Bridget Wildes has been a part of the Buford High School Fine Arts Department since 2020, after serving seven years as the Associate Director of Bands at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia.  Mrs. Wildes is a native of Lawrenceville, Georgia and received her Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Georgia State University in 2013 and Master of Music in Music Education in 2019 from Kent State University. She is currently pursuing her Education Specialist degree from Auburn University. While at GSU, she was a member of the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra, and Symphony Orchestra.  She also served as one of the inaugural drum majors of the GSU Panther Marching Band.  Mrs. Wildes studied oboe with Dr. Lara Dahl and conducting with Dr. Robert Ambrose, Dr. Chester Phillips and Dr. David Vandewalker.

Mrs. Wildes currently assists with the band programs at both Buford High School and Buford Middle School, including the Band of Wolves Marching Band. She also works closely with the Buford High School Theater department, assisting with musical theater and the One Act Play competition, while serving as Fine Arts Department Head. During her time at Mill Creek High School, her ensembles were invited to perform at the Kennesaw State University Concert Band Invitational, the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival at Georgia State University, the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference, the University of Georgia January Music Festival, the University of Alabama Honor Band Clinic and the 2019 Music for All National Concert Band Festival as a featured ensemble. The marching band was a consistent grand champion at marching band competitions, ten time Bands of America Regional Finalist, and three time BOA Class AAAA Regional Champion. The Mill Creek Winds were also named two time WGI Winds World Championship Silver Medalists.

Bridget Wildes is an active clinician, adjudicator and freelance musician, as well as a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association and the National Band Association.  She is the current District 13 High School Band Chair, and plays an active role in the organization of District 13 events. She has presented twice at the GMEA In-Service Conference- in 2019 on developing and maintaining student leadership and in 2020 on taking the next step in your program to reach your goals. She has also been an invited clinician at the Georgia State University Summer Leadership Institute and Georgia State University Double Reed Day. Bridget and her husband, Jacob, reside in Suwanee with their son, Caleb, and daughter, Kerry Beth - both little wolves in Buford City Schools!

Jerell Horton has been the band director at Vestavia Hills since 2006. He is a graduate of Samford University. Prior to his appointment at Vestavia Hills High School, he served as the assistant director at Pizitz Middle School and Vestavia Hills High School. While at Vestavia Hills, the bands have consistently earned superior rating at District and State concert band assessments. The Vestavia Hills Wind Ensemble performed at the 2011 Alabama Music Educators Conference, and the Music for All National Concert Band Festival in 2013. The Vestavia Hills High School Rebel Marching Band performed in the 2010 London New Year’s Day Parade in London, England and the 2018 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin, Ireland. In January 2024, the Rebel Marching will perform in the Rome New Year’s Day Parade. The Vestavia Hills High School band was awarded the National Program of Excellence Southern Division Blue Ribbon Award presented by the National Band Association. Mr. Horton has served as an honor band clinician within the states of Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Georgia. He is also on staff for the Auburn Summer Marching and Leadership Camp and the Music for All Summer Symposium. Mr. Horton is a National Board Certified teacher and was named to SBO magazine’s 2014 list of 50 Directors Who Make a Difference. Mr. Horton was honored to serve on 2017 and 2022 Music for All Tournament of Roses teaching staff. He is married to Monica Horton (also an educator) and they have four children, Madina Jaimes, Israel, Chism, and Loula Grayce.

Taylor Watts is the Associate Director of Bands at Kell High School. Mr. Watts is a native of Kennesaw, Georgia, and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Georgia Honors Program with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education in 2013. During his time at UGA, he served as the drum major of the Redcoat Marching Band for three years and worked with the Symphonic Band as a guest conductor. Additionally, he was named the Presser Scholar in 2012, having been voted by the faculty of the Hugh Hodgson School of Music as the most outstanding undergraduate music major. His studies include conducting with Dr. John Lynch and saxophone with Dr. Connie Frigo, Dr. Joseph Wytko, Dr. Stephen Fischer, and the late Dr. Kenneth Fischer.

As an educator, Mr. Watts actively works as a clinician, adjudicator, and private lessons instructor for both saxophone and conducting. In addition to his efforts in the local community, he has been a part of the staff at the UGA Summer Marching Camp, Music For All Summer Symposium, and George N. Parks Drum Major Academy. His professional affiliations include the National Band Association, Georgia Music Educators' Association, Music Educators' National Conference, and Kappa Kappa Psi honorary band fraternity.

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 (2017), the Music For All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival (2017), the GMEA State Convention (2016), and the January High School Music Festival (JanFest) in Athens, GA (2013). In 2010, the Kell Wind Symphony performed at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, and the marching band won two BOA Regional Championships.  Prior to joining the Kell program, Mr. Roth was the Assistant Director of Bands at Kennesaw Mountain High School where he conducted the Kennesaw Mountain Wind Symphony at the 2006 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic and was a part of multiple BOA regional championship marching bands between 2004-2008.

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 and earned his Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois.  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.  His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, the National Band Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Georgia Music Educator’s Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Roth lives in Kennesaw, GA with his husband Jeff and five-year old son Jacob.

Jeff Harper (Kennesaw, Georgia) is the Associate Band Director at Lassiter High School and currently serving in his 25th year as a high school music educator in Cobb County, Georgia. Harper earned a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Georgia, a Master of Music Education from the University of Illinois, and a Specialist in Education from Berry College. Harper studied conducting with Dr. Dwight Satterwhite, Dr. John Culvahouse, and Mr. James Keene. Harper serves as a clinician and adjudicator for concert bands and marching bands throughout the United States and abroad through Drum Corps International, Winter Guard International, Bands of America, the Japan Marching Band Association, Drum Corps Japan, and the Malaysia Marching Band Association. In 2021, Harper presented at The Midwest Clinic and served as the Keynote speaker for the 2022 Georgia State Student Leadership Institute. Harper’s programs have been selected to perform at The Midwest Clinic, the Music for All National Festival, the Georgia Music Educators Association Conference, the University of Georgia’s High School Music Festival, and numerous marching band championships and parades, including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Tournament of Roses Parade. Harper resides with his husband, David Roth, and their son, Jacob, in Kennesaw, Georgia.