed at Carnegie Hall. The NGMS music department was awarded the inaugural Exemplary Program Award from GMEA (2017-18).

Mrs. Ball holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Appalachian State University and a Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University. She was named the NGMS Teacher of the Year for 2011-12 and was selected as the middle school Teacher of the Year for Gwinnett County. In 2018, Mrs. Ball was chosen as the GA ASTA String Educator of the year and was awarded with the Elizabeth A. H. Green award by the American String Teacher’s Association in March of 2023. She has served as state treasurer and president for GA-ASTA, has served on the national board as member at large, and is currently the K-12 orchestra curriculum committee chair. Mrs. Ball was the GMEA Orchestra Division Chair, and has also served as Vice President for All-State events. Mrs. Ball has presented professional development sessions at the school, county, and national level.

Jeffrey Bauman

• Intentional Vocal warm-ups for Choirs

Professor of Music Jeffrey Bauman joined the Young Harris College faculty in 1992. He is the Director of Choral and Vocal Activities, directs the Concert Choir and Chamber Choir, teaches applied voice and conducting, and serves as Chair of the Music department. Choirs under his direction have sung in some of the greatest European venues and performed for ACDA and GMEA conventions. A life member of ACDA, Professor Bauman serves as clinician for choral events throughout Georgia and is a certified head adjudicator for performance evaluation. Jeff recently served on the national choral advisory council for NAfME, including two years as chair of that committee.

A former NATS winner, Jeff has performed leading operatic roles throughout the southeast and regularly appears in concert and on the rosters of professional choral organizations. Singers from his voice studio regularly win and place at regional and national singing competitions. In addition to these responsibilities, Mr. Bauman is the Director of Music at the First United Methodist Church of Union County where he has served for twenty-six years. He resides in Blairsville with his lovely wife Diane.

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NGING LIVES PRESENTERS

Dr. Julia L. Baumanis

• Trailblazers on the PATH: Supporting Pride, Affirmation, Togetherness, and Happiness for Women Band Directors

Dr. Julia L. Baumanis is Assistant Professor of Practice and Associate Director of Bands at Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of the Arts, and is the first female band director in the university’s history. Her duties include serving as the conductor of the Rutgers Symphony Band, assistant director of the Marching Scarlet Knights, director of pep bands, and teaching courses in conducting and instrumental music education. Prior to this appointment, Dr. Baumanis served as the assistant director of bands and director of athletic bands at the University of Central Missouri.

A graduate of the Florida State University College of Music, Dr. Baumanis received her bachelor’s in instrumental music education, her master’s degree in instrumental conducting, and her PhD in music education and instrumental conducting. Prior to graduate school, she taught public school in south Florida as the associate director of bands and orchestras at J.P. Taravella High School and the director of orchestras at Ramblewood Middle School.

An active performer, educator, and researcher, Dr. Baumanis has presented her research nationally, including at the NAfME Research Symposium, the CBDNA National Conference, FMEA, TMEA, MMEA, and the Desert Skies Music Education Research Symposium. Most recently, her research has focused on developing a baton that records data from a conductor’s expressive gestures. She hopes to implement this technology in the conducting classroom as a technological tool to assist beginning conductors in their craft.

Dr. Baumanis is artistic director and conductor of the New Brunswick Chamber Orchestra, a professional orchestra that has worked to reframe classical music through intentional programming and performance placement.

Christian Bigliani

• Warming-Up to Improv: Audiation-Focused Warm-Ups

Colombian-born pianist and educator, Christian Bigliani, is the Choral Director at Vickery Creek Middle School. He is also a current PhD student studying Music Teaching and Learning at the Eastman School of Music. Before Vickery Creek, Christian was the Choral at Cambridge High School and the Choral and Theatre director at DeSana Middle School in Alpharetta, GA where he was named Teacher of The Year in 2018-2019. Christian started his musical training at the tender age of 8 years old and went on to receive a B.M. in Piano Performance from Shorter College and a M.M. in Music Teaching and Learning and Piano Accompanying from the Eastman School of Music. In addition to teaching, Christian sings with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Choruses, which has included performances at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. Passionate about creativity and musicianship in the music classroom, Christian has presented on Pop Song Cover Projects and Folk Dancing at the GMEA In-Service Conference, NYSSMA Winter Conference, and the Gordon Institute For Music Learning International Conference. In his spare time, Christian loves to play piano for local choirs, or can be found searching for the next binge-worthy Netflix series to watch with his partner, Kevin and their cat, Jessica.

Faye Boyer

• The Instrument Petting Zoo: A Hands-On Exploration Experience

Having toured 16 countries and 16 U.S. states as a singing stage actress, Faye Lewis Boyer taught college voice, plus high school and middle school chorus, before falling in love with general music. The compelling call to lay early foundations in music literacy is an all-consuming passion that set the standard for an innovative, inspiring and fruitful career in elementary music education. In addition to teaching K-2 music at Lake Joy Primary School. “Ms. Faye” currently serves as GMEA District 11 Elementary Chair, Houston County School District’s Primary Music Lead Teacher, New Teacher Support Coach and M&M (Mentors and Mentees) Coordinator. The LJPS music room has been transformed into a Music Collaboratory which is evident of Ms. Boyer’s commitment to differentiated learning. The idea of hosting a Music Instrument Petting Zoo was born from an overwhelming desire to provide more student-CENTERed music experiences with young musicians for which she was recently recognized Flint Energies as a Bright Ideas reward recipient.

Adam Brooks

• Collaboration is Key: Teaching Music as a Team!

Adam Brooks, in his 21st year of music education, spent 19 years as the Director of Bands and Music Technology at North Atlanta High School. Before this, he was the Assistant Director of Bands at Booker T. Washington High School. Brooks now serves as the Fine and Performing Arts Instructional Coach for Atlanta Public Schools. Brooks earned his B.A. in Music Education from BethuneCookman University and his M.A. in Wind Band Conducting from Reinhardt University. Brooks is currently finishing up an Ed.S. in Music Education at Piedmont University. During his tenure at North Atlanta, Brooks has been named the Coca Cola Educator of Distinction, the Yale Music Educator of Distinction, STAR Teacher, Teacher of the Year, and most recently, the recipient of the Barry Manilow Music Project Teacher Award. Brooks is an active guest clinician and conductor and has presented Professional Development sessions with GMEA, Birmingham City Schools, The Conn Selmer Institute, and Music For All. Brooks loves spending time with his wife LaToya, and 3 daughters, Aria, Skylar, and Kai.

PRESENTERS

Aaron Brown

• What's THAT Noise? Basic Guitar Maintenance & Repair Guidance for Teachers

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Aaron Brown got his musical start playing percussion in the 6th grade band, and fell in love with making music. As a songwriter/ producer/guitarist/drummer/singer/utility infielder, Aaron wrote, recorded and performed music throughout the southeast. Now the owner/manager of Town Center Music in Suwanee, GA, Aaron gets to share his love of making music with thousands of people per year. TCM has become well-known for its' guitar repair department as well as equipping guitar class students (and players of all skill levels) with the perfect gear to spark their own love of music.

Erika Brown

• GMEA and Beyond: How to organize and execute your own large-scale performance

Mrs. Erika Brown is the music specialist at Big Shanty Intermediate School in Kennesaw, GA where she teaches 3rd – 5th general music and directs the Eagle Chorus, Little Eagle Chorus, and the Drumming Eagles, the school’s drum ensemble. Before moving to Georgia, she taught in San Antonio and Pasadena, Texas and in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mrs. Brown received her Bachelor of Music Education from Louisiana State University, Master of Educational Leadership and Technology from Kennesaw State University and is an Orff Schulwerk certified educator.

In addition to her teaching duties, she has presented at conferences across Georgia focusing on the integration of STEM/STEAM in the music classroom as well as the connections between drumming and ELA literacy/fluency. Mrs. Brown and Dr. Sampson collaborated on the performance, Playful Elements, that students performed at the 2024 GMEA Inservice Conference.

Mrs. Brown is an elementary music teacher leader for the Cobb County School District, the 2024 GMEA District XII Teacher of the year and is an active member the Georgia Music Educators Association. She is also a member of, the National Association for Music Education, and the American Orff-Shulwerk Association. She passionately believes that every child should have access to a quality music education.

Katie Buckley

• Budget-Friendly Resources for Elementary Music: The Best Things in Life are Free

Katie Buckley is a seventh year general music teacher at Blanchard Elementary School. She has a Bachelor's of Music Education, Choral Concentration from Columbus State University, and is currenty persuing a Master's of Education - Teacher Leadership from her alma mater. Katie Buckley was awarded Teacher of the Year for Blanchard Elementary in October of 2023, and was recognized as a Top Ten Teacher of the Year for Muscogee County School District in Spring of 2024. She also serves on her school's leadership team, directs an after-school chorus, and volunteers in her GMEA division's events throughout the school year. Katie has a passion for serving other teachers by being an advocate and voice for her colleagues, and creating spaces in which teachers' valuable opinions can be heard.

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Dr. Hayes Bunch

• Ensemble Culture and Rehearsals: Back to Basics

Hayes Bunch serves as Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Young Harris College (GA). As a conductor, Bunch has led works and collaborated in rehearsal and performance with Stephen Hartke, Bernard Rands, Zhou Long, and eighth blackbird. He has presented at national and regional conferences of the College Band Directors National Association and served as a guest conductor/clinician/adjudicator for concert, marching, and continuing education events in North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, Missouri, Texas, Michigan, and Tennessee. Bunch has served on the faculty of the University of South Carolina Aiken, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Temple ISD (TX), Interlochen Arts Academy (MI), and Obion County Schools (TN).

Bunch performed as a percussionist under the baton of Leonard Slatkin on the Grammy Award-winning recording of William Bolcom’s Songs of Innocence and Experience, at the Beijing Modern Music Festival in Beijing, China, stateside with the Fountain City Brass Band, Temple Symphony Orchestra, and Temple Jazz Orchestra (TX), Plymouth Symphony (MI), Randy Brecker, Allen Vizzuti, Gordon Goodwin, Bill Watrous, the Tri-State Community Band (GA), and North Georgia Chamber Symphony.

Bunch holds a D.M.A. and M.M. in Conducting from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, studying with Professor Steven D. Davis, an M.M. in Percussion Performance from the University of Michigan, studying with Dr. Michael Udow, and a B.M. in Music Education (K-12 Instrumental) from the University of Tennessee at Martin. Bunch’s professional affiliations include the CBDNA, NAfME, GMEA, Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Tau Beta Sigma, and Kappa Kappa Psi.

Jonathan Burns

• CAN The Connected Arts Network: A Nationwide Movement to Address Diversity & Inclusion

• From Covers to Creation on the Ukulele

• Popular Music Education and Modern Band

Jonathan Burns, a dedicated Music Specialist at Huddleston Elementary School in Fayette County Schools, has been serving since 2018. In his role, he directs Afternoon Music Programs encompassing Chorus, and Modern Band, allowing students to shine throughout the academic year. Jonathan's expertise goes beyond performance, as he carefully plans and executes School-wide and Grade level Music Programs, adding musical touches to celebrations and holidays like Veterans Day and World Dance Celebrations. His commitment to holistic education is reflected in his integration of STEAM principles into the music curriculum, offering students deeper insights through hands-on activities and special projects. Jonathan fosters a warm and nurturing classroom environment, prioritizing SEL practices where learning and student support are central. With a B.A. in Music Education from Columbus State University, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude and as an Honors College Graduate, His network of references includes affiliations with esteemed organizations like the Atlanta Area Orff Chapter, The Atlanta Boy Choir, Southern Crescent Chorale and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

Mikayla Bush

• Using Public/Private Partnerships to Transform Music Education

Mikayla Bush proudly serves as the Music Technology teacher at South Atlanta High School, where she’s dedicated to providing accessible and equitable music education to her community. She leads Hornet Studios, a dynamic program that empowers students with hands-on experience in music production, live show production, DJing, and podcasting.

More than just teaching technical skills, Ms. Bush is passionate about mentoring her students and preparing them for success after high school. Under her leadership, Hornet Studios has become a cornerstone of the school's cultural and educational life. The students have organized and produced everything from music technology recitals and songwriting showcases to a STEAM  project fair and a cross-curricular podcast series.

Hornet Studios is about creating meaningful, real-world experiences that extend learning beyond the classroom. For Ms. Bush, this work is more than just a job—it’s her way of ensuring all students can explore their creativity and develop skills that will serve them for a lifetime.

Colleen Casanova

• Let's Makey Makey Music: Integrating Technology in the General Music Classroom

Colleen Casanova (she/her) has served as the orchestra director at Paul D. West Middle School, director of bands at Sequoyah Middle School, and currently serves as the K-5 general music teacher and director of the elementary band and orchestra at Woodward Elementary School. In addition to her duties as a music teacher at Woodward Elementary, Colleen also serves on the school’s technical support team and as the Student News Team mentor where she composes daily scripts and coaches students on how to conduct professional live-streamed broadcasts. Colleen also provides professional learning opportunities to the Dekalb County School District with her presentations on “Live-streaming on a Budget” as well as supporting new music teachers as a Dekalb County Teacher Support Coach. Colleen’s professional highlights include: being a recipient of the Mr. Holland’s Opus Award, obtaining funding through donations to start Woodward Elementary band and orchestra program in 2022, Brookhaven Rotary Club Teacher of the Year in 2019, and a Dekalb County School District Teacher of the Year in 2020. Colleen holds endorsements in ESOL and Personalized Learning Instruction, and is Gifted Certified. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Education in Instructional Technology that she hopes to use to find innovative ways to teach music and further challenge the creative skills of her students.

PRESENTERS

Jay Champion

• Differentiated Sight-Reading Assignments for Individual Singers using Sight-Reading Factory

Jay Champion has taught chorus, general music, and electronic music composition at Lost Mountain Middle School in Kennesaw since 1998. He is sought after as a clinician, guest conductor, music technology instructor, composer, and arranger. Recognized as a leader in choral music and in the use of technology in the music classroom, Mr. Champion has taught professional courses and presented at state and national conventions. The choral program at Lost Mountain Middle School is among the best in the state. Mr. Champion’s choirs have been invited to perform in various music festivals and universities including Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of South Carolina, the Georgia ACDA Conference, and twice at the GMEA In-Service Conference.

Mr. Champion earned a Bachelor Degrees in Music Education as a voice major and Music Composition from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He earned his Master's Degree in Music Education, and Education Specialist Degree at the University of Georgia. He has performed and recorded with the LSU A Cappella Choir, the Moses Hogan Chorale, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus, the Orpheus Men’s Ensemble, and Coro Vocati. Mr. Champion has enjoyed success in a wide variety of areas of composition and music production. He has written countless arrangements for string quartets, choirs, and orchestras ranging from children’s choirs to professional ensembles. Mr. Champion is a music minister at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Marietta. He lives in Marietta with his wife Evelyn, his sons David, Charlie, and Sam.

Dr. Joshua Cheney

• Choral Music is Collaborative Artistry

Joshua Cheney is Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. He is responsible for the leadership of GWU Choirs, to include the direction of the Concert Choir and Reach Worship. Joshua also teaches Aural Skills, Music Survey, and courses in conducting, voice, and guitar.

Joshua is an active performer and has sung with the North Carolina Master Chorale Chamber Choir, Bel Canto Company, Red Shift, Coro Vocati, and Blue Ridge Consort. Joshua is a regular clinician, adjudicator, and presenter, having directed honor choirs, adjudicated choral festivals, and given lectures at professional conferences throughout the South. Previous appointments include service as the Assistant Professor of Choral Music at Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, Choral Music Educator at John M. Morehead High School in Eden, North Carolina, and Choral Music Educator at Harnett Central Middle School in Angier, North Carolina. He has served in music ministry as the Interim Music Minister for the First Baptist Church of Marion, North Carolina, Interim Music Minister for the First Baptist Church of Asheville, North Carolina, and Assistant Director of Music and Worship at the First United Methodist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Joshua holds the B.A. in Music Education from Campbell University, the M.M. in Choral Conducting and Church Music from Mercer University, and the D.M.A. in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University. Joshua is married to Rebekah Cheney, who serves as the Director of Annual Giving at Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Joshua and Rebekah reside in Asheville, North Carolina.

Linda Cherniavsky

• They come by Buses, Carpools and Taxis: The Buford Highway Orchestra Program

Linda Cherniavsky, a native of Atlanta, attended Northwestern University, and the University of Georgia before earning her Bachelor of Science in music education and Master of Science in music education from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign. She pursued additional musical study at the Aspen Music Festival, studied conducting with Sergiu Celibidache, former General Music Director of the Munich Philharmonic; and earned a Level 1 Endorsement from the Paul Rolland String Pedagogy.

Mrs. Cherniavsky’s career has spanned teaching in a variety of educational settings, leading professional educational communities and organizations, and performing as a freelance violinist. She taught at Community Consolidated School District 21 in Wheeling, IL; Fulton County Public Schools, and The Westminster Schools as well as the Georgia Academy of Music. She also served as Secretary and President of the Georgia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association. Additionally, she worked as Department Chair for two terms and Director of Performing Arts until her retirement. As a professional violinist, Mrs. Cherniavsky performed in the Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Atlanta Chamber Orchestra, Atlanta Opera Orchestra, and Atlanta Pops Orchestra.

She was recognized by Stanford University for Excellence in Teaching and honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia Chapter of the American String Teachers Association in 2019.

Mrs. Cherniavsky maintains professional memberships in the American String Teachers Association, American Federation of Musicians Local 148-462, and National Foundation for Music Education.. She continues to serve as adjudicator, clinician, guest conductor, and mentor at the local, state, and national levels and volunteers for the Buford Highway Orchestra Program.

PRESENTERS

Dr. Nancy Conley

• Educator Burnout is Real: Best Practices to Maintain Your Wellness

Nancy Conley is Associate Professor of Music Education (Orchestra) and Program Coordinator for Music Education at Kennesaw State University, where she teaches coursework in string technique, pedagogy, and literature. Dr. Conley also supervises student teachers, conducts the KSU Philharmonic, and serves as the faculty advisor to the KSU collegiate chapter of the American String Teachers Association.

Dr. Conley received the Ph.D. in music education from Michigan State University, the M.M. in performance from Binghamton University, and the B.M. in music education and performance from Ithaca College. She holds the certification for Music Learning Theory Elementary General Music Level One and has completed teacher training for Suzuki Violin Level One and Two. Before pursuing her doctoral degree, Dr. Conley was a public school educator, teaching elementary, middle, and high school instrumental music for seventeen years.

Before moving to Georgia, Dr. Conley was on faculty at the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York at Potsdam, where she taught string technique and pedagogy classes and directed the National String Project. While at Crane, Dr. Conley developed a Musician Wellness course and the Lab Ensemble, a course that encouraged pre-service music teachers to use improvisation, arranging, and composition in the classroom. Prior to joining the faculty at KSU, Dr. Conley was the Director of Music Education at Clayton State University.

Dr. Conley has presented at regional, national, and international conferences. Her research interests include the use of improvisation as a tool for teaching and life-long learning, musician and music educator wellness, and the retention and mentoring of music educators.

Dr. Ashley Conway

• Keys to Programming Success: Variety, Engagement, & Challenge

Ashley Conway is the Assistant Professor of Music Education and Women’s College Programming Coordinator at Brenau University. At Brenau, she directs the premiere choral ensemble, Vocal Chamber Ensemble, and Spectrum Singers, which involves students, faculty, staff, and community members. She also teaches music education courses, conducting, and aural skills. Dr. Conway’s previous appointments have included public and private schools, colleges and universities, churches, and community music programs in Georgia, Arizona, Kentucky, and North Carolina.

Dr. Conway is a conductor and co-founder for the professional treble choir, Lux, based in Northeast Georgia. She is an active scholar, recently presenting at ACDA and NAfME conferences in Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. She is also an active adjudicator for LGPE events in Georgia and guest conductor for Honor Choir events.

Dr. Conway holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in music education from Brenau University (2008), and the University of Georgia (2010). She earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting from Arizona State University (2020). When Dr. Conway is not enjoying teaching her students and collaborating with colleagues, she loves reading, completing puzzles, and spending time with her loving husband, Bradley, and their two daughters, Mia and Zoe. Her research interests include women’s choirs, their place in the choral hierarchy, and music and hearing loss.

Ann Crouch

• Why Kodály? Building Fluency and Literacy Through Singing Games

Ann Crouch has been a music educator for over 26 years. She has taught chorus, general music and IB Music in public and private schools, and she has served as a children's choir director for several Atlanta churches. Ann earned her BMUS and MMEd from the University of Georgia. She holds Kodály Certification from the University of Hartford; she completed her Orff Certification through the Cobb County School District Course. She has served on the National Board of Directors for the Organization of American Kodály Educators, and she is currently the President of the Kodály Educators of Georgia. In her free time, Ann loves reading, sewing, and spending time with her family.

Rafael Collada

• Can Music Technology Teach Students to Code and Make Music?

Rafael Collada is a recent graduate of Princeton University, majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Music. He is currently a graduate assistant with the Georgia Tech Music Department pursuing a Master's in Music Technology as a GEM Fellow. Rafael is passionate about finding ways to apply computer science to music, helping others learn, and breaking barriers in STEAM education.

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Margaret Curtis

• The Instrument Petting Zoo: A Hands-On Exploration Experience

Margaret Curtis graduated from Reinhardt University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Music Education. Since 2020, she has been the Music Specialist at C.B. Watson Primary School. She loves helping students grow as musicians and helping students see that everyone can make music. In her free time, she likes to learn new songs on ukulele and travel.

Stacy Daniels

• Reaching Excellence: Structuring the Rehearsal for Success

STACY DANIELS is a versatile singer, conductor, and educator. Mr. Daniels currently serves as Choral Music Director at Liberty Middle School in Madison, Alabama. He is also the director of the Huntsville Community Chorus Association Treble Chorale, a vocal ensemble for unchanged voices in grades 6-8. A graduate of the University of Montevallo, Daniels received degrees in Choral Music Education & Vocal Performance. Daniels also received the Master of Music Education with an emphasis in Choral Conducting from The Florida State University. Mr. Daniels serves as President-Elect for the Alabama chapter of the ACDA. Choirs under Daniels’ direction have received superior ratings at State Choral Performance Assessment, adjudicated festivals, and have been invited to be featured ensembles at collegiate honor choir festivals and the AMEA conference. He has also served in many capacities in church music ministries in the Birmingham and Huntsville areas.

Krissi Davis

• CAN The Connected Arts Network: A Nationwide Movement to Address Diversity & Inclusion

Krissi Davis is the Orchestra Director at Midtown High School in Atlanta, Georgia where she was the 2019 Atlanta Public Schools Teacher of the Year. She is also the Georgia Music Educators Association State Orchestra Chair Elect with her term beginning in Fall 2023. She has presented sessions at the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference (NAfME) and The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Orchestras under her direction have performed in Carnegie Hall and the 2018 American String Teachers Association National Orchestra Festival. She holds a bachelor’s degree and masters’ degree in Music Education from Georgia State University, and the University of Georgia respectively and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Music Education at Georgia State University. Her research interests center around Culturally Responsive Teaching in string orchestra settings. Selection as a Connected Arts Network Teacher leader allows Ms. Davis to further her work as a passionate advocator for equitable, quality music education for all students.

Samuel Davis

• Using Public/Private Partnerships to Transform Music Education

Samuel Davis is a Music Technology Teacher at D.M. Therrell High School in the Atlanta Public Schools System. He currently serves as a Fine Arts Support Team Member (FAST Member), responsible for mentoring new teachers, assisting with inventory, curriculum development, planning and implementing student programs, and organizing cluster fine art showcases. He’s fostered the district’s first music technology program, Panther Records, where students engage in enriching experiences that expand their creative skills through audio production, composition, live performance/production, DJ-ing, and podcasts. His students consistently engage within the school and the community, leveraging their talents to gain experience and exposure. Panther Records has been instrumental in building the school’s culture and has become well-known within the community with collaborative projects with the Music Education Group, ATL Park & Recreations, Greenbrier Mall, Atlanta City Council members, and many more partnerships. His goal is to continue building impact by providing a caring, creative, and equitable program immersed in rigorous instruction, preparing students to graduate ready for college, career, and life.

Lesley Dennis

• Movin' and Groovin' My Classroom's Improvin'!

Lesley Dennis taught elementary music for 9 years in Florida and Texas. Dennis earned her BA in Music K-12 from Bethune-Cookman University, and is certified in Orff Schulwerk. She is a life member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc. Dennis is currently Lead Training Specialist for QuaverEd.

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Lanae Dickstein

• Let Me Tell You Something...

Lanae Dickstein is the Director of Bands at Haynes Bridge Middle School in Alpharetta, GA (Fulton County). Prior to her position at Haynes Bridge, Mrs. Dickstein taught for six years as the Director of Bands at Central Middle School in Carrollton, GA (Carroll County). She received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education and a master’s degree in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mrs. Dickstein has been an invited guest speaker at the 2022 Midwest Clinic: International Band, Orchestra, and Music Conference, the 2022 and 2024 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference, the 2023 Tennessee Arts Academy Virtual Winter Retreat, Georgia State University and University of West Georgia music education classes, and other local professional development events.

She enjoys being a guest conductor, most recently with the GMEA District XIII Honor Band. She also serves as an organizer for the Georgia Music Educators Association Middle School All State Band and the District V 6th Grade Honor Band.

Mrs. Dickstein served on the Professional Learning and Growth Implementation Team with the National Association for Music Education and is the administrator of the organization inspiration social media space “Number Your Measures.” She resides happily in Smyrna, GA with her husband Matt and their daughter Evalyn.

Dr. Marie A. Douglas

• Storytellers: Exploring Hip-Hop and Trap Influences in Wind Band Music

Marie A. Douglas, a composer hailing from Atlanta, has garnered widespread acclaim for her exceptional talent in seamlessly blending genres and textures within her captivating concert stage pieces. Her music serves as a profound reflection of her inner-city upbringing and her diverse musical experiences, infusing a genuine and authentic essence into each composition. Douglas draws significant inspiration from the African Diaspora, effectively integrating elements of hip-hop and western art music idioms to create compositions that resonate with a wide range of audiences. With her works captivating concert-goers across the United States and Canada, Marie's artistry extends beyond the stage as she collaborates with various ensembles and lends her creative prowess to the world of film music, as well as hip hop and r&b. As she embarks on a remarkable academic journey, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Memphis under the guidance of distinguished mentors Kamran Ince and Albert Nguyen, her unwavering dedication to sonic innovation continues to shape the evolving tapestry of her artistic expression.

David Dover

• Transatlantic Collaboration: Global Student Connections

David Dover teaches Music Technology at North Gwinnett Middle School in Gwinnett County. He received his Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Music Education from the University of Georgia where he managed the School of Music Computer Lab and studied electronic music with Dr. Leonard Ball. After receiving his degree, Mr. Dover accepted a position as the Director of Bands at Monroe County Middle School where he served for 8 years. During his tenure at MCMS, the program tripled in size and garnered success in both the concert and jazz band idioms. Mr. Dover then accepted a vertical promotion to the Director of Bands at Mary Persons High School in Monroe County. After serving for one year at Mary Persons High School, Mr. Dover and his family moved to the Atlanta area where he served ten years as Assistant Band Director at Marietta High School and later as the band director of the Marietta Sixth Grade Academy. Mr. Dover has spent his tenure as an educator instructing concert bands, jazz bands, percussion ensembles, music appreciation, and American popular music history as well as composing and arranging music for various music programs in the area. Mr. Dover lives in Peachtree Corners with his wife, Megan, and three children, Owen, Olivia, and Charlotte.

Diane Drysdale

• Breezin’ Thru Fingerings for All, Including Solfège, More Fun, Faster Learning – Come Try It!

Diane is a band director and music educator with many years of experience. She has been the recipient of several prestigious awards as conductor and music educator and has had a stellar teaching career from 6th to 12th grades including one of Canada’s top IB schools. When Breezin’ Thru Theory & Composing came on the scene 14 years ago, she immediately began using both to help build musicianship and boost confidence in her students. She quickly realized they were having fun learning while building important mastery. Now as a product expert, she shares her knowledge, experiences and successes with other teachers across North America.

PRESENTERS POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES

Dr. Tamara Dworetz

• Conducting Between the Beats

Dworetz's 2024-25 season plans include debuts with the Atlanta Ballet (The Rite of Spring) and Sarasota Orchestra and her second season as Artistic Director & Conductor of the Georgia Philharmonic. She was recently appointed Associate Conductor of Carnegie Hall's National Youth Orchestras, NYO-USA & NYO2 and assisted Marin Alsop at in NYO-USA's South American Tour to Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil. Dworetz recently conducted her first staged opera, Bizet's Carmen and debuted with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Arkansas Symphony Orchestra featuring pianist, Conrad Tao. In 2022, Dworetz was selected as 1 of 14 candidates from a worldwide pool in the 2022 La Maestra Conducting Competition and Academy for Women Conductors in Paris, France. She was the only US-born conductor selected for the competition and earned a spot as one of 6 semi-finalists. 'Maestra', a documentary directed by Maggie Contreras with Executive Producer David Letterman, features 5 conductors from the competition, including Tamara, and was premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and highlighted on the NY Times, LA Times, CBS National News as well as international film festivals. Additionally, Dworetz has conducted the Paris Mozart Orchestra, Boston Pops, Dallas Opera Orchestra, Cabrillo Festival Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony, and Mankato Symphony. She has served as an assistant conductor for the Orchestre de Paris (Klaus Mäkelä), Gürzenich Orchestre Cologne (François-Xavier Roth), BBC Concert Orchestra (Bramwell Tovey) and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (Nathalie Stutzmann) and won 2nd prize in the Boston Pops' Leonard Bernstein Conducting Competition. She has been a recipient of the Bruno Walter Conducting Fellowship at the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music selected by Cristian Măcelaru. Tamara’s musical beginnings took place in the Atlanta public school system. Tamara is passionate about leading K-12 and pre-professional musicians in enriching musical experiences and is proud to be the new Director of Orchestral Studies at Georgia State University and Charles Thomas Wurm Distinguished Professor in Instrumental Music. She has served guest conducting residencies at University of Texas Butler School of Music, Boston University School of Music, SUNY Fredonia School of Music, and the Longy Conservatory Orchestra at Bard College. She has guest conducted All-State Orchestras in Texas, Colorado, Georgia and Washington (All-Northwest) and worked with the Atlanta, Austin, Emory and Boston Youth Orchestras.

Dr. Mary Frances Early

• A Conversation with Dr. Mary Frances Early

Dr. Mary Frances Early received her bachelor’s degree in music education from Clark College and graduated as class valedictorian. She began her graduate studies at the University of Michigan but later transferred to the University of Georgia (UGA) to join the civil rights struggle. In 1962, she received the Masters of Music Education (M.M.E.) degree from UGA and became the first AfricanAmerican to receive a degree from that institution. She received the Specialist in Education degree from UGA in 1967, and was selected for membership in Pi Kappa Lambda National Honor Society based on her 4.1 GPA. Dr. Early was the director of music education for the Atlanta Public Schools and later served as adjunct professor of music at Morehouse and Spelman Colleges. During her lengthy career in music education, Ms. Early was engaged in numerous music activities at the state, regional, and national levels and has received numerous honors. She was elected as President of the Georgia Music Educators Association as the first and to date only African American to serve in that role. In 2000, after being erased from UGA’s history for 38 years, her contribution was finally recognized. The University of Georgia awarded her with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2013. In 2018, she received the President’s Medal – one of UGA’s highest recognitions. In February 2020, UGA named their College of Education in her honor. She continues to be active in several organizations

Dr. William J. Earvin

• Collaboration is Key: Teaching Music as a Team!

Dr. William J. Earvin is currently an Educational Support Manager for Conn-Selmer, Inc. He also coordinates the Conn Selmer HBCU Collective Community that engages music educators and arts supporters associated with Historically Black Colleges and Universities. He is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music and performed with the Clark Atlanta University Jazz Orchestra. Dr. Earvin graduated from Mississippi Valley State University, earning a Master of Arts Degree in Education. His Doctor of Education degree from Northcentral University specializes in Higher Education Leadership and his Doctor of Arts in Music Education degree was earned at William Carey University. Wind band and jazz ensembles under his leadership have consistently earned Superior and Excellent ratings and have performed at regional and national festivals. Dr. Earvin has been honored as an “Outstanding Music Educator” by the Berklee College of Music and a “Distinguished Music Educator” by the Yale University School of Music. Dr. Earvin has presented numerous professional development sessions and in-services. He has facilitated workshops in school districts throughout the country. Notably, he presented sessions at the Conn Selmer Institute, the Louisiana Association for Student Assistance Programs (LASAP) Conference, LMEA Conference, The Midwest Clinic, the Music for All Summer Symposium, the ASBDA National Convention, and the NAfME Summit. Dr. Earvin is actively involved in numerous civic and professional organizations; LASAP, LMEA, the National Association for Music Education, Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, the National Band Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a charter member of the Louisiana Music Adjudicators Association, and is a member of the Music for All Advocacy in Action Advisory Committee. He is also a founding member of the Minority Band Directors National Association.

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Dr. Katherine Emeneth

• Standing on Business: Creative Solutions to Everyday Woodwind Problems

Dr. Katherine Emeneth (“Dr. E”) is an enthusiastic performer, collaborator, clinician, pedagogue, and teacher with a passion for education. She is the owner of the Georgia Flute Academy where she specializes in pre-college flute education in northeast Georgia. In her studio, she creates individualized curriculum, organizes studio events that range from guest artist masterclasses to student recitals at local retirement homes, prepares students for local and national flute competitions, and designs unique project-based learning opportunities. Dr. Emeneth established the Atlanta area’s first immersive summer flute camp in 2022. The Flute Intensive of North Georgia (FLING!) is a week-long summer camp for middle and high school students in the area. Additionally, Dr. Emeneth is the founder and CEO of KE Creative, a digital education company that supports classical musicians in advancing their teaching, business, and entrepreneurial skills. She has helped hundreds of classical musicians from around the world create their own thriving careers as private teachers, performers, and beyond.

Dr. Emeneth’s professional performances include both solo and ensemble appearances with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, Seattle Metropolitan Chamber Orchestra, Washington-Idaho Symphony Orchestra, and Gwinnett Ballet Orchestra. Dr. Emeneth has served on the faculties of the University of Washington and Georgia Gwinnett College where she was the recipient of the 2017 Outstanding Teaching Award. She holds degrees from the University of Georgia and the University of Washington. She lives in Sugar Hill, Georgia with her husband and Old English Sheepdog, Barney.

Tiffany English

• Intro to Orff

Tiffany English is currently serving as the Executive Director of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. She is retired from a 29 year teaching career as music specialist in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She holds multiple degrees from the University of Georgia and Piedmont College and has completed post -Level III Orff Schulwerk teacher education and Level I Kodály training. Tiffany also served the American Orff-Schulwerk Association as Region IV representative on the National Board of Trustees, vice president and president of AOSA, and co-chair for the 2014 and 2021 AOSA Professional Development Conferences. Tiffany was named the Teacher of the Year three times in her career and was the Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year in 2007. She presents at numerous conferences and workshops throughout the United States and is a frequent honor chorus clinician. She is currently serving on the Board of Advisors for the International Orff-Schulwerk Forum Salzburg.

Lee Ewing

• Making the Choice: Being Relational

Lee Ewing is currently in his 14th year as a high school band director and in his 9th year at Pike County High School and Ninth Grade Academy. Prior to working at the secondary level, Mr. Ewing served as Adjunct Professor of Music at Piedmont College and Gainesville State College.

Mr. Ewing holds a Specialist of Education degree in Teacher Leadership from Georgia College and State University, Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting from Georgia State University, a Bachelor of Music with an emphasis in Music Education from Columbus State University, and an Associate of Science with a concentration in Music Education from Gainesville College. Mr. Ewing is also certified in AP Music Theory and has received his Gifted Learner endorsement. Personally, Lee has a wonderful wife, Diana, who is also a music educator, and 2 beautiful daughters, Emmalee and Evelyn. Lee enjoys woodworking, landscaping, home improvement, and playing disc golf.

Beth A Fabrizio

• The Trifecta: Taking your Flutes, Clarinets and Saxophones to the Next Level!

Beth Fabrizio holds a Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music in Clarinet Performance and a Masters of Music in Conducting, Education and Performance from Ithaca College. Beth maintains a private clarinet studio with numerous students pursuing careers in music education, music business, therapy, recording and performance. Beth is a freelance performer and is an active artist/ clinician for The D’Addario Corporation and educational clinician with the Conn-Selmer Corporation. She has just recently retired after 36 years as a public-school music educator. Beth is also presenting educational clinics and workshops and guest conducting thru Fabrizio’s Musical Concepts. Ms. Fabrizio adjudicates for DCI, BOA, WGI and numerous other state associations. She has also been inducted into Delta Kappa Gamma, Sigma Alpha Iota and Alpha Chi Omega. Ms. Fabrizio is honored to be the president of and a charter member of the newly formed New York State Chi chapter of Phi Beta Mu and was inducted in May of 2022.

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Shelley Ferrell

• "Stop Squeaking!" Mastering Woodwind Pedagogy in the Middle and High School Band

Shelley Ferrell is currently in her tenth year as the Associate Director of Bands at Lovinggood Middle School. During this time, the band has performed at UGA MidFest, Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival, NBA/CBDNA Southern Division Conference and the GMEA In-Service Conference. Mrs. Ferrell’s responsibilities include being the lead teacher for the 7th Grade bands, 6th grade flute class, and 6th grade brass classes as well as assisting with the 8th Grade bands. Prior to teaching at Lovinggood, Mrs. Ferrell was an assistant band director at Mansfield High School, in Mansfield, Texas.

Mrs. Ferrell is a graduate of Cobb County’s Lassiter High School and she holds two degrees from The University of North Texas, a Bachelors in Flute Performance and Music Education. While at The University of North Texas she studied flute with Dr. Mary Karen Clardy, played in ensembles under the direction of Dennis Fisher and Eugene Migliaro Corporon, and served as Drum Major of the UNT Green Brigade.

Mrs. Ferrell’s professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education. Mrs. Ferrell is also a four time recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence. Mrs. Ferrell resides in Dallas, Georgia with her husband Chris and three children Katie, Maddie and Mason.

Dr. Michelle Folta

• Who Are You? Cultivating and Nourishing a Culture in Your Choir

Dr. Michelle Folta is an associate professor of choral/general music education at Columbus State University and the artistic director for the Voices of the Valley Children’s Chorus. Dr. Folta earned her masters and Ph.D. in Music Education at the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s degree in Music Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Graduates of Dr. Folta have pursued excellence after earning their degrees. Several have earned the title of Teacher of the Year on their campuses and have been named finalists for their district’s top educator award. Other graduate accolades include the GA-ACDA Young Director Award and performances at GMEA. The Voices of the Valley Children’s Chorus at Columbus State University has achieved excellence under Dr. Folta's direction. In addition to local performances, Voices of the Valley has performed internationally, at the Georgia Music Educators Association conference, and the ACDA Southern Conference. Dr. Folta has served as the guest clinician for a variety of honor choruses across the state and nation. In addition, she has served as an adjudicator for state-wide festivals and contests and serves on the GA-ACDA board of directors as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for Children’s Choirs. Dr. Folta was named a finalist for the 2021 GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year Award, was also the recipient of Columbus State University's Faculty Service Award, and named Columbus and the Valley's 5 Under 40.

Daniel Foster

• Teamwork DOES Make the Dream Work: Team Teaching in the Middle/High School Band Setting

Daniel Foster, Band Director at Union County Middle School in Blairsville, GA, has been director since 2021. During this time, Mr. Foster has doubled the number of students enrolled in band at UCMS and has received high ratings at their Large Group Performance Evaluations. Under the direction of Mr. Foster, the Union County Middle School Panther Band received all superior ratings for the first time in over 20 years in 2023 and received all superior ratings in 2024. Mr. Foster graduated from Reinhardt University in Waleksa, GA, earning a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and is currently completing his Master's Degree in Music Education from the American Band College.

Prior to teaching at Union County, Mr. Foster was the Assistant Band Director at Richmond Hill Middle School in Richmond Hill, GA from 2019-2021.

While at Reinhardt University, Mr. Foster performed at the American Bandmaster's Association with the University Chamber Winds in 2014 and the Georgia Music Educator's Association in- state conference in 2015. He was also the winner of the University Concerto Competition and performed as a soloist with the University Orchestra in 2016. During his senior year, Mr. Foster received the Phi Beta Mu "Outstanding Senior Music Education Major" Award in 2018. Mr. Foster has also performed under the direction of Mr. Ray Cramer, Col. Lowell Graham, Dr. Robert Ponto, Dr. Cynthia Johnston Turner, Mr. Jay Gephart, Mr. Johan De Meij, Mrs. Glady Wright, Dr. Rebecca Phillips, and Dr. Dennis Llianis

Mr. Foster performs regularly with the Tri-State Community Band and serves as a guest conductor.

Dr. Catheryn Foster

• Build Musicianship through Error Detection—and Find Joy on the Podium

Dr. Catheryn Foster currently serves as Assistant Professor of Practice and Program Director for Graduate Studies in Music Education at Virginia Tech. Foster received her PhD in Music Education from UNC-Greensboro. Her work is published in Journal of Music Teacher Education, Bulletin for the Council of Research in Music Education, and by GIA Publications, Inc.

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Dr. Jim Frankel

• A.I. is coming, but not for your job!

Dr. Jim Frankel is the Head of Digital Education for Wise Music and Director of MusicFirst. Previously, he was the Managing Director of SoundTree, and before that he was the instrumental and general music teacher for 15 years in New Jersey Public Schools. Jim is a widely published author in various state, national and international journals of music education. He is the author of The Teachers Guide to Music, Media & Copyright Law, co-author of YouTube in Music Education, contributing author for Critical Issues in Music Education and co-author of Making Music with GarageBand & Mixcraft. In addition to his writing, Jim is a highly sought-after clinician and keynote speaker in the local, national and international music education community. He is on the Board of Directors for TI:ME and is the past president of ATMI.

Jason Freeman

• Can Music Technology Teach Students to Code and Make Music?

Jason Freeman is a Professor, Interim Provost of the Arts and former Chair of the School of Music at Georgia Tech. His artistic practice and scholarly research focus on using technology to engage diverse audiences in collaborative, experimental, and accessible musical experiences.

Hayley Gallagher

• Make Music LIT!

Ms. Hayley Gallagher has been a music teacher in Jackson County Schools for 17 years and currently teaches at South Jackson Elementary school. She serves as the leadership representative for the specials team, is on the literacy vertical team, helps organize fine arts across Jackson County and completed her Reading Endorsement through NEGA RESA in June of 2024.

Ms. Gallagher graduated from the University of Georgia in 2008 with her degree in Music Education and completed her Masters degree in Educational Leadership in 2021. She is a member of the Atlanta Wind Symphony as a Euphonium player, Low Brass section leader, and board member. She currently resides in Athens, GA with her two cats.

Kelly Gallman

• CAN The Connected Arts Network: A Nationwide Movement to Address Diversity & Inclusion

Mrs. Kelly Gallman is the Orchestra Director at Sandy Creek High School. She serves as the Chapter Advisor for the Flat Rock Tri-M (Music Honor Society), Fayette County Middle School All-County Chairperson and Fine Arts Team Leader. She is in her ninth year of teaching in Fayette County. Her previous teaching experiences were in Brevard County, Florida from January 1994-May 2007. She is a Florida Orchestra Association certified adjudicator and clinician.

She is a professional violinist and has performed with LaGrange Symphony, Albany Symphony, Savannah Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Brevard Symphony, Space Coast Pops Orchestra, Southern Crescent Symphony and many freelance gigs such as Led Zepplin, Kansas, Pat and Debbie Boone, Rosemary Clooney, Josh Groban, Clay Aiken, Harry Connick Jr., Joshua Bell and Itzhak Perlman.

Kelly was born in Savannah, GA. She attended Columbus College (now Columbus State University) in Columbus, GA and graduated from Stetson University in DeLand, FL in 1993. She earned her Masters Degree from University of Florida in 2015. She currently resides in Fayetteville, GA with her husband Steven and two dogs Smokie and Oreo. Her son, Justin Welch, is pursuing his degree at Montclair State University as a Music Performance and Political Science double major. She is dedicated to her students and their musical growth along with their development in becoming well-rounded individuals.

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Stephen Garrett

• Can Music Technology Teach Students to Code and Make Music?

Stephen Garrett is a musician, software engineer, and product manager. His career has spanned traditional enterprise software development to product development at two music technology startups. Garrett holds a B.M. in Instrumental Music Performance, a B.S. in IT and M.S. in HCI where he explored the intersection of music and technology.

Andrew Geocaris

• First Days & First Sounds: Building Healthy Habits While Engaging Beginning Low Brass Students

Andrew Geocaris is the Professional Learning Coordinator for Fine Arts in Cobb County School District. He works with three Fine Arts Supervisors to support all K-12 Fine Arts teachers in the district. Prior to this role, Mr. Geocaris has taught music in a variety of settings and levels. He has instructed low brass players at the middle and high school levels via lessons, sectionals, and workshops. From 2012-2023 Mr. Geocaris served as music teacher and choir director at Rocky Mount Elementary School in Cobb County. From 2009-2012 he was the Director of Orchestras at Tri-Cities High School in Fulton County. Mr. Geocaris plays euphonium for the Cobb Wind Symphony. He is also the Lesson Coordinator and Artist Liaison for the International Euphonium and Tuba Festival.

Mr. Geocaris has received several recognitions including: Marquis Who's Who Top Educators for Music Education in 2022; First place in the 2021 Lowell Mason House National Competition for Virtual Music Lesson Plans, Elementary Division; Rocky Mount Elementary School 2017 Teacher of the Year; and the Troxell Communications 2012 Classroom Technology Grant.

Mr. Geocaris holds a Bachelor of Arts in music education from Carthage College in Wisconsin where he received honors in instrumental conducting. He received his Masters of Music in Euphonium Performance from Georgia State University where he studied with euphonium soloist Adam Frey. Mr. Geocaris loves spending time with his wife and children, enjoys fitness, and is a life-long Star Trek fan!

Dr. Karen Graffius

• Activity Based Recorder Lessons: An Alternative to Repetitive Practice

• Keys to Programming Success: Variety, Engagement, & Challenge

Dr. Karen Graffius is the Choral Director at the University of West Georgia where she directs the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir and teaches Music in the Elementary School, Voice Methods and Choral Methods. She is a native of Louisiana and received her Bachelor of Music Degree from Louisiana College and Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy Degrees in Music Education from Louisiana State University. Dr. Graffius has over 30 years' experience teaching at the elementary, middle and high school levels and spent 17 years as the choral director at Liberty Middle School in Cumming, GA. Under Dr. Graffius' direction, Liberty choruses consistently received superior ratings at GMEA sponsored Large Group Performance Evaluation and the Liberty 8th Grade Chorus performed at the 2015 and 2019 GMEA In-Service Conference. Dr. Graffius has directed honor choruses in Louisiana, Tennessee and Georgia and has received numerous awards for her teaching including being named Choral Director of the Year while teaching in Baton Rouge, LA and Teacher of the Year while in LaVergne, TN. Dr. Graffius currently serves as the Youth and Activities chair of the Georgia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. Under Dr. Graffius's direction, the UWG Chamber Singers performed at the 2022 GA American Choral Directors Association conference and the 2024 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference.

Dr. Jefferson Grant

• Percussion for the Non-Percussionist Band Director

Dr. Jefferson Grant currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Percussion at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA. Dr. Grant holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from The University of Southern Mississippi and a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degree from Columbus State University and the University of Louisville respectively.

Dr. Grant is an active arranger, adjudicator, and clinician. His articles have appeared in Percussive Notes and Pan Magazine, and he has presented clinics at the University of Louisville Percussion Symposium, National Conference of Percussion Pedagogy, the Mississippi Bandmasters State Convention, AMEA, GMEA and at the Percussive Arts Society’s International Convention (PASIC). Dr. Grant is the co-founder of the Southeastern Percussion Festival (SEPF), served on the Board of Directors for the Southeastern Color Guard Circuit as well as the Vice President/President Elect for the Alabama Chapter of the Percussive Arts Society.

His percussion ensembles and steel bands have appeared at the Alabama PAS Day of Percussion, The Auburn University Percussion Day, The Southeastern Percussion Festival (SEPF), and the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha, Kappa Kappa Psi, The Percussive Arts Society, NAfME, and BMI. Dr. Grant would like to thank Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets, Sabian cymbals, and Yamaha drums for their continued support of music education.

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Dr. Michael Gratovich

• Sequencing Foundational Techniques for Fingerstyle/Classical Guitar

Dr. Michael Gratovich, guitarist and music educator, and has directed the Classical Guitar Studio at Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts in Columbus, Georgia, since 2018. Gratovich trained with many of the world’s most recognizable figures in the field of classical guitar and completed Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degrees in music performance at The University of Texas at Austin, under legendary American classical guitarist Adam Holzman, and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles with a Graduate Teaching Assistant award, under Scott Tennant and William Kanengiser, Maestro Pepe Romero, and flamenco guitarist Adam del Monte.

The students of Dr. Gratovich are among the most accomplished young guitarists in the state of Georgia. In 2024, Rainey-McCullers Intermediate and Advanced Guitar Ensembles presented a performance at the Georgia Music Educators Association annual conference in Athens, GA. They were winners of the GuitarCurriculum 2023 Fall Video Challenge, a contest that received entries from performing ensembles from four states, and have been selected for the Georgia Honors Guitar Ensemble, which was conducted virtually in 2021 and 2022. They have also received recognition on a national level through nominations to a US-wide Virtual Guitar Orchestra for the premier of a newly-composed work in 2022. As soloists, Rainey-McCullers guitarists have been recognized with top prizes at the Troy University Guitar Festival & Competition for the past four years.

Adam Gresham

• Small Things, Big Differences: Organizational Strategies for the Orchestra Classroom

Adam Gresham is a music educator and conductor based in the Atlanta area. He is currently the Director of Orchestras at Barber Middle School in Acworth, GA. As an active clinician, Mr. Gresham is a consistent guest working with middle and high school ensembles across the southeastern United States. Ensembles under Mr. Gresham’s direction consistently receive superior ratings at performance evaluations and frequently perform in concert and community settings.

Before assuming his current position, Mr. Gresham served as the Director of Bands at Richards Middle School in Lawrenceville, GA. He has also served as the Associate Director of Bands/Director of Percussion/Music Technology Coordinator at Norcross High School in Norcross, GA, and Associate Director of Bands/Director of Percussion at Central High School and Middle School in Carrollton, GA.

Mr. Gresham holds an Education Specialist degree in Music Education from Auburn University, a Master’s degree in Music Education from American Band College of Central Washington University, and a Bachelor’s degree in instrumental Music Education from Georgia State University. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Education from Auburn University.

Mr. Gresham is a member of the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), National Association for Music Educators (NAfME), Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), and Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE). He currently lives in Marietta, GA, with his wife, Megan, and his two French bulldogs, Toaster and Mikey.

Lawrence Grey

• Preparing Students for Creative and Technical Careers in Music and Audio

• Project-Based Learning with Music Technology

Lawrence Grey is a lifelong musician, a dedicated educator, and a tireless proponent of music education in schools. Lawrence is the executive director of Young Producers Group and also serves as the director of curriculum, designing innovative, engaging curricula that reflect the interests and lived experiences of students. With a Bachelor's Degree in Music Composition from New York University (NYU), a Masters Degree in Education from University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), and as an Ableton Certified Trainer, Lawrence’s unique position singularly qualifies him to create curricula and lead a team of forward-thinking educators.

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Otto Gross

• I've Got Joy: Celebrating the Joy of Music in the Classroom

• Move to the Groove: Engaging Music and Movement Activities for the Classroom

• Otto's Daily Ditties: Inspiring Creativity and Improvisation in the Classroom

Otto Gross is a distinguished artist, musician, and educator dedicated to making music accessible and enjoyable for all. A Cum Laude Graduate of Berklee College of Music, Otto combines his extensive knowledge with a practical, hands-on approach to teaching and performing, embodying his belief that music is a universal language. Throughout his career, Otto has performed alongside multi-Grammy® award-winning artists such as Bobby McFerrin, David Sanborn, and CeCe Winans, captivating audiences worldwide with his engaging style and vibrant personality. As the former Creative Director at QuaverEd, Otto was instrumental in developing thousands of musical compositions and educational resources for educators and K-8 students, aligning music education with district, state, and national standards. Certified in World Drumming and all three levels of Orff-Schulwerk, he continues to share his expertise as a drummer, percussionist, and pianist. Otto is the current Director of Worship at Christ Church Nashville, where he leads the Christ Church Choir, a talented group of musicians and singers, and oversee a comprehensive media team. Through his innovative "Otto Daily Ditty" series on social media, Otto creatively transforms everyday objects into musical instruments, resonating with a wide audience and showcasing his ability to connect with people through music. He draws on his extensive experience in music education to create engaging and dynamic musical experiences. Otto offers services in music production, composition, education, and performance. He continues to innovate by producing new music videos and collaborating with musicians and artists. Ott's career is a testament to his commitment to the art of music and its power to inspire and connect people, making music positive transformative experience for everyone he encounters.

Mandy Gunter

• Intro to Orff

Mandy Gunter currently teaches at Burnette Elementary in Gwinnett County. She holds degrees from Georgia College and Lesley University. Mandy holds a post Level-III Orff Schulwerk teacher education. Mandy has served on the National Board of the American Orff Schulwerk Association and was chair of the Communications Committee. She currently serves as Chair of the Virtual Programming Sub Committee. She has also served as President of the Atlanta Area Orff Chapter and currently serves as the Advocacy Chair. Mandy was named 2023-2024 Teacher of the Year at her local school and was named Top 25 for Gwinnett County Public Schools. She presents Workshops throughout the United States.

Casey Hall

• Jumpstart Your Music Teaching Journey!

• State of the Arts: GaDOE Fine Arts Resources and Supports

Mr. Casey Hall serves as a Fine Arts Education Program Specialist for the Georgia Department of Education where he actively supports Georgia’s Music Educators (K-12) from across the state. In this role, he advocates for and supports Georgia’s Music Educators through managing virtual, content-specific professional learning community groups, assisting in the development of highquality Fine Arts instructional resources, creating Fine Arts-related, self-paced online courses, and presenting professional learning workshops to school districts and regional education service agencies (RESAs) throughout the state.

He joined the GaDOE Fine Arts Department team from Fulton County Schools as a Fine Arts Support Teacher (FAST) and Music Specialist in Atlanta, Georgia where he was awarded the title of 2019-2020 South Learning Community Teacher of the Year for Fulton County Schools. During his time as a FAST Team member in Fulton County, he coached and provided support for elementary music teachers across the district. He holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University and a master’s degree in music education from Georgia State's School of Music. Mr. Hall has presented at various conferences at international, national, state, and local school district professional development sessions.

PRESENTERS

Bryan Harmsen

• Electronics 101: Design, Implementation, and Execution for the Modern Marching Band

Bryan is the owner of Visaudio Designs, a company specializing in design for the pageantry arts. He is currently the lead music composer and sound designer for Monarch Independent and The Mandarins Drum Corps, a role he held with The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2017 through 2019 seasons. Bryan was also a sound designer for Juxtaposition Winter Guard in 2022 in their return to IW Finals. He was the Chief Creative Officer of Virtual Arts, where he held the roles of lead music composer and program coordinator for various projects—most notably the Virtual Drum & Bugle Corps. Bryan has designed for ensembles throughout the United States, East Asia, and Europe. His arrangements and compositions have helped ensembles earn numerous medals in their local circuits as well as 15 WGI medals and many more WGI finalists in the winter season, and many BOA Regional finalists. Some of Bryan’s more notable current and past indoor drumline clients are Monarch Independent, Burleson Centennial HS, Clear Brook HS, Dorman HS, ED WHite HS, and Pioneer Indoor. He was a marching member of Spirit of Atlanta, Southwind, and The Cavaliers.

Bryan was also the voice and instructor behind Virtual Drumline Demystified, a tutorial series for the Virtual Drumline sound library from Tapspace Publications. While not working on music, he also dabbles in graphic design, photography, enjoys spending time outdoors, and has an affinity for all things on the leading edge of technology. He proudly endorses Pearl/Adams musical instruments, Innovative Percussion, Zildjian Cymbals, and Remo Drumheads.

Dr. Joey Harrell

• All Mixed Up: Musical Theatre Voice Pedagogy for Choir Directors

Joey Harrell is an educator, researcher and voice clinician. He received his Ph.D in Music Education at Penn State University with an emphasis in Musical Theater Voice Pedagogy. His research focuses on speech-based singing for voice building and habilitation as well as how teachers learn to teach, specifically the experiences of novice teachers.

Joey has been a guest lecturer and clinician throughout the country and has presented on functional anatomy for breathing, crosstraining the musical theater performer and understanding vocal registration in musical theater as well as demonstrations of practical solutions for using musical theater pedagogical strategies to promote vocal exploration in one-to-one and group settings.

Joey maintains a private voice studio in NYC where he works with professional musical theater performers. His clients can be seen on Broadway, national tours, TV/Film as well as in regional houses and BFA musical theater programs throughout the country. Most recently, he founded the company BroadwayVox which focuses on providing innovative educational resources to teachers and singers. You can follow him @singingwithjoeydotcom.

Joe Heiberger

• "Stop Squeaking!" Mastering Woodwind Pedagogy in the Middle and High School Band

Mr. Heiberger is currently in his eighteenth year as the Director of Bands at Lovinggood Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia (est. 2006). Mr. Heiberger’s bands at Lovinggood have consistently received superior ratings at all levels and have been invited to perform at The University of Georgia Midfest Middle School Band Clinic (2010, 2014), The Auburn University Middle School Band Clinic (2012), The CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference (2016) and the Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival (2016, 2018), Troy University Middle School Band Clinic (2018), as well as the 2017 GMEA In-Service Conference in Athens, GA. The Lovinggood Band is a recipient of the 2013 GMEA Exemplary Performance Award.

Mr. Heiberger’s degrees include a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi as well as a Masters and Specialist Degree from Auburn University. While at the University of Southern Mississippi, he was a member of the Finale Saxophone Quartet, which was named National Champions of the Music Teacher’s National Association Chamber Music Competition (1993), as well as national finalist in the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition (1993). Mr. Heiberger is a six-time recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence and is listed in the December 2015 issue of SB&O Magazine as one of the “50 Directors Who Make A Difference”. Mr. Heiberger’s professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, the MENC, NAfME, ASBDA and the National Band Association. Mr. Heiberger resides in Marietta, Georgia with his wife, Renee and daughter, Emily.

Dr. Matthew Hoch

• Practical Voice Pedagogy for Choral Educators

Matthew Hoch is professor of voice at Auburn University. Prior to this appointment, he spent six years as assistant professor of voice at Shorter College/University. Hoch’s students have gone on to successful careers in both classical and musical theatre genres and have won awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council (MONC), NATS, MTNA, ACTF, the Vann Vocal Institute, and others. He has appeared as a soloist with the Oregon Bach Festival, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale, the Vox Consort, Harmonie Universelle, the Hartford, Rome, and Nashua symphony orchestras, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and the United States Coast Guard Chamber Players. Hoch is the 2016 winner of the Van L. Lawrence Fellowship, awarded jointly by the Voice Foundation and NATS. He is the author, coauthor, editor, or coeditor of ten books and his articles have appeared in numerous academic and professional journals. He is associate editor of the of the "Voice Pedagogy" column for the NATS Journal of Singing, chair of the NATS/Rowman & Littlefield editorial board, and editor of the "On the Voice" column for the ACDA Choral Journal. In 2018, he presented performances and master classes in the United Arab Emirates as was awarded the Auburn University College of Liberal Arts Teaching Excellence Award.

PRESENTERS POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES

Robin Hodson

• Ear Training and Theory Fitness? There’s an app for that!

• The ABCs of Music Tech: Solutions for Elementary General Music

Robin comes from a musical family; his Grandfather founded a Symphony Orchestra and Music Conservatory in Zimbabwe, and his Mother taught music for 50 years. An accomplished composer and performer, working in a variety of differing genres, he is also a recording engineer, songwriter and arranger. Robin received a Masters Degree at Magdalen College, Oxford, specializing in choral music. He moved to the US in 1999 and is now a US citizen.

He was with Sibelius/Avid for thirteen years, followed by three years with SoundTree. During that time, he became a well-known clinician, trainer and salesman for a wide variety of world class music software and technology products. He joined Jim Frankel and an accomplished team of people to start MusicFirst in 2012, bringing cloud-based music software to schools around the world.

He has authored many free guides/videos on how to use and learn all kinds of music software, and he has created a curriculum (published by Hal Leonard) for using Pro Tools in Music Education. He was also a joint author for the book/DVD/curriculum entitled Making Music with GarageBand & Mixcraft.

Dr. Ryan Hourigan

• Teaching Music to Students with Differences and Disabilities

• Teaching Music to Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder

• The Prism Project: Co-Curricular Arts Programming for Students with Learning Differences.

Ryan Hourigan (2010 Indiana Music Educators Association Outstanding University Music Educator of the Year, 2021 University of Michigan Kendall Award winner) joined the faculty at Ball State University in the fall of 2006 after nine years of teaching music at the secondary and university level in Illinois. Dr. Hourigan holds degrees from Eastern Illinois University (B.M.-Outstanding Alumni Award 2023), Michigan State University (M.M. Wind Conducting) and a Ph.D. in Music Education from The University of Michigan. Dr. Hourigan currently is professor of music education and is the former Director of the School of Music at Ball State University. He also has recently joined Focus 5 as a teaching artist specializing in arts integration for students with learning differences. Currently in its second edition, Hourigan is the co-author (Alice Hammel) of Teaching Music to Students with Special Needs: A Label-free Approach. Hourigan and Hammel’s second book Teaching Music to Students with Autism is in it’s second edition released in 2020. In 2009, Hourigan co-founded the Prism Project (prismprojectbsu.org). This program provides an opportunity for Ball State students to gain skills in the area of teaching students with special needs. Dr. Hourigan has been published or is in press in most of the major music education journals including but not limited to the Journal of Research in Music Education, the Bulletin for the Council of Research in Music Education. His article (along with Amy Hourigan) entitled Teaching Music to Children with Autism was the most downloaded article for the Music Educators Journal for 2012.

Dr. Craig Hurley

• Folk Dance Fun!

• Keys to Programming Success: Variety, Engagement, & Challenge

Craig Hurley is the Artistic Director of the Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program (SHCCP) where he directs both the Children’s Choir and Tour Choir. For 18 years, Dr. Hurley served as the director of the Spivey Hall Young Artists, preparing young musicians to be active members in the older Spivey choirs. Under Dr. Hurley’s direction, the Spivey Hall Young Artists were honored to perform at the 2018 GMEA In-Service Conference. Dr. Hurley has also served as a guest clinician for several honor choirs throughout the southeast.

Dr. Hurley is also the music specialist at Ford Elementary School in Cobb County, Georgia. Under his direction, the Ford Elementary Chorus has performed at the 2015 GMEA In-Service Conference. He has presented interest sessions at the Music Educators Association in-service conferences for Georgia, Florida, and Alabama, the ACDA Southern Division Conference, as well as for other various teacher organizations. Dr. Hurley was honored as Teacher of the Year in 2002, 2016, and the GMEA Music Educator of the Year in 2021.

Dr. Hurley is currently serving as president of the Georgia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He is a published researcher whose interests include music literacy and expressive performance pedagogy. He holds a Doctorate in Music Education from The University of Georgia. (GO DAWGS!) Dr. Hurley lives in Marietta with his wife Katie (also a music teacher) and their three children.

Katie Hurley

• Folk Dance Fun!

Katie Hurley is the music specialist at Frey Elementary School in Cobb County, Georgia. She has taught elementary music for 15 years and has been named teacher of the year three times (2003-4, 2016-7, & 2021-22). She spent 10 years as a stay-at-home mom to her three children. During her hiatus from public education, Ms. Hurley opened a Kindermusik studio in Cartersville where she taught mommy-and-me music classes for babies and toddlers. Ms. Hurley holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Shorter College and a Master of Music Education from the University of West Georgia. Katie Hurley resides in Marietta, Georgia with her music teaching husband, three musically gifted children, and her mini golden doodle.

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Andy Hursey

• Demystifying the Sight-Reading Room at LGPE

Andy Hursey is the Director of Bands at Wayne County High School in Jesup, Ga. Previous teaching engagements include Perry High School, Perry Middle School, and the Academy of Richmond County. Mr. Hursey's bands consistently earn Superior Ratings in both the concert and marching band programs. He has been on the GMEA Adjudicator's List for over 15 years and is sought after to judge both concert and marching band festivals and competitions each year.

Christy Hursey

• Demystifying the Sight-Reading Room at LGPE

Christy Hursey is the Assistant Director of Bands at Wayne County High School in Jesup, GA. During her 28 year career she has taught both middle school and high school. She has prepared LGPE performances ranging from grade 1 to grade 6 on the GMEA list. She has been on the adjudicator’s list for over 15 years and is sought after to judge both middle school and high school band LGPE and other local festivals.

Dr. Charles R. Jackson

• Brass Articulation: Common Problems and Solutions for the Developing Brass Student

Dr. Charles R. Jackson, a full-time Lecturer in Music Education at Georgia State University, is in his 46th year as a music educator. He has presented sessions at the Midwest Clinic (2018), the Music for All Summer Symposium (2007 through 2019), the Western Carolina University Summer Symposium (2017 through 2023), the Art of Teaching Music Summit (Atlanta, GA), and the Jacksonville State University Spirit Camp. Before his appointment at GSU, Dr. Jackson served nine years as an Assistant Professor of Music at Kennesaw State University and 34 years as a public school Director of Bands, with 28 of those years in the Cobb County School District. He is in his eighth year as the conductor of the Cobb New Horizons Symphonic Band. Dr. Jackson is on demand as a guest speaker, band clinician, trumpet clinician, conductor, adjudicator, and trumpet performer, and has conducted honor bands in Georgia, Tennessee, and Virginia. He is a principal author of Teaching Music Through Performance in the Middle School Band (GIA) and the author of The Band Director’s Book of Secrets, published through Barnhouse. He completed a Bachelor of Music Education degree (University of Southern Mississippi), a Master of Science degree in Music Education (University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign), an Education Specialist degree in Instrumental Music Education (Georgia State University), and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (Shenandoah Conservatory). Dr. Jackson is the Faculty Advisor for the GSU chapter of CNAfME and is the Deputy Governor for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Province 33. He and his wife, Jane, have four children and live in Kennesaw, GA.

Noah Jackson • Poor Kids, Poor School, Rich Success

Originally from Waycross, GA, and a graduate of Ware County High School, Mr. Noah Jackson went on to Valdosta State University to begin his studies in music education. After some time there he transferred on to receive his Bachelor Degree of Music Education from The University of Georgia. Upon graduation from college Mr. Jackson was hired at Brantley County High School where the program has grown in leaps and bounds from the Elementary, Middle School, and High School level! Beginning with less than 50 students program wide to nearly 300 program wide, and still growing. Performing Grade VI literature at LGPE for the first time and having students make the GMEA All-State Band the program is healthy and moving forward. Mr. Jackson is also the orchestra conductor at the Surge 150 Music Camp, which is held at Shorter University each Summer. Mr. Jackson recently obtained his Master's Degree from Georgia College and State University in music education.

PRESENTERS POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES

LIVES

Dr. Todd Jenkins

• Decoding the Notes: Time Saving Sight Reading Strategies for All

Dr. Todd Jenkins is Director of Instrumental Studies at the University of South Carolina Aiken. At USCA, Dr. Jenkins conducts the USCA Wind Ensemble, USCA Pacer Pulse Pep Band, the Aiken Concert Band and the USCA New Horizons Concert Band. Additionally, Dr. Jenkins teaches classes in conducting, music technology and music appreciation, coaches chamber music, and teaches private trumpet lessons to majors and non-majors.

Dr. Jenkins studied music at the University of South Carolina, Ithaca College, and Liberty University. Prior to this, Dr. Jenkins taught band at Augusta Christian School and worked as adjunct faculty in the music departments at Augusta University and the University of South Carolina Aiken. He has also taught at Brevard College and Charleston Southern University and worked as a staff member for the bands of Wando High School, The Charleston School of the Arts, Greenbrier High School, and Washington-Wilkes High School.

Dr. Jenkins, besides USCA duties, serves on the music staff at Kiokee Baptist Church, plays trumpet for Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the North Charleston Pops! Orchestra, and Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra. He's also played with the Charleston Symphony and King’s Brass. He maintains memberships in the National Association for Music Education, the International Trumpet Guild, the Association of Concert Bands and the New Horizons International Music Association. He lives in North Augusta, SC with his wife Kate (a professional trombonist), their young son (a hornist and pianist), and numerous pets.

Chris Johns

• Optimize to Maximize: Managing Administrative Duties Off the Podium

Chris Johns is in his sixth year as the Associate Director of Bands at Walton High School in Marietta, GA. Previously, Mr. Johns was a band director in Gwinnett and Fayette Counties. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Columbus State University, a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia, and an Education Specialist of Music Education degree from Auburn University. Mr. Johns is also a 2020 recipient of the CDBNA Mike Moss Conducting Fellowship.

At Walton, Mr. Johns is the lead teacher for the Symphonic Band, Concert Band II, and Marching Raider Band brass section while also assisting with all aspects of the band program. Under his direction, the Symphonic Band has been selected to perform at the 2022 Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival. He is an active clinician and consultant who has arranged and written music for numerous bands that have competed in the BOA, WGI, and GMEA contest circuits. He was also a 2009 member of the Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps from Allentown, PA. Mr. Johns is a four-time recipient of the National Band Association Citation of Excellence and also presented at the 2021 AMEA Annual In-Service Conference (virtual). Mr. Johns’ professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators’ Association, the National Band Association, and the Music Educators’ National Conference.

Anthony Johnson

• Apple Education: Everyone Can Create (Music)

Anthony Johnson is a member of the Apple Educational Team.

Dr. Phyllis E. Johnson-Porter

• Integrative STEM Education in the Elementary Music Classroom

Dr. Phyllis E. Johnson-Porter is a graduate of Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. She received her Master of Music degree and all three levels of certification in Orff-Schulwerk from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio. She received certification in Discipline-Based Music Education from Armstrong-Atlantic University in Savannah, Georgia, and the Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Porter has 34+ years of public-school teaching experience, and has taught in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hamilton, Ohio, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Jackson, Mississippi, Atlanta, Georgia, and Augusta, Georgia. Dr. Porter was selected as Richmond County (Augusta, Georgia) School System’s 2016 Teacher of the Year and was the recipient of the Perry Publishing and Broadcasting 2016 Educator of the Year Award.

In 2020, Dr. Porter acquired STEM Endorsement from Augusta University, and in 2022, facilitated the first-place win for Belair K-8 School in the Elementary Music Division of the STEAMIFY Competition, which was hosted by Augusta University. In 2024, Dr. Porter became a member of the Georgia Council for the Arts K12 Teaching Artists Registry as an Arts and Education Professional Learning Provider. She is the published author of The Children’s Church Choir: A Handbook for Children’s Choir Directors and Those Desiring to Develop A Ministry of Music for Children. Dr. Porter’s educational growth and development has been nurtured by her loving and supportive family, phenomenal teachers, and amazing students. Dr. Porter is married to Reverend Dr. Donald Porter.

PRESENTERS

Cheryl Jones

• The Instrument Petting Zoo: A Hands-On Exploration Experience

Cheryl Jones works at David Perdue Primary School in Warner Robins. Cheryl received her Bachelor’s degree in Music and Master’s degree in Music Education at Valdosta State University. She plays the trombone, piano, and baritone. She is currently enrolled at Piedmont University for her Specialist degree in Music Education and due to graduate December 2024.

Heath Jones

• Transatlantic Collaboration: Global Student Connections

Heath teaches Music Technology at McConnell Middle School in Gwinnett County. He serves as the Music Technology Chair for the GGMEA and is the author of Music Technology 101 published by Hal Leonard. He has presented at numerous state and national conferences including: NAfME National Conference, The Midwest Clinic, OMEA (Cleveland), and TMEA (San Antonio), on music technology topics and curricula.In 2023 he was recognized as the TI:ME Mike Kovin National Teacher of the Year. TI:ME (Technology in Music Education) is a national organization that provides resources and professional development for state and national conferences.

Dr. Matt Jordan

• Electronics 101: Design, Implementation, and Execution for the Modern Marching Band

Dr. Matthew Jordan currently serves as Assistant Professor of Percussion at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama. He is also the front ensemble arranger for Music City Mystique, the music coordinator and sound designer for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, front ensemble arranger and sound designer for the “Commandant’s Own” United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, and a music advisor for the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps. Prior to starting at JSU, Matt was the Concert Percussion Marketing Manager for Pearl Corporation/Adams Musical Instruments, and Assistant Director of Bands/Instructor of Percussion at Middle Tennessee State University. Matt has worked as a percussion instructor and arranger with a number of DCI and WGI groups, including the Phantom Regiment (2011-2014), Carolina Crown (2015), and Spirit of Atlanta (2007-2010, 2018). He is also very involved at the scholastic level as an arranger for indoor drumlines and marching bands, having written for groups such as Max Percussion (Bangkok, Thailand), Bangkok Society Drumline, Franklin High School, Science Hill High School, McGavock High School, Dobyns-Bennett High School, and Father Ryan High School, among others.

As a performer, Matt plays regularly with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra, and has also performed with the Alabama Symphony, Huntsville Symphony, Tuscaloosa Symphony, Intersection Contemporary Music Ensemble, Keith Brion’s New Sousa Band, Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, San Angelo Symphony, Eastern Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tennessee Philharmonic. While at North Texas, Matt performed with the UNT Wind Symphony, as well as the One o'Clock and Two o'Clock Lab Bands. Matt was the timpanist of The Cavaliers (2003-04) and Music City Mystique (2000-05)

Darryl Joyner

• Apple Education: Everyone Can Create (Music)

Darryl Joyner is a member of the Apple Educational Team.

PRESENTERS POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES

Stephanie Justen

• Music in the Journey: How to Use Music to Enhance Children's Literacy Engagement and Comprehension

Miss Stephanie Justen is an autism specialist for Peach County Schools in Middle Georgia where she supports students, teachers, and parents. She has undergraduate degrees in psychology and education, a masters degree in special education with an emphasis in behavior, and a specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. Miss Justen has been teaching special education since 2001 with experience from Pre-K to 12th grade. She is an officer for her local chapter of the Council for Exceptional Children, a volunteer distributor for the Organization for Autism Research, a volunteer for Autism on the Seas, and is an avid grant writer to help fund supplies needed for children on the autism spectrum. Miss Justen resides in Warner Robins, GA with her dog Disney. She loves to travel, spend time with her family, and go to Disney World.

Claire Kenney

• It's Not a Toy: A Band Director's Guide to Percussion Accessory Instruments

Claire Smith Kenney is a percussion educator, clinician, and performer in the Greater-Atlanta area. She is currently the Percussion Director at Pope High School and teaches at Kennesaw State University as an adjunct percussion instructor. She is originally from Cumming, Georgia and attended Jacksonville State University in Alabama for her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. Claire then continued her education at Texas Christian University where she earned her Master’s degree in percussion performance. Since 2004, Claire has been involved with many performing ensembles, including Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps, Music City Mystique, and most recently the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, Atlanta Quest, Atlanta Percussion Ensemble and Atlanta Steel Collective. She is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, Georgia Music Educators Association and an educational artist for Innovative Percussion. Other than percussion, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with her husband, Kevin, their son, Cooper, and two dogs, Mallow and Peep.

Kevin Kenney

• It's Not a Toy: A Band Director's Guide to Percussion Accessory Instruments

Kevin Kenney is an active performer, clinician, arranger, and educator in the Atlanta area. He is currently the Assistant Band Director/ Percussion Director at Milton High School in Milton, GA and the Front Ensemble Arranger for Atlanta Quest, Q2, and AtlantaCV. Kevin earned a Master’s Degree in Percussion Performance from Texas Christian University and his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University. Kevin has studied privately with Dr. Brian West, Dr. Richard Gipson, Mr. Clint Gillespie, Dr. Tony McCutchen, and Dr. Todd Mueller.

At Milton, Kevin assists with all concert bands, the marching band, and leads the percussion ensembles and the PSW World Finalist Milton Indoor Drumline. Most recently, the Indoor Drumline placed 14th at the 2023 WGI World Championships and the Percussion Ensemble placed 1st at the 2022 PASIC Small Ensemble Competition. The Band Program has consistently received superior ratings at GMEA concert and marching band events and has also been named a Bands of America Regional Finalist.

Kevin has been heavily involved with the marching activity as a performer over the years including being a member of The Cavaliers, Spirit of JSU, Memphis Sound, and Music City Mystique, as well as being a front ensemble instructor and coordinator at The Cadets, Atlanta Quest, and most recently with the Cavaliers. He has also taught and arranged for multiple WGI, BOA, and PASIC indoor groups throughout the country. Kevin is a member of the Percussive Arts Society, GMEA, NBA and a proud endorser of Innovative Percussion, Sabian Cymbals, and Remo Drumheads.

Catherine Keyser

• Fine Arts Coordinators: Mock Interviews

• The Hiring Process: Best Practices for Resumes, Interviews, and Everything In-Between

Catherine Keyser has been serving as the Forsyth County Schools Fine Arts Specialist since 2016. She began her career teaching band in Gwinnett County in 1997 and moved to Forsyth County Schools in 2003. In addition to teaching band, Mrs. Keyser served as an instructor at the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program and at the University of North Georgia in Dahlonega. Catherine earned an Educational Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from the University of North Georgia, a Master of Music Education degree from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia. Mrs. Keyser is proud to be a part of Forsyth County Schools, recently recognized as a 2024 Best Communities for Music Education by NAMM. She has the privilege of supporting the over 130 wonderful Arts educators who continue to create high quality Visual and Performing Arts experiences for over 55,000 students. Catherine currently serves as the GMEA Music Supervisor representative and enjoys working with her esteemed colleagues to support music education in our state!

PRESENTERS

Mary E. Knysh

• Drumming 101: Basic World Rhythms

• Harmony in Motion: Exploring Boomwhackers to Cultivate Community, Design Curriculum, and Spark Creativity

• Ukulele ALIVE! Easy Access to Styles & World Music

Mary E. Knysh is a highly experienced teacher, trainer, and consultant in the field of music education and creative development. She has dedicated over 30 years to teaching and training with Music for People, an organization that promotes musical improvisation and self-expression. Mary is also the founder of Rhythmic Connections, an innovative company that uses drum circles and music improvisation to advance education, health, and creativity. Her reach extends globally as she travels throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia, offering conference presentations, clinics, teacher trainings, performances, and workshops.

As a workshop facilitator, Mary specializes in early childhood education, leadership, and non-verbal communication, utilizing music as a powerful tool for personal and organizational transformation. She is not only a skilled facilitator but also a professional musician, recording artist, and international author. She is an Orff Schulwerk clinician and a teaching artist for the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts, Young Audiences of NJ, and New York BOCES. Recognized for her exceptional contributions to arts education, Mary was honored with the 2022 NJ Governor's Award for Excellence in Arts Education. She is an endorser for Rhythm Band, TOCA percussion, and Peripole Music, showcasing her dedication and support for quality musical instruments and resources. Overall, Mary Knysh's vast experience and expertise make her a respected figure in the field of music education, and her passion for using music as a catalyst for personal and community growth shines through her various roles as a teacher, trainer, performer, and author.

Stan Kramer • Let Me Tell You Something...

Stan Kramer is the Director of Bands at Strong Rock Christian School in Locust Grove.  He recently retired as Director of Bands at Union Grove High School in McDonough, GA a position that he has held since the school opened in August of 2000. Stan has been a member of the Tara Winds trumpet section since 1989 and has served as the band’s librarian since 1999 and Associate Conductor beginning in the fall of 2021. Prior to his tenure at Union Grove High School, Stan was the Assistant Director at Jonesboro High School and Director at Burke County Middle School. Stan is a native of Clayton County Georgia and a graduate of Morrow High School. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Reinhardt University in Waleska, GA and has completed additional course work in school administration from the University of West Georgia.

Kramer has worked for over 30 years as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator in Georgia and South Carolina. His past and present professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, International Association of Jazz Educators, Georgia Music Educators Association, National Band Association, the International Trumpet Guild, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia professional music fraternity. Stan is active as a trumpet player in the metro Atlanta area and for the past five years has served as Assistant Conductor of the Callanwolde Concert Band. Stan and his wife Lesley live in McDonough, Georgia.

Rachel Landers

• Standing on Business: Creative Solutions to Everyday Woodwind Problems

Rachel Landers is an oboe, English horn, and bassoon instructor for students across North Georgia. She keeps a full private studio of over 40 students, many of whom are consistently selected for GMEA District Honor Bands and All-State Bands/Orchestras. Her students participate in a variety of honors groups including ASYO, AYWS, EYSO, GYSO, MYSO, and the Governors Honors Program. Rachel teaches double-reed masterclasses at local schools, is a freelance musician, and serves as an adjudicator for GMEA events.

Rachel holds Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from the University of Georgia. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with “Highest Honors” from the UGA Honors Program. Rachel was named a GMTA “Outstanding Performer” and received both the GMEA Collegiate Scholar and Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Music Educator awards. She is a member of MENSA, GMEA, Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society, and Delta Epsilon Iota. As a member of Tara Winds, Rachel has performed in Mannheim, Germany and LaCroixValmer, France. She has performed at the Chicago Midwest Band Clinic with the Atlanta Wind Symphony and with various ensembles at GMEA In-Service Conferences.

Rachel believes that music is a lifelong activity. Having grown up participating in honors music events herself, she is excited to share and provide these special experiences for her students. When not playing music, Rachel often spends her time painting, cartooning, and woodworking. She resides in Forsyth County, GA with her husband, Jason, and their son, Seth.

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Dr. Christine Lapka

• This is What I Can Do-What Will You Add? Inclusive Ensembles

Dr. Christine Lapka is committed to guiding teacher education candidates in the areas of exceptionalities in music and elementary music methods at the University of Central Florida (UCF). Before UCF, Dr. Lapka was a professor of music at Western Illinois University. Throughout her career, she found her two undergraduate degrees invaluable to her teaching (Music Education & Music Therapy). She served the Illinois Music Educators Association, as the Learners with Exceptionalities Chair, for 15 years and received the Mary Hoffman Award of Excellence.

As a leader in disabilities in music, she presents across the country and has articles in music education journals. Her chapters are “Including Students with Disabilities in Instrumental Ensembles,” in Exceptional Pedagogy for Children with Exceptionalities: International Perspectives (Oxford University Press) and “Breaking Down Barriers for Students with Disabilities in Your Choir” in The Choral Conductor’s Companion (GIA).

Katie Larkin

• Audition Prep: It Starts on Day One

Katie Larkin is the Associate Director of Bands at Riverwatch Middle School. She has served in this role from 2020 to present. Before teaching at Riverwatch, Ms. Larkin served as the Director of Bands at Largo Middle School in Largo, Florida.

Ms. Larkin graduated from The Florida State University, where she studied clarinet under Dr. Deborah Bish and Dr. Jonathan Holden. While completing her Bachelors of Music Education, she performed with various ensembles including the graduate Wind Orchestra. She has continued to pursue her passion for ensemble performance through her membership in the Cobb Wind Symphony. Ms. Larkin was selected to participate in the 2023 Kennesaw State University Conducting Symposium and the Conducting Workshop at the GMEA In-Service Conference. She is also the current director of the Riverwatch Clarinet Choir.

Stephen Lawrence-Carroll

• Collaboration is Key: Teaching Music as a Team!

Stephen Lawrence-Carroll serves as the Director of Orchestral and Music Theory Activities at North Atlanta High School in Atlanta, GA, where his dedication to the arts extends to his role as the Fine and Performing Arts Department Chair. His remarkable contributions to education have garnered numerous accolades, including the distinguished title of Teacher of the Year for the 2018-2019 academic year and High School Teacher of the Year within the Atlanta Public School System. Stephen's passion and expertise have not only been recognized locally but also at the state and national level, with distinctions such as the Educator of the Year by the American String Teachers Association Georgia Chapter, the Atlanta Public Schools Fine Arts Teacher Excellence Award, and the prestigious Country Music Awards Foundation Music Teacher of Excellence Award. In addition to his honors, Stephen has been a prominent figure in music education conferences, sharing his insights at events like the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference, the Texas Music Educators Association Conference, and the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Conference. His dedication extended to serving as the State Orchestra Chair for the Georgia Music Educators Association from 2021-2023. Stephen Lawrence-Carroll holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Loyola University New Orleans and a Master of Music Education from the University of Georgia. Outside of school, Stephen finds joy in moments with his family and husband, Kevin, and delights in performing as part of the Piedmont Strings Quartet.

Dr. Roy Legette

• Unpacking the NAfME Blueprint for Strengthening the Music Teacher Profession

Roy Legette is professor and chair of music education in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia. Dr. Legette is an active researcher and chair of the Social Justice Special Interest Research Group of the National Association for Music Education. He has presented his work at professional conferences and symposia in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, South America, and Canada. His research interests include music teacher education, student motivation and achievement, and teaching practice. Dr. Legette is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the Georgia Music Educators Association, the American Educational Research Association, and the International Society for Music Education.

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Rae Litowich

• Don't Just Perform; Entertain!

Rae Litowich currently serves as the orchestra director at McIntosh High School. She is also a GMEA adjudicator and has been either a judge or guest clinician for the University of Georgia, Kennesaw State University, Clarke County, Cobb County, Henry County, Dougherty County, the Atlanta Public Schools, and Dekalb county. She also served as the Assistant Director of the Athens Youth Symphony, and performed with the Athens Symphony Orchestra, Southern Crescent Symphony Orchestra, and served as the music and orchestra pit director for Twilight Theater in Peachtree City.

Rae began teaching in 2005 in Clarke county, and has also taught in Clayton and Cobb counties before joining the Fayette county school system in 2019. Mrs. Litowich’s orchestras consistently receive ratings of Superior at Large Group Performance Evaluation and her students have been selected for All-State Orchestra, Spivey Chamber Honor Orchestra, Fayette All County Honor Orchestra, North Georgia Honor Orchestra, and the Governor’s Honors Program.

Mrs. Litowich holds a Bachelor and Master’s of Music Education from the University of Georgia. She and her husband, Chris, live in Fayetteville, Georgia with their two daughters, Aleah and Adira.

Sidney Maurice

• "Stop Squeaking!" Mastering Woodwind Pedagogy in the Middle and High School Band

Sidney Maurice serves as the Assistant Band Director at McClure Middle School in the Cobb County School District. The McClure Band serves over 400 students and feeds Harrison High School, Kennesaw Mountain High School, and Allatoona High School. Ensembles under her direction have earned consistent Superior Ratings at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation and her students regularly earn sports within the GMEA District XII Middle School Honor Band.

Ms. Maurice attended school in Cobb County where she began her bassoon studies and participated in the All- State Band, Honors District Orchestra, and District Band. She attended Georgia's Governor's Honors Program in 2017 and received the John Philip Sousa Award upon graduating from high school.

Ms. Maurice has been teaching private Bassoon lessons since 2016 and her students have earned top stops in the GMEA All-State Band and District Bands. She has been on staff with the Cobb Middle School Band Camp since 2019, and she is on staff with Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia and formerly at Wakeland High School in Frisco, Texas as well as been on the teaching staff and serving Drum Major for the University of North Texas Green Brigade.

Ms. Maurice is a graduate of the University of North Texas with a degree in Music Education. During her time at UNT she has performed with the Wind Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Chamber Music studies. Sidney has professional affiliations with Georgia Music Educators Association and Kappa Kappa Psi and is a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony.

Ashleigh McDaniel Spatz

• CAN The Connected Arts Network: A Nationwide Movement to Address Diversity & Inclusion

• Getting Techy With It! Voice and Choice Project Based Learning With Music Technology

Ashleigh McDaniel Spatz teaches music technology at Rising Starr Middle School. Her goal as a music educator is to inspire a love of learning, a love of music, and to help every student shine in their own unique way. For the majority of her career, she taught elementary general music, chorus, and steel band at Burgess Peterson Academy in Atlanta Public Schools and throughout metro Atlanta. She is a national teacher leader with Nafme in the Connected Arts Network (CAN). Through this 5 year initiative, she will lead Professional Learning Communities that specifically address Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Social and Emotional Learning, and Standards-based music education. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Music from Mercer University and her Masters of Music Education from Texas Tech University. She was the 2020 recipient of the Give-A-Note Music Education Innovator Award, the 2019 CMA Music Teacher of Excellence Award, and the 2019 Teach On Project Award. She was the 2019-2020 Teacher of the Year at Burgess Peterson Academy and a top 25 semifinalist for the Grammy Music Educator Award in 2023. She served on committees to create resources and rewrite the Georgia Music Standards for the Georgia Department of Education, and was a teacher leader on the Fine Art Support Team for Atlanta Public Schools. She enjoys mentoring new teachers, and she is a proud mom to four rowdy and beautiful children. Follow Hall Pass Entertainment on YouTube, Instagram, and X @hallpasscreates to see her classroom ideas and student work.

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Hunter McGee

• Audition Prep: It Starts on Day One

Hunter McGee is the Director of Bands at Riverwatch Middle School. Under his direction, the Riverwatch Symphonic Band has performed at the GMEA In-Service Conference, Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival, Music for All UCF-Orlando Invitational, and in Carnegie Hall alongside the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and Brooklyn Wind Symphony. During that time, the band program is a two-time recipient of the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award (2019 & 2022). Under McGee's leadership, the Riverwatch band has collaborated with guest artists such as Frank Ticheli, Joseph Alessi, Nathan Zgonc, Brandon Craswell, and more. McGee was selected as the 2022-2023 Riverwatch Middle School Teacher of the Year and was a Forsyth County Schools Teacher of the Year Semi-finalist.

McGee has worked extensively with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, serving as the Percussion Coordinator from 2013-2020 and on performance tours to Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA), Carnegie Hall (NYC), Severance Hall (Cleveland), the New World Center (Miami), and the Music Center at Strathmore. He also served as Director of Percussion at Lakeside High School (Atlanta) from 20142017. McGee is Director of Music at Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church and Co-Director of the Atlanta Trumpet Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at Riverwatch, he served as Director of Bands at Dacula Middle School.

McGee graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia, where he was a percussion student of Timothy K. Adams and Kimberly Toscano Adams. While completing his Bachelor of Music Education, he performed with the UGA Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Percussion Ensemble.

Dr. Brandon Meeks

• Ain't No Mountain High Enough: Tips for Building an Ensemble Culture for Success!

• Chaos to Order: Repurposing the First 10 minutes of the Ensemble Rehearsal

Dr. Brandon Meeks is from Charlotte, North Carolina, and is currently the Director of Athletic Bands and Assistant Professor of Music Education at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is a graduate of Florida State University where he received his PhD and Masters in Music Education. He is also a 2009 graduate of Western Carolina University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Music Education. While at WCU, Dr. Meeks was a recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Teaching Fellows scholarship program. From 2009-2016 he served as the Director of Bands at East Lincoln Middle School in Iron Station, NC. During his tenure at East Lincoln, the band program experienced growth, consistently received Superior and Excellent ratings at state festivals and maintained a culture of high expectations and musical excellence. Dr. Meeks is a National Board-Certified Teacher, holds honorary memberships to Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma, was named the 2013 East Lincoln Middle School Teacher of the Year, and was named the 2016 NC South Central Bandmasters Young Director Award for Excellence. He is an active presenter across the southeast, enjoys fitness activities and playing the piano and currently resides in Woodstock, Georgia.

Robyn Meeks

• You Got the Job! What Comes Next?

Robyn is a second year teacher fixing to be on her third year in the 2024-2025 school term in the Baldwin County School District. She has an Associates of Arts in Early Childhood Education from East Georgia State College and a BA-MAT Music Education from Georgia College & State University. Robyn is active in her school district as a General Music teacher, Choral director, Theater Director, and Band Staff for the Baldwin County High School Band of the Braves. Robyn is a native to Treutlen County, Soperton GA, but moved to Baldwin County to attend GCSU and has loved living here since.

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Dr. Katrin Meidell

• Educator Burnout is Real: Best Practices to Maintain Your Wellness

• It's Not Just a Big Violin! A Session on Violin-to-Viola Basics

Violist Katrin Meidell, DMA, enjoys a prolific career as a performer, pedagogue, and lecturer. Her diverse abilities have taken her across the USA, to Canada, Finland, Austria, Poland, Brazil, the Netherlands, Thailand, and New Zealand. Meidell has been published in the Journal of the American Viola Society (AVS) and American String Teacher, and was highly involved for eight years with the AVS, culminating in her organizing and hosting the 2022 American Viola Society Festival & 47th International Viola Congress. In July 2024 she returned to the AVS, beginning her three-year tenure as Secretary for the organization.

She is a Karen Tuttle Coordination pedagogue, with recent master class engagements at International Viola Congresses (Thailand and Netherlands), the Poznań International Viola Forum (Poland), University of Alabama, Boston University, the University of North Texas, and many more. Her students are winners of competitions and orchestral and educational positions.

An expert in string musician’s health, she regularly presents pedagogical sessions at regional, national, and international conferences. Highlights include presentations, as well as performances, at AVS Festivals (2018, 2020/2021, 2024), the 2017 and 2023 International Viola Congresses, and three presentations at the 2020 American String Teachers Association Conference.

Dr. Meidell is Associate Professor of Viola at the Schwob School of Music, Columbus State University, in Georgia. She holds degrees from Boston University, New England Conservatory, and the University of North Texas, where her viola teachers were Michelle LaCourse, Carol Rodland, and Dr. Susan Dubois.

When not working, she enjoys traveling, outdoor activities, and knitting. For more, please visit www.katrinmeidell.com.

David Metrio

• New Music Reading Session

David Metrio is currently the Director of Orchestras at North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee, GA, as well as the conductor for the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony. Mr. Metrio has also served as a double bass clinician for the New England Conservatory Preparatory School in Boston, MA.

Before his appointment to the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony, Mr. Metrio served as the conductor for the Georgia Youth Symphony Camerata Orchestra for six seasons. Mr. Metrio holds a masters degree in Music Education from The Florida State University, and has an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Kennesaw State University.

Mr. Metrio is in demand as a guest clinician and conductor around the state of Georgia, and has been invited to present at the Georgia Music Educators Association’s In-Service Conference in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Mr. Metrio was also invited to present at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in 2019.

Orchestras under Mr. Metrio’s direction receive consistent superior ratings at performance evaluations and frequently perform in concert and invitational settings. Most recently, the North Gwinnett High School Chamber Orchestra performed at the 2023 MidWest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. They also performed at the Georgia Music Educator Association’s In-Service conference in January of 2023, as well as the Capital Orchestra Festival at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, in February of 2023.

Mr. Metrio was named the Teacher of the Year at North Gwinnett High School for the 2022/2023 school year, and among the Top 25 Teachers in Gwinnett County Public Schools for the same year. Before serving as Director of Orchestras at North Gwinnett High School, Mr. Metrio served as the Director of Orchestras at Lanier High School in Sugar Hill, GA. In 2020, Mr. Metrio was named the Professional Association of Georgia Educators STAR teacher for Lanier High School. In 2020, Mr. Metrio was also a finalist for Lanier High School Teacher of the Year.

Mr. Metrio is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), where he serves as Chairman for District 13, as well as a member of the standing committee for the orchestra division. He is also a member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA), where he serves as the membership liaison for the Georgia chapter.

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Brittany Mori

• "Stop Squeaking!" Mastering Woodwind Pedagogy in the Middle and High School Band

Brittany Mori currently serves as Band Director at Lost Mountain Middle School within the Cobb County School District. The Lost Mountain Band has over 400 students and is a proud feeder of the Harrison High School and Hillgrove High School Band Programs. The Lost Mountain Bands under her direction have been invited to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival, have earned consistent Superior Ratings at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations, and have students consistently earn spots within the GMEA District XII Middle School Honor Bands.

Ms. Mori is an active concert band clinician and adjudicator throughout the Atlanta area. She serves on staff with the Harrison High School Marching Band and has performed as Clarinetist with the Cobb Wind Symphony including their 2011 Midwest Clinic performance. Ms. Mori has served on faculty with the Marching Band Division of the Music for All Summer Symposium in Indiana since 2010.

Ms. Mori holds degrees from James Madison University (B.M.) and The University of Georgia (M.M.Ed.). While at James Madison University, she served as Drum Major of the 500-member Marching Royal Dukes including their performance in the 2008 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She also served as Principal Clarinetist of the JMU Wind Symphony and Symphony Orchestras, and Vice President of the Eta Rho Chapter of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. Brittany Mori’s family includes Koji Mori, Directors of Orchestras at Harrison High School, and their two children, Kairi and Kyler.

Anthony Morris

• Storytellers: Exploring Hip-Hop and Trap Influences in Wind

Band Music

Anthony Morris is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Wind Conducting at the University of Georgia where he studies with Dr. Nicholas Williams and Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger and serves as a Master’s Conducting Associate for the UGA Bands. Mr. Morris received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education with a dual concentration in Instrumental and Choral education with Cum Laude distinction from Kennesaw State University. Prior to graduate study, Mr. Morris served as the Director of Bands & Choirs at Wildwood Middle High School where he was responsible for the instruction and administration of the middle & high school concert bands, marching band, music theory, and choir program.

Mr. Morris has appeared as a guest conductor with the United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" and was named a Conducting Fellow for the H. Robert Reynolds Conducting Institute at the 76th Annual Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. His passion for music education has led him to create the Relative Pitch Podcast which discusses modern issues regarding music education and helps pave the way for much-needed change to make a more diverse, enriching, and equitable music community. Through these endeavors, Mr. Morris and Relative Pitch Podcast presented sessions entitled “Community Building: Meet Them Where They Are” at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, “Changing of the Guard: Shifting Perspectives of Education” at the College Band Directors National Association National Conference, and “Pushing for Change From the Inside: Bringing Equity to Middle and High School Bands” at the annual Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference.

Jennifer Myles

• Circle Up! Circle and Scatter Games for Upper Elementary

Jennifer Myles is a 10-year music specialist currently teaching at Harbins Elementary in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She previously taught in Fayette County, Georgia. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia and she also holds a Level-III Orff Schulwerk certification and is currently serving on the board of the Atlanta Area Orff Chapter. She has presented at GMEA, Orff workshops, and Orff Levels Courses throughout the southeast.

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Emily-Anne Nguyen

• Macro & Micro: The Golden Ticket to Planning, Rehearsing, & Performing

Emily-Anne Nguyen is the Director of Bands at Hahira Middle School in Lowndes County, Georgia. Ms. Nguyen directs the 6th Grade Beginning Band, 7th Grade Band, 8th Grade Band, Brass Ensemble, Percussion Ensembles, and the Pep Band. Students also participate in several GMEA events such as Honor Bands, Solo & Ensemble, and Large Group Performance Evaluation. Since she began teaching at Hahira Middle School in 2019, the band program has grown to 265 students. Mrs. Nguyen also serves as the coordinator of middle school bands and staff director for the Lowndes High “Georgia Bridgemen” marching band.

Ms. Nguyen is an alumna of Auburn University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor's degree in Music Education. She earned her Master of Music in Music Education from the University of Florida and her Educational Specialist from Augusta University. While at Auburn, Ms. Nguyen served as the head drum major for the Auburn University Marching Band and tuba section leader. Before moving to Georgia, she was the band director at Jemison Middle School. She led students to perform at a high level in community performances, state music performance assessment, and the Alabama Music Educators Association Conference.

Ms. Nguyen is an active Georgia Music Educators Association member and has served as the District VIII Secretary. She has served as a clinician for leadership clinics and honor bands in Georgia and Alabama.

John Palmer

• Optimize to Maximize: Managing Administrative Duties Off the Podium

John Palmer has been in the Walton High School cluster since 1999, directing the band at Dickerson Middle School for 17 years, and at Walton since 2016. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University, a Master of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University, and an Education Specialist degree from the University of Georgia. Prior to coming to Cobb County he taught for three years at South Effingham Middle and High Schools in Guyton, Georgia.

Mr. Palmer has served as an adjudicator for GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations, as a guest conductor for several GMEA Honor Bands and collegiate band clinics and served on the committee to revise the Georgia Performance Standards in 2017. He has also served as District 12 Band Chair, Interim District 12 Chair, and has organized and hosted District Jazz Auditions and District Jazz Festival. Mr. Palmer’s professional associations include Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Band Association, Phi Kappa Lambda, the National Association for Music Education, Kappa Delta Phi, the Georgia Association of Educators, and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. He has received ten Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association, was elected to Phi Beta Mu in 2008, and was inducted into the John Philip Sousa Legion of Honor in December 2021.

Outside of band, Mr. Palmer is a vocal advocate for public education and for teachers and state employees. He lives in Marietta with his wife, Elaine, and their two children, Rebecca and Jack."John Palmer has been in the Walton High School cluster since 1999, directing the band at Dickerson Middle School for 17 years, and at Walton since 2016. He holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University, a Master of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University, and an Education Specialist degree from the University of Georgia. Prior to coming to Cobb County he taught for three years at South Effingham Middle and High Schools in Guyton, Georgia.

Jed Paz

• Can Music Technology Teach Students to Code and Make Music?

Jed Paz is a STEAM Innovation Facilitator at the Center for Education Integrating Science, Math, and Computing. He is an educator with a passion for STEAM education at the intersection of music and technology using the EarSketch program.

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Faith Parker

• AI Want to Make Your Life Easier!

Faith Parker is a dedicated educator and community leader with a passion for music and service. As the Director of Bands at Clements Middle School in Covington, GA, she approaches her fourth year of inspiring young musicians to excel. Her commitment to excellence was recognized when she was named the Clements Middle School Teacher of the Year for the 2024-2025 academic year.

With a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Mercer University in Macon, GA, she brings both academic rigor and practical experience to her role. She also serves as the Department Chair for the Connections Team at Clements Middle School, demonstrating strong leadership and organizational skills.

Outside of her work at the school, Faith is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, where she serves as the Corresponding Secretary for the Covington Area Alumnae Chapter. Additionally, she contributes her musical talents as a flute player in the Newton County Community Band and plays a pivotal role as the District IV Large Group Performance Evaluation Organizer.

Through her multifaceted contributions to education, music, and community service, Faith continues to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

Dr. Laurie Peebles

• The Virtual Virtuoso: AI Technologies in Music Teaching

Laurie Peebles is currently the Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Graduate Coordinator at Georgia College. Laurie received a Bachelor’s of Music in Music Therapy and a Master’s of Music in Music Education at Converse College and a Doctor of Philosophy in music education with an emphasis in music therapy at the University of Miami. As a music therapist, she has worked with children with autism, Emotional Behavioral Disorders, mental disabilities, survivors of abuse, children who have lost parents or siblings, and/ or other varying health impairments.

In 2019, Laurie was the recipient of the AMTA Music Therapy Perspectives Graduate Research Award for her research study Trends in Music Therapy Preprofessional Supervision: A Systematic Review. Her research on music therapy reimbursement practices in the United States has been published in Music Therapy Perspectives. She has presented at several national, regional, and state music therapy conferences on topics which include supervision, the clinical use of technology, and her experience starting a music therapy program in Zhengzhou, China. She has been member of AMTA since 2008.

When not practicing music therapy, Laurie continues to enjoy performing on flute. In 2014, Laurie was the winner of the South Carolina Flute Society Masterclass competition. In 2015, Laurie performed for Sir James Galway in a masterclass at the Galway Flute Festival in Weggis, Switzerland. In 2018, Laurie performed at the National Flute Association conference with the University of Miami Frost Flute Ensemble under the direction of Trudy Kane.

Dr. Chantae Pittman

• Keys to Programming Success: Variety, Engagement, & Challenge

Dr. Chantae D. Pittman is the Director of Choral Activities at Campbell High School in Smyrna, GA in the Cobb County School District, and adjunct professor at Georgia College and State University. She is a proud graduate of Tennessee State University (Bachelors - 2010), VanderCook College (Master’s - 2013). In May 2021 Dr. Pittman graduated from The University of Georgia where she completed her Doctorate in Education with an emphasis in Choral Music Education. During her 14-year career in choral music education she has taught students from elementary through high school. Due to that experience, and her demonstrated commitment to excellence in performance, she is highly respected as a choral clinician, music education consultant, instructor, grant writer, and adjudicator. She is very active as a soprano soloist and choral musician as a member of the Grammy award winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus since 2011, and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus since 2020 where she currently serves as membership president. Having performed with orchestras, choirs, and small vocal ensembles throughout her career as a musician, Dr. Pittman proudly continues to learn, grow, and develop as a musician and pedagogue. She is a proud and active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), National Educators Association (NEA), Georgia Association of Educators (GAE), Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority, Inc.

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Penelope Pitts

• "I Thought I’d Wave My Arms & They’d Make Music!"

A creative and dedicated educator, Penelope is most excited when her students are excited! She believes that middle and high school students are willing to work hard and give their best effort when they know someone truly cares about them. Students frequently say her class is the best part of their day! She combines the right combination of compassion and expectation through high standards and culture building. Her classroom is a beautiful example of enjoyable structure and commitment.

As a percussionist, Penelope holds a bachelors in music education from Central Michigan University and a masters of arts degree in counseling from Cornerstone University. Penelope currently teaches middle school band and high school percussion at Sycamore Middle School and High School. Her bands regularly receive Superior ratings at Concert Performance Festivals and her marching percussion sections consistently place in the top three at regional competitions.

Dr. Andrew Poor

• Turning the Ship: Navigating Change and Growth in Your Program

Andrew F. Poor, DME, is Director of Bands at South Forsyth Middle School in Cumming, Georgia.

From 2006-2015, Dr. Poor served as a part-time music education instructor at Columbus State University in the Schwob School of Music. Dr. Poor received his Doctor of Music Education and Master of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He also holds the Bachelor of Music Education (High Honors) from the University of Florida. Dr. Poor is a member of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, ASCAP, NAfME, National Band Association, and GMEA. Dr. Poor has been the recipient of numerous honors, notably, the 2016 Forsyth County System-Wide Teacher of the Year, and the 2015-2016 South Forsyth Middle School Teacher of the Year. Over his thirty-two year career in public education, his ensembles have given numerous invitational performances, including, the 17th International Cultural Festival in Tottori, Japan, and additional performances at the Southeastern United States Honor Band and Clinic, University of Georgia MidFest, GMEA State In-Service Conference, University of Alabama MS Honor Band, National Band and Orchestra Festival-Carnegie Hall, CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Regional Conference, Georgia State University Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival, and the Music for All National Festival. Dr. Poor has been the recipient of the NBA Citation of Excellence on eight occasions. Dr. Poor frequently serve as a consultant, adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor. With presentations at the Midwest Clinic, OMEA State Conference, FMEA State Conference, and eight times at the Georgia Music Educators Association State In-Service Conference.

Dr. Kenney Potter

• Reading Session: Repertoire for Developing High School Choirs

After teaching at the middle school, high school, and university level for thirty years, Kenney Potter recently transitioned to a new role in music education as Vice President of Publications for ECS Publishing Group. For eighteen years, he taught at choral music and music education courses at Wingate University, where his choirs have received wide-spread acclaim locally and internationally. For the past eight years, he has served as Conductor and Artistic Director of the Charlotte Master Chorale. As a performer, he has been a featured soloist in Carnegie Hall, and was choir soloist for the Grammy-winning Oregon Bach Festival choir as well as the International Bach Academy, conducted by Helmuth Rilling.

In addition to his work at ECS Publishing and with the Chorale, Dr. Potter serves as Choral Conductor at Covenant Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. In demand as a clinician, he has conducted state-wide festival choirs for NAfME and ACDA in Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia as well as in Nairobi, Kenya and Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a recipient of the Lara Hoggard Award for distinguished accomplishments in the field of choral music, given by the North Carolina ACDA, and is a published composer, recently completing a full-length musical based on the life of Robert Smalls. He holds degrees from Florida State University, Portland State University, and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro resides in Charlotte with his wife, Heather, and their children, Syl and Calvin.

Allison Powell

• Circle Up! Circle and Scatter Games for Upper Elementary

Allison Powell is a 10-year music specialist in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She currently teaches at Harbins Elementary and previously taught Jackson Elementary. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia and she also holds a Level-III Orff Schulwerk certification and is currently a member of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and the Atlanta Area Orff Chapter.

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Leah Prescott

• From Jazz Kitty to Jazz Cat: A Toolbox for Beginning Jazz Band

Leah Prescott is a band director and music technology teacher in Gwinnett County, Georgia. In addition to her career as a teacher, she is a gigging saxophonist and woodwind-doubler in the metro-Atlanta area. Prescott has a passion for introducing the world of jazz to her students; whether it is rehearsing the jazz band, playing a jazz piece with the concert band, or performing professionally, Prescott is eager to share her love of jazz with others. Prescott received her BA in Jazz Studies and her BA in Music Education from University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She received her MMEd in Music Education from University of Georgia. Prescott currently teaches band and music technology at Duluth High School; she is also a saxophonist and assistant director for the AlphaJazz big band in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Dr. Myra Rhoden

• Collaboration is Key: Teaching Music as a Team!

• Let Me Tell You Something...

Dr. Myra Rhoden is the founder of the Athena Music and Leadership Camp (athenacamp.com), an all-girls music program created to promote musical excellence while emphasizing leadership skills. Recently retired after serving thirty years as a high school band director in the public schools of Georgia and Alabama, she now serves as the Assistant Professor of Music Education and conductor of the Symphonic Band at the University of West Georgia. Rhoden frequently serves as a guest conductor for state, regional, and university honor bands and is honored to have presented sessions at The Midwest Clinic, various national, state and regional conferences, and for school systems and professional development clinics throughout North America.

A native of Tuskegee, Alabama, Dr. Rhoden was named the NAfME 2018 National Band Director of the Year, has been awarded the Outstanding Service to Music Award from Tau Beta Sigma, the Golden Rose Award from Women Band Directors International, multiple Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association, and has been named STAR Teacher and Teacher of the Year. She had the distinct pleasure of being a guest conductor for the United States Air Force Band and the United States Army Field Band of Washington, D. C. and the Tara Winds of Atlanta, Georgia. She was elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association in 2023, is a member of the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and serves as a Conn Selmer Educational Clinician. Dr. Rhoden holds degrees from the University of Alabama and the University of Southern Mississippi and resides in Fayetteville, Georgia with her husband, Errol Jr. Their son, Errol III, is a freelance musician based in Los Angeles.

Ariel Robins

• Make Music LIT!

Ariel Robins has served as a K-5 General Music Specialist and Chorus Director for Fulton County Schools since 2008. Since 2009, she has filled that role at Findley Oaks Elementary in Johns Creek, Georgia. She has also served on Fulton County’s Fine Arts Support Team (FAST) since 2010 and the Fulton County Vanguard Team for instructional technology support since 2015. She has previously written and created several resources for the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) Fine Arts program, such as working on the standards writing team for the Georgia Standards of Excellence in K-5 general music, authoring the Introduction to K-5 General Music Education module on the Georgia Learns PD Hub, created sample curriculum for general music (currently housed on the GaDOE Inspire website), and served as General Music PLC Lead for the GaDOE Community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia (2008) and a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University (2015). She currently lives in Sugar Hill with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

David Roth

• Empowering Our Students: Building a Sustainable Leadership Program

David Roth joined the faculty at Kell High School as the Assistant Director of Bands in 2008 and was named Director of Bands in 2011. Under his direction, the Kell Wind Ensemble has performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival, GMEA State Convention, January High School Music Festival (JanFest) in Athens, GA, and the Southeastern United States Honor Band Festival at Troy University. The Kell Marching Band is also a consistent finalist and award winner in contests across the southeast. In 2010, the Kell Wind Symphony performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the marching band won two BOA Regional Championships.

A native of Marietta, Georgia, Mr. Roth graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Music Composition, earned his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois, and earned his Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction from Berry College. He was a member of the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps from 2000-2003, serving as the corps’ drum major from 2001-2003. While a member of Carolina Crown, he helped found the Carolina Crown Student Leadership Task Force, an initiative aimed at enhancing the level of student leadership within the corps that is still in effect today.

Mr. Roth is currently an active clinician, guest lecturer, adjudicator, and music arranger across the Southeast. Mr. Roth lives in Kennesaw, GA with his husband Jeff and nine-year old son Jacob.

PRESENTERS

Jeffrey Rowser

• Let Me Tell You Something...

Jeffrey Rowser, is a 2023 Inductee into the National High School Band Directors”Hall of Fame” and a 43-year veteran teacher with many distinctions:  received the John Philip Sousa, “Legion of Honor” in 2023 and 2022 GMEA “Distinguished Service Award”, the 2018 Auburn University “Outstanding Alumni Educator” Award recipient, 2017 “STAR TEACHER”, 2014-15 Morgan County Schools “Teacher of the Year”, 2013-14 “Georgia Music Educator of the Year”. He is a native of Attalla, Alabama and is a 1976 graduate of Etowah High School, where he lettered 3 years in band, basketball and track.  Mr. Rowser later graduated from Auburn University (AU) with his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music Education.  He was a saxophone major, studying with Lawrence Morgan. He has also studied music arranging with the famed composers, Dr. Johnnie Vinson and Bob Richardson.  He performed his student teaching duties with the legendary Tommy Goff at Auburn High School in 1980.  While at Auburn, he was drum major of the Auburn University Marching Band for three years. His appointment by Dr. Bill Walls made Jeffrey the first African American Drum Major at Auburn University and Southeastern Conference.

Mr. Rowser brings over 40 years of experience in music education.  He was chosen in 2006, to lead the East Jackson Fine Arts Department in Jackson County Schools (GA).  His hiring in 2006-07 was to prepare a Fine Arts Department that would begin its work in August 2007.  He was chosen as “Teacher of the Year'' for East Jackson in 2011.  Prior to East Jackson, he served as a director in Dougherty County, Marietta City Schools(STAR Teacher 1988), with 16 years serving as the founding director at Salem HS (Conyers, GA), where he was “Teacher of the Year'' in 1994 for Rockdale County Schools.  During his career his bands received Superior Ratings in all marching, jazz and symphonic music events.  His bands have won over 600 awards, with 350 of those coming at Salem HS as “Superior, Best-in-Class and Grand Champion” awards in band, drum major, color guard, dance team, winter guard and drumline.  His bands have received special invitations to perform in London, Toronto, Hawaii, Orlando, Hollywood (CA), Kansas City and New York.  His groups performed frequently in the Atlanta Children’s Healthcare Parade televised on WSB-TV2.  The Salem HS Dance Team won 9-State Champion Awards in both Jazz and Pom style competition.  During those years the group also earned a national ranking with the Universal Dance Association held annually in Orlando, Florida.

In 1991, Rowser founded the “Premier Drum Major and Leadership Academy” held annually on high school campuses around the southeast.  His student management workshop, “Team Building Anywhere” is a featured session for band, chorus, student council and athletic groups around Georgia.  He has presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic (Chicago) and at GMEA Conferences.  In 2012 he founded the “Premier Drum Major and Leadership Academy '' established at Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Washington.  He is a frequent clinician, adjudicator and guest conductor of Regional and State Band events in the Southeast.  He has served on the Georgia Music Educators Association Board of Directors and organized many district events.

He is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association of Jazz Educators, National Association for Music Educators, Phi Beta Mu Bandmaster Honorary and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Scott Rush

• From Extrinsic to Intrinsic: Getting Young Students to Fall in Love with Music

• Habits of a Successful Band Director

Scott Rush is the team lead for the “Habits” series published by GIA and currently serves as the conductor of the Charleston Wind Symphony. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of South Carolina and is the former Director of Bands at Wando High School in Mount Pleasant, SC. Under his direction, the Wando Symphonic Band performed at the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and were BOA Grand National Finalists. Mr. Rush is active as a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the United States and Canada. He is the author and/or co-author of sixteen highly touted books, some of which include: Habits of A Successful Band Director, Habits of a Successful Musician, Habits of a Successful Beginner Band Musician, Habits of a Successful Middle School Musician, Habits of a Successful Middle School Band Director, Habits of a Significant Band Director, for GIA Publications. In 2010, Mr. Rush was elected to the American Bandmasters Association. He currently serves as Past-President of the Servant Leadership Association for Music (SLAM).

Lino-Raye Sa'enz

• Poor Kids, Poor School, Rich Success

Lino-Raye Sa’enz is the band director at Brantley County Middle School and has been for the past 4 years. During his time there, he has had yearly success, including helping grow the program from 30 to over 160 students, having the school’s first-ever All-State students, and receiving superiors across LGPE/Solo & Ensemble. He is also consistently recognized by his local board of education for his accomplishments and is a speaker at his school’s yearly conference on leadership and success in the classroom. Lino-Raye is a native of Waycross, GA, and attended Ware County High School, where he participated in numerous bands. After high school, he attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College from 2015 to 2017. While at ABAC, he was a member of their Jazz Band, Concert Band, Solo & Ensemble, and Chorus. In 2017, he was named principal trumpet of the ABAC concert band. He graduated from ABAC with an Associates in Fine Arts & Music. From 2017 to 2020, Lino-Raye attended The University of Georgia. While at UGA, Lino-Raye was a member of The UGA Wind Symphony, The British Brass Band, and The University of Georgia Redcoat Band. In 2017, LinoRaye was a Battle Hymn Soloist for The Redcoat Band, and in 2019, he was one of the trumpet section leaders. In 2020, Lino-Raye graduated with his Bachelor’s in Music Education from UGA.

PRESENTERS POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES

Dr. Michele Sampson

• GMEA and Beyond: How to organize and execute your own large-scale performance

Dr. Michele Champion Sampson, a native of Clinton, MS, is the music specialist at Addison Elementary School in Marietta, GA where she teaches K – 5th grade general music and directs the Addison Accents Percussion Ensemble. She received her Bachelor of Arts in music and Master of Music Education from Mississippi College and her Doctor of Arts in music education from the University of Mississippi. She is also certified in Orff Schulwerk and First Steps in Music, a methodology for music education in pre-kindergarten through first grade.

Dr. Sampson has taught at both the elementary and collegiate level in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. In addition to her teaching duties, she has conducted several elementary, middle, and high school honor choirs, presented workshops for throughout the southeast, and has served as a curriculum contributor in Mississippi and Georgia. She is a Cobb County School District Performing Arts Teacher Leader, the 2021-2022 CCSD Elementary Music Teacher of the Year, and is the Addison Elementary School 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year.

She is an active member of NAfME: The National Association for Music Education, the American Choral Directors Association, the Georgia Music Educators Association, the Georgia chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, the Atlanta Area Orff Chapter where she is the chapter’s immediate past president and serves on the National Board of Trustees for the American Orff-Schulwerk Association. In her free time, Dr. Sampson loves watching college football, especially her beloved Ole Miss Rebels, spending time with her friends, family and dog, Sable. She also enjoys weightlifting, reading, decorating, and shopping.

Dr. Shelley M. Sanderson

• Music in the Journey: How to Use Music to Enhance Children's Literacy Engagement and Comprehension

Dr. Shelley M. Sanderson, a native of Warner Robins, GA, joined the Young Harris College music faculty in the Fall of 2015 as the Coordinator of Music Education. Dr. Sanderson teaches all Music Education courses and has an Applied Voice studio. Dr. Sanderson received her PhD from the University of Florida (2015) and is a graduate of Georgia College and State University (MME) and Georgia College and State University (BME). She has previous K-12 teaching/conducting experiences in the Middle Georgia school system where she taught general music, chorus, piano, music appreciation, and musical theater, and has musically directed and conducted multiple musicals. She had the opportunity in 2009 to perform with her Houston County High School choir in Carnegie Hall, New York City under the direction of guest conductor John Rutter. Dr. Sanderson has run a private voice and piano studio since 2006, has been published in the Florida Music Director and The 5th, 6th, and 7th International Symposium on Assessment in Music Education, and is an active choral clinician and conference presenter. Dr. Sanderson was awarded the Vulcan Teaching Excellence Award (2024), at Young Harris College, the David Wilmot Prize for Excellence in Music Education (2014), while at the University of Florida and was the vocal winner for Georgia College and State University Aria/Concerto Competition (2010). Her major research interests include musical theater on the high school level, literacy and music, music and the exceptional child, and music education assessment.

Dr. Robert C. Saunders

• Defining and Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Music Teaching and Learning: Practical Applications to Pedagogy

Dr. Robert Saunders is a member of the Department of Music faculty at Augusta University, where he is Music Education Coordinator and teaches courses in instrumental and general music methods and music production technology. His research areas include instrumental skill acquisition, student perception of online learning and use of Artificial Intelligence.

Erin Serrian

• Lessons Learned from a Suburban Girl Teaching in a Rural Community

Erin Serrian teaches middle school band, ukulele, and general music at Oglethorpe County Middle School in Crawford, Georgia. During her years at OCMS, she has added a jazz program, created a ukulele curriculum that includes in-school performances and advises and collaborates with university practicum students for their method courses. Her bands also perform four concerts annually for the public. Prior to teaching at OCMS, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor’s of Music and completed her Masters in Music Education at Georgia College State and University in the Summer of 2024. Outside of her middle school teaching job, Serrian has served as a guest percussion clinician in several schools across Northeast Georgia. She is an annual member of the National Association of Music Education (NAfME) and the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). In her free time, Serrian enjoys giving back to the community by voluntarily directing both a children’s choir and adult choir at her local church.

NGING LIVES

Jeanette Shorey

PRESENTERS

• The Easy Breezy Blueprint - 5 Ways to Help Teaching Elementary Music Feel Easier

Jeanette is National Board Certified music teacher with almost 3 decades of experience teaching general music, choir, Orff ensembles, and group guitar. She is an Arts Integration Specialist, an instructional coach, a National presenter and a mentor. She has studied Arts Integration at The Kennedy Center through their CETA program and is Orff Certified. She has presented at MEA’s all over the country and mentors music teachers through The Happy Music Teacher Academy. Jeanette is the author of resource books, Stories That Sing and Stories That Sing Too!

Mickey Smith, Jr.

• What's Your Sound Quality?

Educator. Encourager. Those are just two of the words that describe the Southwest Louisiana native Mickey Smith Jr. During his career, Mickey has grown multiple band programs in Louisiana, Texas, and Florida by over 500%, encompassing over half of their school populations. Upon moving to Florida his program had 100% of the school population! Currently, Mickey teaches band to 4th through 8th grade students at The King's Academy. There the program has seen increased interest and growth with the new Beginning Band, Intermediate Band, Concert Band, and Jr. Jazz Band. Throughout his nearly two-decade career, he has developed and grown not only band programs, but most importantly, he has helped young people realize what they are capable of through music. This 7-time Teacher of the Year and GRAMMY Music Educator Award Recipient believes in promoting education and the educators across the globe who make it possible. Mickey Smith Jr. has shared his unique combination of message and music with thousands of students as a teacher, all-state conductor, and clinician. In addition, he has taken his systems of joy for teaching to hundreds of educational conferences, school district meetings, and leadership development stages across North America sharing his "Keep On Going" approach. Mickey has extensive experience teaching in Title I, urban, suburban, rural, public, as well as private schools. Throughout the years, Mickey's classrooms have been filled with students from a variety of backgrounds. There are some who have experienced trauma and adverse circumstances, but they have all been provided with the opportunity to find greater meaning and purpose through music. Mickey's classroom experience encourages students to do more than make music, but also to "discover their personal sound." In addition to teaching, he empowers educators to build genuine relationships with students to discover the unique sound of every child in their class. Throughout Mickey's career, he has experienced firsthand that every child is just one sound adult away from achieving success. Mickey was that very student that benefited because someone believed in who he could be. He believes that modern day teaching is a relationship-based approach, and that more than ever teaching cannot simply be about the subject matter, but also about showing students that they matter. In Mickey Smith Jr.'s classroom, his mission is to engage, educate, and empower every learner to excellence through music, so that every child feels loved, valued, and wanted. Mickey enjoys being a part of the Palm Beach community. West Palm Beach is now home to Mickey, Eugenia, and their two children, William, and Mikayla. You can learn more about Mickey Smith Jr. by visiting his website, mickeysmithjr.com.

Sheila Smith

• AI in the Music Classroom: Tools for Next-Level Learning

Sheila Smith, a veteran elementary instrumental and general music teacher with over twenty years’ experience, strives to connect music with real-world experiences to her students. As the General Music Specialist at an IB-PYP (International Baccalaureate-Primary Youth Program), and STEM school, Sheila regularly connects music activities and performances with hands-on, active research, and cuttingedge technology. After completing an AI course sponsored by her school district, Sheila has made it a personal and professional goal to share her knowledge and experience with her fellow music teacher colleagues. As an Artificial Intelligence Educator, she has prepared a session with links to apps and virtual sites that take your teaching to the next level.

Will Stafford

• Teamwork DOES Make the Dream Work: Team Teaching in the Middle/High School Band Setting

Will Stafford, Band Director at Union County High School in Blairsville, GA, has been director since 2013. A graduate of Union County High School, Mr. Stafford pursued and received a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY. He received his Master’s of Music Education from the University of Florida.

While at the University of Kentucky, Mr. Stafford performed with world-renowned musicians, Branford Marsalis, Joe Lovano, Bob Mintzer, and Ron Jones. In addition, he toured Europe with the University of Kentucky Jazz Ensemble, playing at the North Sea, Montreux, and Beaujolais Jazz Festivals. He has also performed in the Selmer Saxophone Showroom in France, as well as the 2012 Jazz Education Network Conference, in Louisville, KY.

Under his direction, the Union County Symphonic Band has received straight superior ratings since 2016. The group was also recently selected as one of two guest ensembles to perform at the 2024 Reinhardt University Honor Band Event.

PRESENTERS POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES

Dr. McKenna Stenson

• Leading the Charge: Fostering Student Leadership in Choral Communities

As an innovative conductor, teacher, and vocalist, McKenna Stenson has built a career inspiring students to sing confidently and motivating communities to create lasting change through song. Her energetic demeanor permeates positivity throughout the ensemble, creating a community of compassion, trust, and resilience.

Stenson currently serves as an Assistant Professor on the Choral Faculty of Florida State University. In addition to leading ensembles, Stenson teaches undergraduate choral methods, graduate conducting, and graduate seminars. Stenson enjoys serving as a guest conductor, clinician, presenter, and adjudicator for choirs throughout the United States and abroad.

Jennifer Swan

• STEAM in the Elementary Music Classroom

Jennifer Swan currently teaches music at Cartersville Primary School and has been an elementary music educator for 25 years. She holds Bachelor's Degrees in Piano Performance and Music Education from Georgia Soutern University and a Master's Degree in Leadership from Kennesaw State University. In addition to being a music teacher, Mrs. Swan loves to read, listen to country music, teach classes at the gym, spend summers by the pool, go to concerts, and teach piano and ukulele lessons. She also coordinates her school system's summer camp each year that, of course, has a Fine Arts Week.

Brandyn Taylor

• Standing on Business: Creative Solutions to Everyday Woodwind Problems

Atlanta-based music educator, Brandyn Taylor, is the principal saxophonist and operations lead for the 116th Army Band and is in demand as a clinician throughout the state. In addition to mentoring a thriving private studio of students from across the metropolitan region, he has been a professor of saxophone at Georgia State University, Reinhardt University, and currently co-hosts the Atlanta Saxophone Day with Dr. Scott Stewart.

As a performer, Brandyn has played with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, Bent Frequency, Terminus Ensemble, and Chamber Cartel. In his work as an Atlanta freelancer, he has performed with Grammy Award winners Patti LaBelle, Maxwell, Stewart Copeland, and Brandon Bush. Brandyn has been featured on various NPR programs broadcasted across the north and southeast including “Atlanta Music Scene”, “In a Mellow Tone”, and MIT’s “Not Brahms and Liszt”. He made his Nashville recording debut in the summer of 2014. Former students have been awarded top prizes/chairs in competitions across the country and have earned full-ride scholarships to study music at prestigious universities.

Brandyn holds degrees in music performance from Columbus State University and Georgia State University. His primary teacher was Dr. Jan Berry Baker, with additional studies from Dr. Frederick Hemke, Joseph Lulloff, and Mace Hibbard. Brandyn is a Vandoren ArtistClinician and a Conn-Selmer Performing Artist.

Dr. Jordan Taylor

• Diversifying Programming with West African Harp-Lute Music

Jordan Taylor is an esteemed performer and educator recognized for his synthesis of Western and West African musical traditions. Drawing from 15 years living in Ghana, he founded the Ghana National Music Festival (GNMF), the first classical music festival in the country, which plays a pivotal role in advancing arts education and fostering international partnerships. In conjunction with his work with GNMF, Jordan established the Global Arts Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding through education and performance. This initiative aims to create a meaningful social impact by celebrating diverse world cultures. At Frederica Academy, Jordan has created and instructs the Popular Music Ensemble and Audio Technology program, exemplifying his commitment to innovative educational practices in music. Jordan’s performance credits include prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall and the Paris Conservatory, and he achieved a significant milestone by presenting the first performance of a guitar concerto in Ghana. His students have garnered notable accolades, including top honors in national competitions and positions in prominent orchestras, such as Ghana’s National Symphony. Through his multifaceted work, Jordan continues to use music as a powerful vehicle for global change, fostering cross-cultural understanding and social impact.

PRESENTERS

Dr. Ines Thomé

• Harmonizing Diversity: A Guide to Arranging for a Mixed-Level Guitar Ensemble

Ines Thomé is a German-born guitarist, educator, and chamber musician. She completed her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Germany and earned her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

In addition to her successful career as a performer, Ines has been teaching guitar for over 20 years. She currently directs the only elementary guitar program in the Muscogee County School District, where she loves creating innovative arrangements that incorporate a variety of instruments.

As a chamber musician, Ines performs around the world with various instrumental ensembles. Her ensemble, the Yu&I Duo, consisting of Ines on guitar and YuEun Kim on violin, has toured extensively throughout the United States and has just released their debut album, A Journey with Yu&I Duo. Ines's exceptional talent and dedication to music are evident in her numerous awards from international competitions in Germany, Italy, and the United States, including First Prizes at the Beverly Hills National Auditions, the International Guitar Competition in Walnut Creek, California, and the American Guitar Society's Bickford Competition in 2015.

Ines's passion for music and teaching is a testament to her commitment to inspiring the next generation of musicians. Her innovative teaching approach and dedication to creating engaging music arrangements highlight her commitment to music education. When not teaching or performing, Ines loves growing her own food and playing "electricity" guitar with her son Vincent.

Dr. Cliff Towner

• The Virtual Virtuoso: AI Technologies

in Music Teaching

Dr. Cliff Towner is Director of Band Activities and Professor of Music at Georgia College and State University. His responsibilities include conducting the Wind Symphony and Jazz Band, as well as teaching classes in conducting and music education. Dr. Towner holds a D.M.A. degree in Wind Conducting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he studied with Dr. Carolyn Barber, a Masters of Music degree in Music Education from Wright State University, where he studied with Dr. David Booth, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Dr. Terrence Milligan. Dr. Towner has also taught in the public schools for ten years in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Dr. Towner has several scholarly pursuits including wind repertoire, concert programming and engagement in the rehearsal process. He has presented at many conferences including the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA), and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE). He has been published in the Association of Concert Bands Journal and the Journal of Band Research. His dissertation An Evaluation of Compositions for Wind Band According to Specific Criteria of Serious Artistic Merit: A Second Update has been downloaded thousands of times and is utilized at universities around the country.

Dr. Towner maintains an active schedule as a popular guest conductor and clinician. He holds membership in CBDNA, WASBE, GMEA, NAfME, JEN, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Cliff resides in the Milledgeville, GA with his wife Gina, and their daughter Laura and son Nathan.

Jared Trudeau

• All Mixed Up: Musical Theatre Voice Pedagogy for Choir Directors

Jared Trudeau is a voice teacher living in New York City. He received his M.F.A. in Voice Pedagogy for Musical Theatre from Penn State University. Prior to his work at Penn State, Jared received degrees in Music and Psychology from Tufts University, graduating summa cum laude with Highest Thesis Honors.

Jared’s research focuses on the acoustics and physiology of the ways elite professionals sing across different styles. In addition to being published in the Journal of Voice, he has presented at academic and professional conferences across the country about vocal registration and functional anatomy in Musical Theatre singing, acoustics, and mentorship in teacher training.

In his New York studio, Jared works with Musical Theatre, cross-over, and recording artists who are currently being seen on Broadway, off-Broadway, National Tour, and regional stages. Jared also spent six years as an Assistant Professor of Voice and Voice Pedagogy at the Boston Conservatory. He and Joey Harrell are also the co-founders of BroadwayVox, a Musical Theatre education company aimed at changing education for performers and teachers. @BroadwayVoxStudios

PRESENTERS POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES POSITIVELY CHA NGING LIVES

Brianne Turgeon

• CAN The Connected Arts Network: A Nationwide Movement to Address Diversity & Inclusion

• From Covers to Creation on the Ukulele

• Popular Music Education and Modern Band

Brianne Turgeon has been the Music and Chorus teacher at Springdale Park since it opened in 2009. Ms. Turgeon believes music makes life better, and she is dedicated to helping students find their talents in music and in their lives.

Ms. Turgeon is a Georgia native who graduated from Forest Park High School and received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Georgia. She earned a Master of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi and has earned certificates for Orff Level I and Level II, and for workshops in World Music Drumming, Guitar methodology, choral conducting, and modern band.

Ms. Turgeon is an active musician and teacher in the Atlanta area, singing with the Grammy Award-Winning Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus and Chamber Chorus since 1993 (she’s won 6 Grammys with the ASO!), with the women’s a cappella group Yes, Virginia! since 1996, and she has been the Assistant Music Director for the Atlanta Young Singers of Callanwolde since 1999.

Ms. Turgeon has also received the following Grants and Awards: two CINS Grants in 2008, CINS Grant 2010, Atlanta Families’ Award for Excellence in Education 2013, Voted Teacher of the Year at Springdale Park in 2014, CMA Music Teacher of Excellence in 2019. Check out what our Music@SPARK kids are up to!

Alex Ubiera

• "It's Really Possible!" Building a Vibrant Middle School Choral Program

Alex Ubiera is passionate about engaging young students in choral music. Over the last three years, he has been the head choral director at Jones Middle School, where he led a program of over 500 singers. His choirs consistently receive Superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation. Last year, his 7th and 8th Grade Tenor Bass Choir had the honor of being one of the invited choirs at the GMEA Conference. He holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from Lee University in Cleveland, TN and a Master of Music degree from Baylor University in Waco, TX. He is currently writing his dissertation on the topic of Tenor-Bass Choirs and their effectiveness in engaging middle and high school male singers. Mr. Ubiera is happily married to his wife, Ashley, and has two wonderful children under the age of two!

Jody Underwood

• Live Audio 101 - The Ins and Outs for Music Educators!

• Revolutionize Music Education: Start to DJ with just an iPad or Chromebook!

Jody has dedicated over 20 years to the field of educational technology, driven by his passion for "Educating the Educators." Throughout his career, he has designed more than 400 cutting-edge audio, video, music technology, and recording systems, showcasing his expertise and creativity. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Jody is deeply committed to his love of music, spending countless hours sharing his talents at church. He not only leads the church band from the piano during weekly services but also sings, plays keyboards and keytar, and manages sound and lighting for his vibrant '80s tribute band, MIXTAPE. Residing in Middle Tennessee with his wife and three children, Jody holds a BA in Commercial Keyboard Performance with a Technology Emphasis from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. His unique blend of technical skill and musical passion makes him a true asset in both education and the arts.

Dr. Stanton Usher

• Keys to Programming Success: Variety, Engagement, & Challenge

Dr. Stanton Usher is currently serving the community and students of Roswell as Choral Director at Roswell High School. Throughout Dr. Usher’s career he has conducted the University Singer’s, Recital Choir, Honor Choir, Kantorei and the University Outreach Choir at the University of Arizona. While also in Arizona, Dr. Usher served as an Art’s Integration Specialist for the Opening Minds Through the Arts program in the Tucson Unified School District. Dr. Usher serves as a Large Group Performance Evaluation Adjudicator for the state of Georgia and is an active conductor/clinician through-out the United States, where he has conducted the Clayton County All-County Honor Chorus, Georgia Music Educators Association District Six Middle School Mixed Honor Chorus, and the Georgia Music Educators Association District Six Senior High Women’s Honor Choir. He has also been on the podium for the OMA Showcase Honor Chorus in Tucson, Arizona, Conducted the Henry County Elementary Honor Chorus, Cherokee County Middle School Mixed Honor Choir, Atlanta Public Schools High School Honor Chorus, Georgia Music Educators Association District Thirteen High School Treble Honor Choir, Georgia Music Educators Association District Fourteen Middle School Mixed Honor Chorus, Richmond County All- County Middle School Honor Choir, and the Richland One High School District Honor Chorus. His choirs have performed for both Georgia MEA and ACDA State Inservice Conferences, and he is in high demand to provide choral workshops, professional development and seminars for many churches, community choirs and school systems.

PRESENTERS

Roland Ventura

• Macro & Micro: The Golden Ticket to Planning, Rehearsing, & Performing

Roland Ventura is currently the Director of Bands at Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Since his appointment in 2007, the Pinckneyville Band program has grown to include over 340 students. The students participate in numerous different ensembles, including the Beginning Band, Jazz Band, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Pinckneyville POPS!, PMS Concert Band, PMS Symphonic Band, and the PMS Symphonic Winds. Students in the PMS Band program participate in several GMEA band events, such as District Honor Band, All-State Band, Solo & Ensemble, and Large Group Performance Evaluation. Under the direction of Mr. Ventura, the Pinckneyville Symphonic Winds have performed at the Southeastern United State Band Clinic (SEUS) at Troy University, twice at the Middle School Band Festival (MidFest) on the campus of the University of Georgia and at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. The band has also been invited to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival at Georgia State University. Mr. Ventura obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s of Music Education from Troy University in Troy, Alabama. Prior to attending college, Mr. Ventura proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army Band Program. Before his appointment to Pinckneyville, Mr. Ventura was the Director of Bands and Instrumental Studies at the Virginia Beach Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Mr. Ventura is an active guest director, clinician and consultant for groups throughout the southeast.

Dr. Kenna Veronee

• Forts and Fires: Classroom Management Strategies for the Music Room

Kenna Veronee is Assistant Professor of Music Education and Coordinator of Music Education at Georgia Southern University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in music education. Previously, Dr. Veronee served as Associate Professor of Music Education and Coordinator of Music Education at the University of Louisiana Monroe. While there she taught undergraduate and graduate courses in instrumental music education, classroom management, music for diverse populations, and supervised student teachers and graduate research projects. Dr. Veronee’s research has been presented at state, national, and international music education conferences including the International Society for Music Education, the National Association for Music Education, and the Desert Skies Symposium on Research in Music Learning and Teaching. Dr. Veronee received her Ph.D. in Music Education, Master of Music Education, and Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University.

Dr. Sean Vogt

• ForScore & 7 Apps Ago

Dr. Sean Vogt moved from the border of Minnesota & Wisconsin to accept two national search positions in Atlanta: Director of Music at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church; Director of Choral Activities at Clayton State University where he also serves as conductor of the Spivey Hall Masterworks Chorus. He holds a DMA in choral conducting from Michigan State University and an MM in choral conducting from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University.

Prior to CSU, he served as Choirmaster at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Mother church for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul & Minneapolis. His previous collegiate appointment was Director of Choral Activities (tenured) and Department Chair at Mounty Marty College, overseeing a program that grew from 7% to 20% campus-wide, received multiple orchestral invitations, and was a national semifinalist for the American Prize in Music. As an administrator, Dr. Vogt successfully grew scholarships, in quantity and dollars, and was regularly sent by the Office of Advancement for fundraising. Sean also has ten years of administrative and artistic experience with non-profit/501c3 organizations.

As an organist, Dr. Vogt has performed at national conventions of the OHS (Organ Historical Society), NCCO (National Collegiate Choral Organization), ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), as well as solo performances at national and international venues. With decades of collaborative keyboard experience, he is often hired regionally and nationally for vocalists, choirs, and instrumentalists. He worked on a doctorate in organ at the University of Iowa; MM organ – Southern Methodist University; BA – Central College.

Emily Yewell Volin

• Empowering K12

Music Education: Resources from Georgia Council for the Arts

Emily Yewell Volin (she/her) is the Grants and Arts Education Program Manager for the Georgia Council for the Arts and oversees Arts Education Grants as well as Arts Education programs such as Poetry Out Loud, the Poet Laureate's Prize, and the Teaching Artist Registry. She is a licensed P-12 educator in Georgia with a B.S. in Elementary Education from Loyola University Chicago and her MFA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Dance from the University of Arizona. Her career spans professional performance, university faculty, teaching artistry, journalism and administrative roles. Emily is resolute about the arts being accessible to all and valued as a form of recreation, expression, K-12 classroom integration, and professional industry.

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Caryn Volk

• Guitar Ensemble Music Reading Session

• Kicking and Screaming: Teaching Guitar for the Non-Guitarist

Caryn Volk is the Director of Guitars at North Gwinnett Middle School in Sugar Hill, Georgia (Gwinnett County). Ms. Volk developed the guitar program in 2010 and was instrumental in creating the Gwinnett County guitar curriculum standards, and the Georgia Performance Standards for guitar. Ms. Volk has been a music educator for 29 years, with positions including elementary and secondary general music, chorus, guitar, orchestra, and band. In her positions at schools throughout the country, she has demonstrated growth in various programs through recruitment and retention. Ms. Volk holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and a Master of Arts from The University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, and toured the Mid-Western United States, Germany, Italy, and Austria as a member of both vocal and instrumental ensembles. She began teaching in Gwinnett County in 2007 and been proud member of the North Gwinnett Middle School faculty since the school opened in 2009.

Taylor Watts

• Empowering Our Students: Building a Sustainable Leadership Program

Taylor Watts joined the faculty of Kell High School as the Associate Director of Bands in 2013. He serves the band program as the primary conductor of the Symphonic and Concert bands and directs the Kell Band Leadership Program. During his tenure at Kell, the program has performed at the Midwest Clinic, MFA Southeastern Concert Band Festival, GMEA conference, Troy University, and won multiple BOA regional class championships. He also works on the board of the Cobb County Student Leadership Academy, presenting lessons to hundreds of students across Cobb each year.

In 2018, he founded Taylor Watts Leadership to share his passion for, experiences in, and insight on character development, conflict resolution, and leadership with students and teachers. He now actively works with high school, collegiate, and professional programs across the country as a clinician, speaker, consultant, and curriculum developer focusing on widening students’ situational perspective while helping them develop communication and interpretation skills to positively inspire change in others. His presentations have been accepted into the Midwest Clinic and the Georgia Music Educators’ Association conferences and received strong acclaim from attendees. Additionally, he serves on the board of SLAM, the Servant Leadership Association for Music, developing curriculum for its teacher certification program.

Mr. Watts earned his Master’s in Educational Psychology and Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia and currently resides in Kennesaw, Georgia with his loving wife, Caitlin, their beautiful daughter, Emma, and their adorable troupe of animal companions.

Dr. LaToya A. Webb

• Trailblazers on the PATH: Supporting Pride, Affirmation, Togetherness, and Happiness for Women Band Directors

Dr. LaToya A. Webb is Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands at Towson University where she leads the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, and teaches varied courses in instrumental conducting and rehearsal techniques. Dr. Webb previously held positions at Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Texas at Austin, and Auburn and Grambling State University. Currently, she serves as the Tau Beta Sigma National vice president for Professional Relations, building relationships within the college band teaching profession and co-coordinating the National Intercollegiate Band.

Before teaching at the university level, Dr. Webb served as a Music Director and Activities/Events Coordinator at Somerset Prep Academy in Washington, D.C., and as a band director for Richmond, VA, Public Schools. She holds degrees from Norfolk State University, George Mason University, and Auburn University. An internationally sought-after educator and conductor, she is an active researcher, lecturer, author, adjudicator, and guest conductor appearing at state, national, and international conferences, and events. Many of her research publications and works are in the Teaching Music Magazine, The Recorder, and the Music Educators Journal. Dr. Webb is also co-curator of “GO ON: Tell Your Story: Voices of Women Band Directors;” a powerful collection of real-life stories from women band directors of all teaching levels and mediums.

Max Wheeler

• Transatlantic Collaboration: Global Student Connections

Max Wheeler is a producer and DJ who has released albums on Gilles’ Peterson’s Brownswood, Tru Thoughts and First Word Records. As half of Anushka he has performed live from Saigon to Siberia via Texas and Berlin with over 10m streams online. He has worked with artists ranging from members of Kraftwerk to Grime Legend Trim, also remixing artists from Snoop Dogg to Gorgon City. He has been an educator for 20 years, starting with Youth Clubs in West Yorkshire and Lancashire and currently Head of Music Technology at Charanga, winner of the Music Teacher Award for Best Digital Resource in 2018 and currently in use by 40,000 secondary school students in the UK and around the world. During the pandemic Max worked on a small team developing a new accessible online DAW ‘YuStudio’ which is a recent winner of a BETT award and available free of charge for all Youth Music Projects and will be available this year to all Charanga students (currently over 11,000 schools). Max also delivers CPD, training and workforce development on Music Technology, Engagement and Inclusion to a number of Music Hubs and Community organisations around the UK. In 2018 he wrote and performed his first orchestral work: Grown a Grime Opera with the rap artist Eyez and Essex Youth Orchestra – in collaboration with Essex Music Hub. The project was a finalist for the Music Teacher award for Best Musical Initiative and has recently been funded for performance by more music hubs around the country.

PRESENTERS

Tracey Wiley

• The Melodic Mind: Understanding Music's Grip on Our Emotions, Memories, and Motivations

As the Director of Education Outreach at Georgia Public Broadcasting and a former classroom teacher of more than 20 years, Tracey Wiley composes educational experiences that resonate with learners of all ages and backgrounds. Dedicated to providing no-cost, meaningful professional development for Georgia educators, she has trained more than 40 K teachers statewide on the trusted, free content from GPB and PBS. Tracey conducts interdisciplinary lessons like a symphony, skillfully weaving together academics, engagement, and hands-on exploration into harmonious educational melodies.

Dr. Blair Williams

• Analyzing String Instrument Playing Skills to Improve Repertoire Selection

• “Come on in, the water’s fine!” Preparing for Your Student Teaching Experience and Beyond!

Dr. Blair A. Williams is Director of Professional Development for the American String Teachers Association. She has served our string teaching community in public school, higher education, civic and youth symphonies, and in the string studio for over 25 years. Her school ensembles consistently achieved superior marks at contests and festivals. Recent conducting and clinician engagements have included youth, regional, and all-city ensembles in Alaska, Kansas, Hawaii, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Texas. She is on the conducting staff with the Manhattan (KS) Youth Symphony and frequently performs as a freelance musician.

Her presentations and research have been accepted or presented at international, national, and regional conferences and symposia. Her research interests include: music teacher education, community music, and music teacher recruitment. She is published in International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Research in Music Education, Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, American String Teacher, SmartMusic, and in volume 4 of Teaching Music Through Performance in Orchestra.

A frequent guest conductor, clinician, lecturer, and adjudicator, Dr. Williams enjoys working with and learning from teachers, musicians, and students across the country. Originally from Newton, Kansas, she holds degrees from The Ohio State University, Kansas State University, and Baylor University.

Megan Williams

• Standing on Business: Creative Solutions to Everyday Woodwind Problems

Megan Williams currently serves as Executive Director of the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra of Atlanta. Mrs. Williams has been an instrumental music educator in metro-Atlanta for the past 18 years.  In that time, she has conducted bands for the City Schools of Decatur, Gwinnett County and Greater Atlanta Christian Schools. Ensembles under her direction have performed in the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, California, on a 10-day tour in Chiapas, Mexico, and in countless community and GMEA performances. The Decatur High School Marching Band won their first silver division championship in school history under Mrs. Williams direction. Mrs. Williams currently serves as an assistant for The Wesleyan School Marching Wolves, clarinet instructor for a rotation of seven schools and has taught nearly 500 music students for the Outschool international online teaching platform. Mrs. Williams has also directed four different chamber ensembles in performances at the Georgia Music Educators Association Convention. Mrs. Williams holds both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Music Education from the University of Georgia where she graduated with honors in 2006, and again with distinction in 2013. While at the University of Georgia, Mrs. Williams served as Drum Major and Assistant Band Captain for the Redcoat Marching Band. Mrs. Williams has had students consistently perform with the Georgia All-State Bands, District Bands, the Georgia Governor's Honors program, as well as national honor ensembles. Her students have gone on to study music at Indiana University, Berklee College of Music, Northwestern University, and many other established collegiate music programs. As a clarinetist, Mrs. Williams has been among the top woodwind clinicians in metro Atlanta and maintains a full schedule of teaching and traveling to area schools. Her clarinet studio typically has 30 to 40 students who perform at recitals and in area honor ensembles. Mrs. Williams currently serves as a board member for HEART Music, a non-profit organization serving the public schools of Athens-Clarke County. She is also the Community Engagement and Development Coordinator for the Georgia Music Educators Association. Mrs. Williams currently resides in Lilburn, Georgia with her husband James, and their two daughters, Isabelle and Eleanor.

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Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams

• Rep(resentation) Matters to Our Ensembles!

Nicholas Enrico Williams is a Professor of Music and serves as the Director of Bands at the University of Georgia, where he coordinates one of the country’s largest and most comprehensive university band programs, conducts the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, and oversees the graduate wind band conducting area. Prior to his time in Athens, he was the Director of Wind Bands at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music (Melbourne, Australia). Before venturing to Australia, Dr. Williams flourished for sixteen years as the Assistant Director of Wind Studies, the Conductor of the Wind Ensemble, Brass Band, and Concert Band, as well as the Director of Athletic Bands at the University of North Texas. For a decade, he was the Conductor of the Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra Wind Symphony and continues to be a frequent guest conductor of the Dallas Winds (formerly Dallas Wind Symphony), one of America’s few professional civic wind bands. Professor Williams earned the Bachelor of Music (music education), MM (performance-conducting), and DMA (conducting) degrees from the University of North Texas.

Professor Williams has been a guest conductor with the Opole (Poland) Philharmonic Orchestra; the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”; United States Navy Band; United States Army Field Band; United States Air Force Band; Royal Australian Defence Force Bands; World Youth Wind Symphony at the Interlochen Arts Camp; Dallas Winds; Lone Star Wind Orchestra; at the annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois; the College Band Directors National Association national and regional conferences; the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention; and the Texas Music Educators Association Annual Clinic/ Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Williams is active in Australia, Canada, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the United States as a conductor, clinician, adjudicator, consultant, and arranger; his arrangements and transcriptions for wind band, percussion ensembles, drum corps, and school pageantry ensembles are performed by outstanding organizations throughout the world. A member of the Recording Academy (GRAMMYs), he is a soughtafter recording session producer, associate producer, editor, and conductor, having been involved with numerous CDs and DVDs on the Klavier, Mark Records, and GIA labels, as well as UNT and UGA projects, including the 2024 release of “Never a Reason to Stop” by the University of Georgia Wind Ensemble, and the 2019 release of “FIESTAS” by the University of North Texas Wind Ensemble. In addition to his work in the recording arts, he has written several conductor study guides published in the multivolume series of Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. He was a primary consultant of the book Women of Influence in Contemporary Music and is an honorary member of Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity for women. His professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and Phi Beta Mu, an international bandmasters fraternity.

Marcy J. Wilson

• Engaging those Hard to reach Students (Especially Upper Elementary)

Marcy J. Wilson is from Ringgold Georgia and has been teaching elementary music for over 10 years. Each year she actively engages in the Words and Music program, in collaboration with the Country Music Hall of Fame. This program teaches the art of lyric writing to 5th grade students and at the end of the unit, professional songwriters choose several lyrics and put music to the chosen lyrics. Notably, one of her students was selected to participate in The Words and Music Night, an event reserved for invitees only. She also started an Ukulele Choir at Battlefield Elementary with grant funds. She has secured over $10,000 in grants within the past 3 years. When she is not teaching she is at home with her husband and 12-year-old son and in her free time she trains dogs and shows in obedience and rally trials across the southeast.

Dr. Damion Womack

• Exploration! Improving Your Choral Sound with Vocal Placement/Seating Techniques!

Dr. Damion Womack, a GRAMMY nominated Music Educator has dedicated over twenty years serving as an inspirational and motivational conductor, educator, and administrator, at the elementary, middle, high school, collegiate, and professional levels. Dr. Womack has served as Director of Choral Activities at Mississippi College and Chair of Fine Arts and Director of Choral Activities at Huntingdon College. Currently, Dr. Womack has been reappointed as Director of Arts at The Montgomery Academy where he previously received the McLemore Award for Excellence in Teaching. Choral ensembles under the direction of Dr. Womack have performed by juried invitation for regional and national conventions of The American Choral Directors Association and The National Association for Music Education.

Dr. Womack is in demand as a guest conductor and clinician. He has presented workshops and lectures for ACDA and NAfME conventions. His research topics include choral tone, unified and expressive singing, and word stress. Dr. Womack has conducted choral festivals for ACDA and MEA organizations across the United States. Dr. Womack currently serves as President- Elect Designate for ACDA Southern Region and ACDA National Youth Choirs Coordinator. In addition he has served on numerous planning committees for ACDA Southern Region Conferences.

Dr. Womack holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC and holds Music Education degrees from Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University.

PRESENTERS

Sean Womack

• Electronics 101: Design, Implementation, and Execution for the Modern Marching Band

Sean Womack is a former freelance percussion educator, clinician, and arranger based in Atlanta, Georgia. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands and the Director of Percussion at North Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia. Mr. Womack received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Georgia. He is the co-founder and former partner of DoubleStop Percussion L.L.C., a percussion education company in Birmingham, Alabama serving school music programs throughout the southeast. He is an active arranger, designer, and educator in the marching arts and is in demand as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the country. He is actively involved in DCI, WGI, and Bands of America where he helps consult, design, and teach for various programs across the country.

Mr. Womack is active in the Percussive Arts Society where he has formally served as the Alabama PAS Chapter President and is currently serving as the Chair of the PAS Marching/Rudimental Committee. Mr. Womack holds membership in the Percussive Arts Society, the National Association for Music Education, and the Georgia Music Educators Association. He is endorsed by Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, Adams Musical Instruments, Remo Drumheads, and Zildjian Cymbals and has publications through Tapspace. Dr. Womack holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC and holds Music Education degrees from Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University.

Laura Wood

• Health Check: Establishing and Maintaining a Healthy High School Orchestra Program

Laura Wood is enjoying her 21st year as a string orchestra educator. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from Loyola University New Orleans and a Masters in Administrative Leadership. Mrs. Wood began her teaching career in 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada in the Clark County School District. In Las Vegas, Mrs. Wood directed both middle school and high school orchestras, as well as the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra Ensemble. In 2018, she and her family relocated to the suburbs of Atlanta, where she started the orchestra program at Paul Duke STEM HS. Currently, Mrs. Wood is the orchestra director at Lanier High School (Hook em' Horns!) in Gwinnett County. She was named the Lanier HS STAR Teacher in 2023 and 2024. Under her leadership, her ensembles consistently score superior ratings and superlatives at district and regional festivals. In addition to being a school orchestra director, she is an active clinician, guest conductor, adjudicator, and teacher mentor. Mrs. Wood has had the privilege of working with honor orchestras in Georgia and Tennessee. She also had the honor of conducting the first Nevada Middle School All-State Orchestra in 2024. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the American String Teachers Association, and the Georgia Music Educators Association. When Mrs. Wood is not teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband (Mike) and four daughters (Emily, Olivia, Ava, and Adeline) in her hometown of Sugar Hill.

Dr. Arthur Wright, III

• The Ins and Outs of the Booster Organization

Dr. Arthur Wright, III is a graduate of Charleston Southern University with a B.A. Degree in Music Education and a 2 time graduate of The University of Georgia with a Master in Music Education degree and a Doctor of Education in Music Education. Dr. Wright was appointed Director of Bands at the Richmond Academy in Augusta, GA in 2003 where he was voted Teacher of the Year in 2006. During his six year tenure at ARC, Wright walked into a program of 40 students and grew to over 120 within 4 years. The marching, concert, and jazz programs consistently received superior ratings at district and regional festivals.

In 2009, Wright was appointed Director of Bands/Assistant Professor of Music at Savannah State University. During his tenure at SSU, the university was named a Conn-Selmer Institution. Wright also implemented recruiting activities such as the Honor Band Festival, Tiger Band Day, and the Summer Middle and High School Band Camp. The SSU band program continued to grow and flourish under Wright’s leadership. In 2015, Wright was named the new Director of Bands at Berkmar High School in Lilburn, GA. The Berkmar band program has grown to over 140 students since Wright’s arrival. The Berkmar band has also received superior ratings at local and regional marching, concert and jazz band festivals. Wright is often sought after as an adjudicator, clinician, and mentor. He has presented at Music Education Conferences in New Mexico, Arizona, Rhode Island, Ohio, Washington, Illinois, Nevada, Maine, South Carolina, Indiana, Georgia and the 2016 NAFME Conference in Grapevine, Texas.

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COMMITTED TO THEIR FUTURE IS OUR MISSION.

RESEARCH Sessions & Posters

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RESEARCH Sessions & Posters

Dr. George Blankson

• Coping Mechanisms for Performance Anxiety in College Music Students: An Examination and Effectiveness Assessment

• From Theory to Practice: Lessons from the Music Student Teaching Journey

Dr. George Blankson is an Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education at Reinhardt University. In this role, he teaches music education courses, supervises student teachers, and directs an African drumming and dance ensemble. Prior to joining the faculty at Reinhardt, Dr. Blankson received a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Mississippi, where he also taught music courses. He has over ten years of teaching experience, ranging from the elementary to the postsecondary level. Additionally, he has experience teaching general music and directing several school musicals in Ghana. Dr. Blankson actively presents research and workshops at international and national conferences. His research interests are in program evaluation, performance anxiety, music teacher education, and culturally responsive pedagogy.

Isaac Brinberg

• Programming Trends of the Big Ten and its Impact on Repertoire Selection as Music Educators

Before graduate studies, Dr. Brinberg served as assistant band director at Discovery Middle School in Indiana. He also served as an ISSMA Solo and Ensemble and High School Organizational Contest adjudicator and the IBA All-State Tuba adjudicator. Dr. Brinberg is a member of CBDNA, GMEA, SCMEA, and a lifetime member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Nu Xi chapter.

Carina Cardoso De Araujo

• Examining Interdisciplinary College Courses: Can the Definition of Music Education Be Broadened?

Carina Cardoso de Araujo is a Ph.D student in Music Education at the University of Georgia. She is currently a teaching assistant for the UGA Music Education program. She completed her Music Education Undergraduate degree in Brazil at the Federal University of Parana, and her Master’s in Music Education at Georgia Southern University, where she held a position as research assistant. She taught early childhood music education, kindergarten, and elementary music education. She plays oboe and she performed with different ensembles, such as the Federal University of Parana Philharmonic Orchestra, Georgia Southern Woodwind Quintet/Wind Ensemble/Symphony Orchestra, South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra, and Orquestra Sinfônica do Paraná. She presented works at national and international conferences, such as 2020 ABEM Sul Regional Conference (Brazilian Association of Music Education), 2022 ISME Conference (International Society for Music Education), and 2023/2024 GMEA Conferences (Georgia Music Educators Association), 2024 Biennial NAfME Music Research and Teacher Education Conference.

Sam Chase

• Women in Band: Past and Present

Sam Chase is the band director at Sweetwater Middle School in Gwinnett County, Georgia. She has a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Columbus State University, a Master of Music in Education from the University of Georgia, and is pursuing an Educational Doctorate in Curriculum and Innovation with a focus in Music Education from Augusta University. Her research interests are leadership pedagogy in music education and gender in band.

RESEARCH Sessions & Posters

Katie Christensen

• Reading Musical Opposites and Pitch Direction with Young Children

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Katie Christensen is a music education doctoral student at the Hugh Hodges School of Music at the University of Georgia. Her research interest is in learning how singing culture is developed. Prior to coming to UGA, Katie's professional career focused on vocal music as an elementary music teacher for six years and a middle school choir teacher for one year.

Harrison Cook

• Physical and Acoustic Differences Between Sustainable and Non-Sustainable Tonewoods Used in the Violin Family Instruments

Harrison Cook holds a BM in cello performance from Georgia State University and a MM from Carnegie Mellon University. He is currently the Director of Orchestras at Kennesaw Mountain High School and is enjoying his 9th year of teaching. He is still very active in the Atlanta music scene, playing in many high level ensembles, including the Atlanta Opera and Atlanta Ballet. He enjoys taking his students to those performances, and bringing what he learns from those experiences back into his classroom He is noted for having created the Cobb Artist in Residence program during Covid, and was the recipient of a $10,000 grant through the Cobb Tank competition for the idea. Harrison is an avid chess player, currently running his school's chess club. He enjoys spending time with his friends and family, playing his cello, playing chess and video games, and baking.

Dr. Brian Coski

• Technology-as-Instrument: A Case Study of Undergraduate Students’ Experience with DAW Technologys

Dr. Brian Coski joined the faculty at Kennesaw State University in 2022. He has received degrees from Liberty University (B.M., D.M.E.) and Georgia State University (M.M.). He has also been privileged to work as a classroom educator, choral director, and technical director in the Atlanta area arts and education community. Brian enjoys playing piano and keyboard for church worship services, fiddling with lights and sound for theater productions, and subjecting students to his enviable comedic style and classroom antics. Coski is recently completed a Doctor of Music Education (D.M.E.) from Liberty University, and researched the topic of “technology in the music appreciation classroom.” He has presented research and workshops at the College Music Society Southern Conference and the Georgia Independent Schools Association. In addition to teaching courses at KSU, Mr. Coski has served as an adjunct professor at Georgia Military College and has taught all grade levels in local area schools as choral director and general music teacher. Brian enjoys teaching piano lessons to beginning to advanced students and offering a ukulele camp program every summer to students on the south side of Atlanta.

Alyna Dang

• Physical and acoustic differences between sustainable and non-sustainable tonewoods used in the violin family instruments

Alyna Dang is a first-year pre-med biology student at Georgia Institute of Technology. She grew up in Cobb County in Marietta Georgia and graduated from Sprayberry High School in 2024. While at Sprayberry, Alyna played viola in their Chamber Orchestra, and was heavily involved in STEM. She is a NCWIT Aspirations of Computing National Honorable mention, a recipient in NASA’s 2023 Plant the Moon research competition as “Most Innovative,” and is a Cobb Tank recipient who has won over $20,000 for Sprayberry’s STEM Academy and orchestra program. She enjoys researching ecological sustainability for string instruments and cellular structures of plants. She hopes to continue her studies at Georgia Institute of Technology and pursue an education in pediatric research. In her free time, she enjoys musical performances, video games, films, and spending time with her family.

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RESEARCH Sessions & Posters

K. Freer

• What Can Research-Informed Practice Look Like in My Classroom?

Patrick K. Freer is Professor of Music at Georgia State University where he conducts the Tenor-Bass Choir and directs the masters & doctoral programs in music education. The GSU Tenor-Bass Choir was of four national finalists for the 2023 American Prize in Choral Performance (large university division) and was selected by audition to perform for the 2023 GA-American Choral Directors Association. The ensemble was a featured choir in 2022’s XIV Corhabana International Choir Festival (Havana, Cuba) and the 2012 national meeting of Intercollegiate Men’s Choruses, Inc. (now the IMC: Tenor-Bass Choral Consortium). Dr. Freer has held Visiting Professorships at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg (Austria) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). He has been conductor-in-residence conductor for the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (Colombia). His degrees are from Westminster Choir College and Teachers College-Columbia University. Dr. Freer has guest conducted or presented in 40 states and 31 countries. Dr. Freer is Editor of the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing and former longtime editor of Music Educators Journal. He serves on ACDA’s National Standing Committee for Research and Publications and chaired the first three of ACDA’s International Symposia for Research in Choral Singing. He was elected to three terms as National Chair for NAfME’s Special Research Group on Gender & Sexuality. Dr. Freer also chaired the philosophy sub-group within the task force responding to COVID-19 concerns for the National Collegiate Choral Organization (USA). Dr. Freer is a recipient of the Outstanding Senior Faculty Award for Research & Creative Activity in GSU’s College of the Arts.

Dr. Chris Harper

• Commonalities in Teaching Strategies Among Middle School Directors for Individuals Auditioning for Georgia's All-State Band

Dr. Chris Harper, the band director at Long County High School in Ludowici, Georgia, brings 24 years of experience in music education. His academic background includes music education degrees from Valdosta State University, Troy University, and Liberty University. Dr. Harper's professional development has taken him beyond borders, as he has studied the psychology of musician motivation from a conductor's perspective under Dr. Dale Lonis and Dr. Fraser Linklater through the Canadian Wind Conductors Development Program in Winnipeg, Canada. He is also a recognized authority on the Saito Conducting Method, having studied with Wayne Toews and Morihiro Okabe, and has successfully applied its principles to elevate the performance of his bands. In 2011, Dr. Harper's innovative ideas on ensemble programming and integration of music technology within a wind band program were recognized in The Instrumentalist magazine.

Dr. Harper's presentations have impacted the music education community, as evidenced by the positive reception of his sessions at music conferences across the United States. His engaging clinics have covered diverse topics, including recruitment and retention in small/rural schools, practical interview preparation, and strategies for overcoming cognitive conflicts in the workplace.

Kristen Kuder Lynch

• College Professors' Perceptions of Culturally Relevant Pedagogies: Insights and Impacts in Higher Education

• Examining Interdisciplinary College Courses: Can the Definition of Music Education Be Broadened?

Kristen Kuder Lynch is a dedicated music educator and researcher with a deep love for teaching music. With a wealth of experience in the field, Kristen spent 20 years teaching elementary music in public schools in Kansas, Missouri, and Georgia. Dr. Lynch's research interests center on culturally responsive pedagogies and the training of preservice music educators.Her research endeavors to cultivate the understanding of the intricate connections between culture, identity, and musical instruction in order to foster inclusive and equitable music education practices. Her research has been presented at both state and national levels, including the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference and the NationalAssociation for Music Education national conference.

Dr. Lynch holds both a master’s and a Ph.D. in music education from the University of Georgia. Shecurrently teaches music education courses and supervises student teachers in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Dr. Lynch has completed Level II Orff training and holds certificates for Conversational Solfège Levels 1 and 2. She is a member of GMEA, AOSA, Feierabend Association of Music Education, and OAKE. When not teaching, Kristen enjoys reading, hiking, and exploring new things! She resides in Athens with her loving husband, Michael, their two sons, Parker and Zachary, and their three beloved dogs, Charlie, Ella, and JJ.

Hayden Laney

• Coping Mechanisms for Performance Anxiety in College Music Students: An Examination and Effectiveness Assessment

Hayden Laney, a current Trumpet Music Education Major at Reinhardt University, plans to graduate in 2026 and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in Trumpet Performance. He graduated from Adairsville High School in Adairsville, Georgia. He is the Principal Trumpet of Reinhardt University’s Wind Ensemble and Drum Major of Reinhardt’s 2024 Marching Season. He is Vice President of Reinhardt’s CNAfME 2024 Chapter and President Elect of the 2025 Chapter. Additionally, he serves as the Marching Brass Instructor for Sequoyah High School, in Canton Georgia, and has previously been on the Band Camp staff at Milton High School and Temple High School.

RESEARCH Sessions & Posters

Payton Lark

• Imposter Syndrome in Collegiate Voice Students

Payton Lark is a senior choral music education major at Georgia Southern University. She proudly serves as President of the Georgia Southern cNAfME chapter, Vice President, Ritual for the Gamma Theta chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, and works closely with the Fred and Dinah Gretsch School of Music Student Advisory Committee. Outside of music, Payton works in outdoor recreation and teaches yoga.

Winnie Mburu

• Scoping Review of Music Perception in Utero to One Year after Birth

Winnie Mburu is a second year Music Education PhD student at the University of Georgia. Her primary areas of interest are early years/elementary music education and indigenous language policy in Kenya.

Elise Naber Allen

• A Survey of Secondary Instrumental Music Educators in Rural Counties in Georgia

Elise Naber Allen is a band director at Oak Hill Middle School in Milledgeville, Georgia, and she also serves as adjunct professor of flute at Georgia College & State University. Prior to arriving at Oak Hill, she taught in the public schools of Monroe County, Georgia; Windthorst, Texas; and Jacksboro, Texas. Ms. Allen is active as a researcher and clinician with her primary research interests being music education in rural schools, music teacher preparation, and woodwind pedagogy. Ms. Allen has written articles for The Instrumentalist and SBO on a variety of topics, including, strategies for teaching in rural communities and practical ways to promote diversity in the band room. She has presented sessions at various conferences, including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and the National Association for Music Education National Conference. Recognized as a curriculum specialist, she has written instructional resources for the Georgia Department of Education and lesson plans for the Savannah Philharmonic. Ms. Allen holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of South Carolina, a Master of Music Education from the University of North Texas, and an Educational Specialist in Music Education from Auburn University. She is currently a PhD candidate in Music Education at Auburn. Her professional affiliations include NAfME, GMEA, NFA, and SAI.

Dr. Martin Norgaard

• Developing Jazz Improvisers Database: A tool to study jazz vocabulary acquisition

What happens in the brain when we play composed and improvised music? Why does music appear to have a positive effect on learning and how can music help people with various challenges related to mental health? These and many other related questions are the focus of my lab at GSU, the Music Cognition and Creativity Lab. I am educated as a jazz violinist and teach string education courses as well as graduate research courses. My research appears in the Journal of Research in Music Education, The International Journal of Music Education, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, Scientific Reports, Brain Sciences, Brain Connectivity, and the interdisciplinary journal Music Perception among others. Check out my lab website at https://music.gsu.edu/music-cognition-andcreativity-lab/ and my personal website at http://martinnorgaard.com.

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RESEARCH Sessions & Posters

Dr. Katie O'Brien

• Examining the Prevalence and Experiences of Music Performance Anxiety in Young Adolescent Students

Dr. Katie O'Brien holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning from Georgia State University (2024), a Master of Arts in Music Psychology for Education, Performance, and Well-being from the University of Sheffield (2021), and a dual Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Vocal Performance from Ithaca College (2015). With teaching experience as a K-12/collegiate educator and a certified personal trainer, Katie focuses on mixed-methods research in learning science and performance psychology with the aim to optimize the teaching and learning experiences.

Andrew P. Schmidt

• Teaching Powerful Knowledge in Choirs: Improving Cognition and Musical Satisfaction

Andrew Schmidt (he/him) is a part-time professor of choral music education with over fifteen years of experience teaching k-12 students, as well as learners at the university and community levels. He is also a part-time professor at Kennesaw State University where he teaches in the school of music and musical theater program. He is also the founder and artistic director of EarlyBird, a professional chamber chorus, Voces Altum, an advanced treble chorus, and music director of the Summer Singers of Atlanta. He holds an M.M. in Choral Conducting from the University of Washington as well as a B.M.E. with choral emphasis from Northwestern University. Andrew recently achieved his certificate of Estill Voice Figure Proficiency and is completing his PhD in Teaching and Learning (Music Education) at Georgia State University. He was a recipient of a Brain and Behaviors Fellowship through the GSU Neuroscience program.Andrew's research examines the intersection of vocal and choral pedagogy with an emphasis on building group and individual multivocality. In practice, by teaching multivocality through a rigorous pedagogical framework, he hopes to rectify academic and cultural inequities in music education. His research has been published in Choral Journal as well as The International Journal of Research in Choral Singing.Andrew sings bass with professional choirs like Kinnara, The Thirteen, and The Crossing. He can be found on recordings by both Kinnara (Provenance) and The Thirteen (Truth & Fable).

Kenna Veronee

• An Investigation of Repertoire Performed at the Florida Orchestra Association Music Performance Assessment from 2013-2024

Kenna Veronee is an Assistant Professor and the Coordinator of Music Education at Georgia Southern University where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate courses. Previously, Dr. Veronee served as Associate Professor and Coordinator of Music Education at the University of Louisiana Monroe where she taught courses in instrumental music education, classroom management, music for diverse populations, and supervised student teachers. Her research has been presented at regional, national, and international conferences. Dr. Veronee received her Ph.D. in Music Education, Master of Music Education, and Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University.

Victoria Warnet

• An Investigation of Repertoire Performed at the Florida Orchestra Association Music Performance Assessment from 2013-2024

• Effect of Post-performance Jazz Director Behaviors on Perceptions of Ensemble Performance Quality and Director Competence

Victoria Warnet is an assistant professor of music education at Columbus State University. She received her Ph.D. in Music Education from Florida State University. Prior to her appointment at Columbus State University, she taught band at Tavares Middle and High Schools in the central Florida area. Dr. Warnet has conducted research in effective teaching, jazz pedagogy, teacher training, and teaching students with exceptionalities. She has presented both research and educational sessions at regional, national, and international venues and published the results of her research in many music journals. In addition to her roles as a researcher and educator, Dr. Warnet maintains an active agenda as a drill writer, guest clinician, honor band conductor, and adjudicator.

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Performing GROUPS

Allatoona High School Jazz Band

The Allatoona high school jazz band is one of two jazz bands at Allatoona. Whether its playing at community events or one of their two yearly concert cycles at the Battery Atlanta, the band plays a mix of jazz standards, latin, afro-cuban, funk, and much more!

Atlanta Wind Symphony

The Atlanta Wind Symphony (“AWS”) is an adult community wind ensemble of approximately 75 players who share a common goal of delivering inspiring performances of quality wind band literature. Members are volunteers and have a variety of vocations, including professional musician, educator, attorney, pilot, engineer, and business executive. To maintain balanced instrumentation, the number of players in each section is managed through auditions. The AWS is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

The Atlanta Wind Symphony was founded in 1979 as the North Fulton Community Band and has evolved into one of the finest community wind ensembles in the Southeast. The group has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City, at four Georgia Music Educators Association conventions, and at the 2021 Midwest Clinic, America’s largest instrumental music conference. The John Philip Sousa Foundation awarded the AWS the Sudler Silver Scroll, North America's most prestigious award for community concert bands. Well-known composers of wind band literature have served as guest conductors, including Alfred Reed, James Curnow, Elliot del Borgo, and Eric Osterling.

Dr. David Kehler, Director of Bands and Professor of Music at Kennesaw State University, is the Atlanta Wind Symphony’s current Music Director and Conductor. Under his leadership, the AWS is building on its rich history to make even greater contributions to the Atlanta music scene by performing in venues throughout the metro area, collaborating with other area musical organizations, and expanding its educational outreach programs.

Performing Groups

Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony

The Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony (AYWS) was founded in 1988 as the premier honor wind ensemble/concert band for youth in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Its purpose is to provide a positive musical experience in an artistic environment for advanced instrumentalists in wind and percussion performance.

The AYWS aspires to enhance the lives of its members and those in the Atlanta community by promoting musical excellence, cultivating a lifelong appreciation for music, partnering with area school music programs, and collectively serving as a cultural ambassador and arts advocate throughout the United States and the world. By challenging and nurturing its members musically, socially, and intellectually, the AYWS seeks to foster the development of sophisticated musical skills and strong values among its members in an artistic, non-competitive, diverse, and inclusive environment.

Admission is by audition. 350 students from over 70 high schools audition for 100 positions, and approximately twenty musicians are retained as alternate/substitutes.  100% are enrolled in their school music programs (a requirement), approximately 85% of students take private lessons, and about 60% are high school seniors.  Of the senior class, about half identify music as their intended major in college.

The AYWS values and celebrates the individuality and beauty of each of its members, embracing a wide diversity of gender identity and expression; race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith background/religious affiliation, abilities and disabilities, and socioeconomic status. Over half of AYWS students are students of color.  As a general practice, the AYWS has always made membership accessible to everyone through scholarship for membership support, travel opportunities, and equipment.

The AYWS concertizes in and around the Atlanta and has participated in commissioned compositions, world and regional premieres, professional music conferences, and tours. Guest composers, soloists, and conductors of national renown are regularly invited to perform.  In recent years, the AYWS has performed at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Severance Hall, the Strathmore, New World Center, and The Midwest Clinic in Chicago.

The AYWS staff consists of a Music Director, Executive Administrator, Manager, Brass Coordinator, and Percussion Coordinator.  It is served by a Board of Directors and an annual core of volunteers from the parent and alumni community.

Autrey Mill Middle School 8th Grade Chorus

Autrey Mill is a public school in Fulton County, more specifically located in Johns Creek, GA.  Our award-winning choral program serves over 200 students who are also involved in athletics, art, drama, cheer, dance, and academic excellence programs. The AMMS Chorus is an inclusive program, welcoming all students.

At Autrey Mill, we celebrate music for everyone, including traditional choral repertoire, broadway, pop, folk, world music and more. Students at Autrey Mill participate in several extra opportunities, including GMEA All State Chorus, District Honor Chorus, Tenor Bass Chorus Day, 6th Grade Statewide Honor Chorus, Solo & Ensemble, GA ACDA Honor Chorus and other Honor Choir Opportunities as available. Our students also participate in local and state festivals, including Large Group Performance Evaluation, Southern Star Festival and OrlandoFest.

Bay Creek Middle School Treble Chorus

The Bay Creek Middle School Treble Chorus is a group of very driven, young women. This ensemble is composed of non-auditioned 7th and 8th graders. While middle school can be some of the hardest years for a teenager, each day they come into rehearsal and strive to create a positive learning environment. The BCMS Treble Chorus embraces each other’s differences and finds common ground in making music together. Members from this ensemble have participated in All State Chorus and District 13 Honor Chorus. These ladies are excited to showcase their hard work over the past year for the Georgia Music Educators.

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Performing Groups

Berry College Tenor-Bass Choir

Founded by Dr. Paul Neal, the Berry College Tenor-Bass Choir brings joy and musical excellence to Berry’s campus and beyond. In only a few years, this group has grown from a handful of men to the larger group it is today. This choir represents diverse majors, states, and countries. On campus, the choir performs at athletic events and presentations at college and community social occasions, as well as concerts in the fall and spring. Serving the local community is paramount to the choir’s mission - the Tenor-Bass Choir sings at local schools and supports events and programs for high school choir men from throughout the Southeast.

Carrollton High School Wind Ensemble

The Carrollton High School Wind Ensemble is an auditioned ensemble consisting of 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students at Carrollton High School. The band performs annually for our Veteran's Day Concert, a Holiday Concert, Winter Concert, Large Group Performance Evaluations, Spring Concert, and a week long concert series for our Elementary School students consisting of 10 performances. The ensemble has received the Exemplary Performance Award and has performed for the Southeastern United States Honor Band Clinic hosted by Troy University and the Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival hosted by Georgia State University.

Cass High School Percussion Ensemble

The Cass High School Percussion Ensemble is an integral part of the Cass Bands, offering students numerous performance opportunities throughout the year across the North Georgia region. The ensemble's primary focus is percussion education while also providing a rewarding performer experience. Members participate in a variety of other groups, including the Cass High School Marching Band, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Blue Crew (Basketball Pep Band), and several smaller ensembles. The Cass High School Percussion Ensemble has performed at several events, including the Northwest Georgia Percussion Ensemble Festival and the Southeastern Percussion Ensemble Symposium. The Cass Band program is committed to developing life-long excellence, character, and achievement through music education.

Cass Middle School Honor Band

The Cass Middle School Bands consists of approximately 285 students spanning sixth, seventh, and eighth grades. Students in the Cass Middle School band have the opportunity to join various ensembles including Concert Band, Pep Band, Drumline, Percussion Ensemble, and the Cass Middle School Honor Band. Notably, the program has demonstrated consistent participation at District 7 Honor Band, solo and ensemble events, and the GMEA All State Band. Both the Cass Middle School Honor Band and Concert Band have earned successive superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation.

In 2021, the Cass Middle School Honor Band was a guest performing ensemble at the Reinhardt University Middle School Honor Band Clinic and the University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival. The Cass Middle School Band was honored with the Exemplary Performance Award during the 2021-2022 school year by the Georgia Music Educators association. Recently, the Cass Middle School Honor Band was invited to perform at the University of Georgia's middle school honor band festival in December 2022. Last year they achieved national recognition as at the College Band National Association/National Band Association Conference in February 2024 and the prestigious Music for All Southeastern Invitational in March 2024.

Performing Groups

Cherokee Bluff 7th & 8th Grade Chorus

Established in 2018, the Cherokee Bluff 7th & 8th Grade Chorus is a non-auditioned group of students who come together every day to share their love of the fine arts with each other and their community. Working to build a program that is greater than anything they could make individually, the students exemplify our chorus motto: Together in Music. The CBMS singers represent a unique middle school culture centered around acceptance, empathy, and one in which mistakes are allowed and growth is the final result. With a focus on creating high quality choral music with everyone who is interested, our students represent our chorus at many state and district level events including various Honor Choruses and All-State Chorus. We are excited to showcase our philosophy that every student can create a phenomenal choir when given the opportunity to sing.

Columbus State Schwob Singers

Schwob Singers is the flagship choral ensemble at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University. Conducted by David Hahn, the 40-voice auditioned ensemble is comprised of CSU’s most dedicated singers and focuses predominately on unaccompanied choral works for advanced chamber choir. Through regular commissions, recordings, and world premieres of new works to collaborations with world-class performing artists, Schwob Singers remains committed to championing living composers and deepening the choral canon.

Recently, the ensemble was invited to serve as the Resident Choir for the Graduate Conducting Masterclass at the 2023 National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) National Conference. The ensemble has also been selected to perform at the Georgia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association (GA-ACDA) State Conference in 2024, and at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) State Conference in 2025. Additionally, the group has been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall in both 2020 and 2025.

Columbus State Schwob Wind Ensemble

The nationally-acclaimed Schwob Wind Ensemble at Columbus State University is comprised of the top wind, brass, and percussion majors at the Schwob School of Music and performs chamber and large ensemble repertoire spanning 500 years. Through collaborations with its own distinguished faculty and world-renowned performing artists, and the performance of new works by highly regarded living composers, the SWE has distinguished itself as a leader among university ensembles. Recent performances include the Reynolds Conducting Institute at the 2023 Midwest Clinic, 2018 GMEA In-Service Conference, and the 2015 CBDNA National Convention at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville.

Creekview High School Camerata Treble

Camerata Treble is Creekview High School’s most advanced treble ensemble. Students are placed in this group based on their vocal tone, collegial spirit, and strict requirements on music-reading ability. Comprised of 11th -12th graders, the ensemble is made up of students who are deeply involved in all facets of school life. The group consistently earns superior ratings in performance and sight-reading at the GMEA Performance Evaluation. Formerly known as Cantori, convention performance invitations include the GMEA Conference (2014 and 2025), the Georgia ACDA Conference (2015 and 2024), and the Southern Division ACDA Conference (2016). Additionally, many of the singers in this ensemble have participated in the GMEA

and

around the region and state. These treble singers regularly join their tenor/bass counterparts to form Camerata, the school’s flagship mixed ensemble.

All-State Choirs

various honor choirs

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Performing Groups

Drew Charter School Harp Ensemble

The goal of the Urban Youth Harp Ensemble is to deliver quality musical instruction on the harp, develop music reading skills and musicianship in students at Drew Charter School in Atlanta, GA. What began in 2000 as two students learning from Elisabeth Remy Johnson, the principal harpist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, has grown into over 70 students learning this ancient instrument from their two harp Instructors, Jennifer Betzer and Molly O’Roark. A major force for the ensemble comes through UYHE Executive Director Roselyn Lewis, a retired music teacher who taught almost all of her 40 years in the Atlanta Public School system. This instrument becomes a positive anchor and a swooping symbol of self-confidence for the students that study the harp both in school and after school. Over the UYHE’s 25 year history, over 500 students have been exposed to the harp.

Flat Rock Middle School Orchestra

Flat Rock Middle School opened in 1990 and currently serves 862 students. The school is located in Tyrone, GA and part of the Fayette County public school system. Flat Rock was recognized in 2023 as a Title 1 Distinguished School by the Georgia Department of Education. We were honored for ranking in the top 5% of schoolwide programs that have the highest performance for the all-students group based on statewide assessments.

The Flat Rock Orchestra has 77 students divided over 6th-8th grades. The program operates with daily grade level classes and after school rehearsals as needed. Orchestra students demonstrate their talents at various events, including school concerts, assemblies, GMEA events like Honor Clinics, All-County Orchestra, Large Group and Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluations where they consistently earn superior ratings. This spring they performed at a Music in the Parks graded music competition where they again earned superior ratings. The program endeavors to enrich the curriculum with diverse educational experiences, ensuring a comprehensive musical education for all students.

Garden Hills Elementary School

The Garden Hills Bear-tones is an Orff-based instrumental ensemble. The group was founded last year, as an extension of daily classroom music instruction. Almost all of the Bear-tones' performance music is taught in the classroom, as part of an equitable means for teaching music to all in a standard-based music education environment. The Bear-tones have performed during various school functions. One of the joys of the Bear-tones is student agency, where many sections of any piece are created by and for students.

Georgia State University Singers

The internationally award-winning Georgia State University Singers is the School of Music’s premier vocal ensemble. Selected by competitive audition, the choir represents the diverse population of Georgia State University. In April, 2023, the choir was invited to perform at the World Symposium on Choral Music in Istanbul, Turkey. In May of 2017, the University Singers won first place in the renowned Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition during a tour of Austria and Germany. The choir’s professional recordings on the Gothic Records label, Evening Hymn (2016), Heavenly Display (2020), and Requiem (2023), have been featured on National Public Radio’s, With Heart and Voice. The ensemble regularly appears at professional choral conferences and enjoys frequent collaborations with the Atlanta Ballet, the Atlanta Opera, the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Performing Groups

Harrison High School Chamber Orchestra

The Harrison Orchestras are part of the Cobb County School District’s Music programs, nestled in the beautiful Georgia pines of Kennesaw, Georgia since 1991. The Harrison Orchestras have an established tradition of excellence and consistently earn superior ratings at GMEA District 12 Large Group Performance Evaluations. The Chamber Orchestra has been invited to perform at the Kennesaw State University Orchestra Invitational in 2021, 2022, and the GMEA In-Service in 1998 and 2006. The orchestra program offers three string orchestras which include the Concert Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, as well as a Symphony Orchestra. Furthermore, the program maintains an active chamber music program. The orchestras meet daily for 90-minutes and perform 5 concerts per year in addition to the annual GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation. Additionally, through the generous support of the Harrison Orchestra Boosters, students have the opportunity to work with professional musicians on a regular basis. Members of the

Harrison Chamber Orchestra are represented at the district, state, and national events including the District 12 Honor Orchestra, GMEA All-State, the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and the National Youth Orchestra (NYO2).

Heritage High School Chorale

The Heritage High School Chorale is the premier choral ensemble at the Heritage High School Academy for the Performing and Visual Arts. The Chorale performs regularly in Rockdale County and the surrounding community. The ensemble has consistently received superior ratings in performance and sight-reading at Large Group Performance Evaluation, and singers from the ensemble have been selected for the Carnegie Hall Honors Chorus, GMEA District 4 Honor Chorus, Governors Honors Program in voice, GMEA All State Sight Reading Chorus, and GMEA All State Chorus.

Heritage High School Chamber Choir

The Heritage High School Chamber Choir is an auditioned ensemble that proudly represents our school in the community.  Consistently earning superior ratings in both performance and sight-reading, the Chamber Choir excels at the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations and other competitions.  Ensemble members have participated in GMEA All-State Chorus, GMEA District VII Honor Choir, and the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program.  Additionally, students performing in this choir have earned the state championship in the Trio division and state runner-up in the Quartet division of the Georgia High School Association Literary Competition.  The Chamber Choir performed at Georgia State University’s “SingFest!” last fall.  They are honored to be a featured performing ensemble for the 2025 GMEA In-Service Conference.

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Performing Groups

Hightower Trail Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra

The Hightower Trail Middle School orchestra program has embraced the Cobb County School District motto of “One Team, One Goal, Student Success.” We are dedicated to helping every student in our program achieve success in and outside of our classroom. The orchestra program currently has over 300 students enrolled in grades 6-8.

Noteworthy accomplishments for the HTMS Orchestra program include GMEA Music program of the year (2019), including being selected to perform at the 2019 and 2025 GMEA In-Service conference. The Chamber, 7th and 8th grade orchestras consistently earn superior ratings for their performances at the GMEA District 12 Large Group Performance Evaluations and Solo & Ensemble Evaluations. Orchestra members consistently earn positions in the District Honor Orchestras and All-State Orchestras.

The 6th Grade Orchestra students participate in “Jamboree”, a combined schools concert held each spring. Each grade level orchestra presents between three to five concerts per year. In addition to each grade level orchestra, students are encouraged to audition for the HTMS Chamber Orchestra. Chamber Orchestra meets twice a week before school and performs at events for the school and community. They were selected to perform at the 2018 ASTA National Orchestra Festival in Atlanta, Ga and performed at the 2024 KSU Orchestra Invitational this past October. Past performances include appearances at the Governor’s Mansion and the State Capitol.

John's Creek High School Chamber Orchestra

The Johns Creek High School Orchestra has performed in several prestigious performance venues. Some of the venues include performing at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois (2012, 2017, and 2022), invitational performances at the GMEA In-Service Conference (2011, 2015, and 2020); music festival at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida (2011); 2012 National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C., for its Centennial Celebration; and performances in Italy (2014), Austria and Czech Republic (2019), and performances in Italy, France and Spain (2024).

The Johns Creek High School Orchestra received the "Community Service Award" twice from the Johns Creek Chamber of Commerce (2010 and 2011) for its services to the community. Some of its community-related services include performing at the "Johns Creek Arts on the Creek" and "Annual Korean Fall Festivals." The Johns Creek High School Orchestra also received the "GMEA Exemplary Performance Award" in 2017. The orchestra members regularly perform for local and national conventions as well as for various community-related events. In addition, several members of the orchestra perform regularly during weekends at various assisted living homes in the Atlanta area through a club called "Notes of Joy," which was founded by two of its own students.

Individual members of the Johns Creek High School Orchestra have participated in the GMEA All-State Orchestra, Governor's Honors Program, Fulton County High School Honor Orchestra, ASYO, MYSO, GYSO, EYSO, and other ensembles. The Johns Creek High School Orchestras have received straight "Superior" ratings at the GMEA District V Large Group Evaluation every year since the opening of the school in August 2009.

Lambert Chamber Orchestra

The Lambert High School Orchestra was established in 2011 to become the first orchestra program in Forsyth County, Georgia. Founded and directed by Julie Rosseter, this ensemble has distinguished itself by its commitment to excellence, creative collaboration, and community service. The LHS Orchestra performed to great acclaim at the Rome (Italy) New Year’s concerts, the Magnolia Chamber Music Festival (Milledgeville, GA), and were featured performers at the Pianos for Peace Music Festival in Atlanta, GA. They are winners of the Grand Prize at the Feis Na Tara Irish Music Competition, and consistently receive superior ratings at the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations. In 2017, the orchestra presented the Southeastern premiere of The Celtic Mass by Rick Holt. The Lambert Orchestra loves new musical adventures, and has collaborated with pianist Malek Jandali, the Manhattan String Quartet, Sharon Forks Public Library, and The Atlanta Opera. LHS Orchestra members participate in the All-State Orchestras, Georgia’s Governor’s Honors Program, Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra, and Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Performing Groups

Lambert High School Wind Ensemble

The Lambert Wind Ensemble is under the direction of Kevin Morrison. Lambert is one of eight premier Forsyth County Schools System High Schools. The mission of the Lambert Band program is to provide a safe, supportive, and inclusive musical environment where all stakeholders may develop and thrive. The Lambert Wind Ensemble is the top of four skill-based wind band courses offered at Lambert High School. Other course offerings include multiple skill-based percussion classes, jazz band, color guard, and music theory.

Since the formation of The Lambert Wind Ensemble in 2021, the ensemble has achieved many honors and accolades. Noteworthy accomplishments include invited performances at the 77th Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference and the 2023 Music For All Southeastern Concert Festival. The sections that make up The Lambert Wind Ensemble often perform at various festivals and events including the GMEA Inservice Conference and Forsyth County Awards Gala. The students within the Lambert Wind Ensemble are also active participants in other Atlanta area youth performing arts programs such as the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Emory Youth Orchestra.

Lassiter High School Percussion Ensemble

The Lassiter High School Percussion Ensemble consists of all of our ninth through twelfth grade percussionists and has a long history of excellence. This past year, the ensemble competed at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention Chamber Competition and received 2nd place overall. The percussion program at Lassiter strives to provide many percussion ensemble opportunities for our students; they participate in at least two concert cycles per school year and perform regularly at the Southeastern Percussion Symposium. The hardworking students in this ensemble have been selected for District Honor Band, the Atlanta Youth Percussion Ensemble and participate in Sprayberry Indoor Percussion. By participating in this ensemble, the students have a fun and challenging outlet to push themselves musically, find a community, and strive for excellence on a daily basis.

Lassiter Tenor-Bass Choir

The Lassiter Tenor-Bass Choir has quickly emerged as one of the most dynamic choral ensembles at Lassiter High School, Marietta, GA. The choir was established in Fall 2023 and is comprised of approximately 32 non-auditioned students ranging from 9th12th grade. Members of the ensemble have participated in District Honor Chorus, AllState Chorus, GHSA Literary and various extracurricular music opportunities. There is a strong sense of camaraderie and teamwork among the members of the Tenor-Bass Choir, which has cultivated a supportive and encouraging environment for growth and success.

Mill Creek Mastery Chorus

The Mill Creek Mastery Chorus is the flagship choral ensemble at Mill Creek High School (Gwinnett County Public Schools). The choir draws from the school’s most talented and dedicated 9th-12th-grade students. Singers are regularly selected for GMEA All-State Chorus, All-State Reading Chorus, District Honor Choir, and the Governor’s Honors Program in Vocal Performance. Additionally, members hold regional and state titles won at GHSA Literary Meets. Recently, choir members made their Carnegie Hall debut performing movements of Eric Whitacre’s The Sacred Veil and Terre Johnson’s A Song of Hope. The choir regularly receives superior ratings in performance and sightreading at LGPE and other adjudicated competitions/events. In the Fall of 2024, the choir served as the Demonstration Choir for the Georgia American Choral Directors Association Student Conducting Masterclass. The choir has placed in many competitions under its current and former directors, including Dr. Carol Taylor, Kim Maugins, and Stephanie Archer.

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Performing Groups

New Manchester High School FAME Jaguar Singers

The Jaguar Singers is one of the three premier choral ensembles within the FAME (Fine Arts Magnet Education) program at New Manchester High School, part of the Douglas County School System in Douglasville, GA. The FAME Chorus program emphasizes the development of traditional choral skills, offering rigorous training in both advanced a cappella and accompanied choral literature from diverse style periods, cultures, and genres.

Comprising auditioned 9th-12th grade students majoring in Vocal Music, Jaguar Singers have consistently achieved superior ratings in both performance and sightreading at LGPE state evaluations. Members of this distinguished ensemble actively participate in District Honor Choir, All-State Chorus, All-State Reading Choir, and the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program.

Recently, the Jaguar Singers had the prestigious honor of performing alongside 3X Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Samara Joy during her 2023 holiday tour at the Atlanta Symphony Hall.

North Gwinnett High School Big Band

The North Gwinnett Big Band is the flagship Jazz Ensemble at North Gwinnett High School. North Gwinnett High School is located in Suwanee, GA and the band program consists of four concert bands, two jazz ensembles, the award winning Bulldog Marching Band, two winterguards, and indoor drumline. Our school is on a traditional 7-period schedule with instructional classes lasting 48 minutes. The North Gwinnett Big Band meets twice a week after school rehearsing for 4 hours total, and Jazz II meets once a week for an hour and a half total.

The North Gwinnett Big Band has solidified its reputation as one of the top jazz ensembles in the region. Revamped in 2021, the Big Band has quickly become a powerhouse in the community, wowing audiences with their impeccable musicianship and dynamic performances. Performing a wide range of repertoire over a variety of styles is key to our curriculum. The Big Band consistently performs in the community, and has been invited to perform at regional festivals. Most recently performing at the Essentially Ellington Regional Festival at Tennessee State University in 2023 and as a guest ensemble at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.

North Gwinnett Middle School Advanced Guitar Ensemble

North Gwinnett Middle School is located in Sugar Hill, Georgia, northeast of Atlanta in Gwinnett County. The school has an enrollment of over 2,360 students with over 1,840 participating in band, chorus, guitar, or orchestra. The guitar program currently has over 360 students enrolled in grades 6-8, under the direction of Caryn Volk and Jacob Moore.

The North Gwinnett Middle School Guitar Program began in 2010 as one of the first middle school guitar performance ensembles with 52 sixth-grade students, and more classes have been added as interest continues to rise. North Gwinnett Middle School Guitar Ensembles have been invited to perform at local school and community outreach events, in Nashville, TN at Belmont University and the Grand Ole Opry; in Gatlinburg, TN at the Smoky Mountain Music Festival; in Charlotte NC at the Carowinds Festival; at the Reinhardt University Honors Guitar Orchestra and Festival; and previously at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2022. North Gwinnett Middle School Guitar Ensembles consistently earn Superior ratings at the Giocoso Guitar Festival in large-group and small-group adjudication.

The guitar program continues to grow and benefit from parents, teachers, and administrators working together to create success. The mission of North Gwinnett Middle School is to pursue excellence in all areas by providing rigorous academics, developing leadership, fostering creativity, and empowering students with the skills to succeed in an ever-changing society through a partnership between students, parents, faculty, and staff.

Performing Groups

Simpson Middle School 8th Grade Orchestra

Simpson Middle School is located in Marietta, GA and has a long-standing tradition of excellence in the Fine Arts. Additionally, Simpson was recognized as the first STEAM certified middle school in Cobb County. With over 250 total students, the Simpson Orchestra Program consistently receives Superior Ratings at State Wide Performances and competitions including Large Group Performance Evaluations and district-based Solo and Ensemble Festivals. In addition, many of these eighth-grade students participate in higher level ensembles such as the Cobb County Honor Orchestra and the Georgia All-State Orchestra events. Many of the 8th grade orchestra students are active in the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Tri-M Music Honor Society organization at Simpson. Almost all of the 8th grade orchestra students continue their orchestra training at the high school level.

South Fosyth High School Wind Ensemble

The South Forsyth High School Wind Ensemble is a concert organization devoted to collaborative music making and granting the composer and their audience the most faithful performances of their music; it is an ensemble which calls upon the strictest of disciplines. We are devoted to providing concepts that will allow our students to become artists and in turn become responsible for their own learning and artistic discovery.

South Forsyth Middle School Advanced Treble Chorus

Advanced Treble Chorus is one of five different choral ensembles offered at South Forsyth Middle School. The entire program is home to over 260 students, with the 80-member Advanced Treble Chorus being the larger of two auditioned groups. About a third of the ensemble’s members also participate in the other auditioned group -- an after-school Chamber Choir, which was selected to perform at GMEA’s In-Service Conference in 2020.

Advanced Treble Chorus has consistently received Superior ratings at GMEA’s Large Group Performance Evaluations and other festivals since the group began in 2015. They have also twice won Best in Class and Gold awards at Festival Disney. Members of the group enjoy individual success at Georgia’s All-State Chorus, with 24 of its members selected during the 2023-2024 school year.

Alumni of Advanced Treble Chorus have continued to perform well at the highest levels in the activity for the choral programs at both Lambert High School and South Forsyth High School. Their accolades include selection to the Governor’s Honors Program for Voice and GMEA’s All-State Chorus, as well as placing at GHSA State Literary.

Springdale Elementary School Music @ SPARK

Springdale Park Elementary is a vibrant school within Atlanta Public Schools, actively pursuing Georgia Department of Education STEAM certification. Our Music@SPARK ensembles play a crucial role in our STEAM endeavors, connecting academics, our community, and each other through music.

The Music@SPARK Advanced Chorus has earned Superior ratings in both Repertoire and Sight-Reading—not required for elementary level—at the GMEA District V Large Group Performance Evaluation for ten years. Each year, selected students participate in the GMEA District 5 and GMEA Statewide Elementary Honor Chorus. Our Chorus and Advanced Chorus have performed at notable venues across Atlanta and Georgia, including the Governor's Mansion, the Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Atlanta Public Schools ard of Education events, as well as community events and professional sporting events.

Today’s concert focuses on the theme of connection. Each song has been chosen to align with our STEAM program and reflects our relationship with the land, the complexities of Earth, and a journey to the night sky and back. The performance features the musical and staging creativity of members from all Music@SPARK ensembles, including the Advanced Chorus, Chorus, Band, Orchestra, and Modern Band. Our repertoire spans many genres, including classical, folk, rock, hip-hop, and traditional choral music, along with arrangements and original musical ideas created by our students. We believe in the transformative power of music and are dedicated to making it an essential part of our school and community life.

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Performing Groups

University of Georgia Wind Ensemble

The University of Georgia Wind Ensemble is the premiere wind band in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. The Wind Ensemble has earned an international reputation for its artistry and clarity. Membership, determined each semester by blind audition, includes many of the most accomplished graduate and undergraduate UGA music students. Employing flexible instrumentation, the group performs a variety of works from the wind and percussion repertoire--chamber works and wind band compositions, fresh ink and classics, and music from around the world. Championing the performance of new music, the ensemble has a rich history of commissioning emerging and established composers.

Walton High School Jazz Band

Jazz has always been a fundamental part of the music department at Walton; Walton jazz bands date back to the school’s opening in 1975 under director Bob Cowles and have continued through the school’s nearly 50-year history. The Walton Jazz Band program is an extracurricular component of the Walton Band Program and consists of three jazz bands with over 60 students involved from band, chorus, and orchestra classes.

The jazz bands rehearse in the mornings before school and have a full Spring performance schedule. The jazz bands perform for parent meetings, District Jazz Festival, and the Spring Concert. The bands also provide entertainment for the Taste of East Cobb Festival – a community event that draws thousands of spectators and participants from the East Cobb area. Members of the Walton Jazz Bands have made District Honors Jazz Band, the All-State Jazz Band, GHP, and are involved in community jazz ensembles.

Webb Bridge Middle School Symphonic Band

Webb Bridge Middle School has always had a commitment to excellence in music performance. The Webb Bridge Middle School Band Program consists of approximately 400 students in 6th, 7th and 8th Grade. Students begin in 6th grade and move to one of two equal 7th grade bands, and a Symphonic and Concert Band for 8th grade. There also consists of a jazz band program and other various small ensembles.

The band students at Webb Bridge consistently earn superior ratings at Georgia Music Educators Association Solo & Ensemble Festival, Large Group Performance Evaluation and have students that participate in both the district honor band and All-State Band. Recently, 29 students won spots in the All-District Band and 21 students passed on to the 2nd round of All-State. The 2019 8th Grade Symphonic Band performed at the 2019 Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival and the University of Georgia's Midfest Band Festival as an invited ensemble. The bands at Webb Bridge Middle School have performed at the Trills and Thrills Music Festivals, consistently earning superior ratings and the Universal Stars Program in Orlando, Florida. The Webb Bridge Middle School Band students feed directly into the Alpharetta High School Band Program.

The NAfME Equity Resource Center for Music Educators and Music Education Supporters

The NAfME Equity Resource Center is a collection of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging (DEIAB) resources to support our members in their continuing efforts to make DEIAB actionable in the music education profession. Selections for the resource center include webinars, blogs, journal articles, personal stories, and frequently asked questions.

The Center is organized in four sections:

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Personal Stories

• SAGE/NAfME Journal DEIAB Virtual Collection

• NAfME Resource Library Selections that include webinars, articles, and the NAfME position statement

Content in the center will be updated as new resources become available.

Special thanks to the members of the NAfME Equity Committee and Equity Leadership Institute for their work bringing the NAfME Equity Resource Center to life

To learn more about the NAfME Equity Resource Center, visit nafme.org

Questions? Call 1-800-336-3678 or email nafme@nafme.org