Jeff Harper is the Associate Band Director at Lassiter High School and currently serving in his 25thyear as a high school music educator in Cobb County, Georgia. Harper earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia, a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois, and 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 Bands of America, Drum Corps International, Winter Guard International, the Japan Marching Band Association, Drum Corps Japan and the Malaysia Marching Band Association. In 2021, Harper presented at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic and serves as the Keynote presenter for the Georgia State University’s Student Leadership Institute. Harper has guest conducted the Georgia Brass Band, regional honor bands, and university high school music workshops. He has developed curriculum and taught leadership clinics at the University of Georgia Summer Leadership Camp and the Georgia State Student Leadership Institute.

Harper’s ensembles have performed at the National Concert Band Festival, The Georgia Music Educators Conference, and the University of Georgia High School Music Workshop. Harper is a four-time recipient of the National Band Association’s Citation of Excellence. As an assistant director with Kennesaw Mountain and Lassiter High Schools, the bands have performed at The Midwest Clinic, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Rose Parade®, and the Washington D.C. Cherry Blossom Parade. Harper resides in Kennesaw with his husband David Roth and his son Jacob.

Jerell Horton has been the band director at Vestavia Hills High School since 2006. He is a graduate of Samford University. Prior to his appointment at Vestavia Hills, he served as assistant director at Pizitz Middle School and Vestavia Hills High School. While at Vestavia Hills, the bands have consistently earned superior ratings at district and state concert band festivals as well as the ABDA festival. 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. 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 in 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 the 2017 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.

Matthew M. McCord is an accomplished attorney who has helped many clients in the Atlanta area with both criminal defense and personal injury cases. The Law Office of Matthew M. McCord, P.C. is based in McDonough, Georgia. McCord provides clients in Atlanta, Jonesboro, Fayetteville, and the surrounding cities and counties with aggressive, passionate, and informed representation. After receiving his law degree from Georgia State University College of Law, McCord worked as a prosecutor for the government as well as a defense attorney for insurance companies. He spent two years working for the Clayton County solicitor general and one year as an assistant district attorney for Newton County. These experiences gave him the well-rounded perspective he brings to his practice today. Matthew McCord also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of South Carolina, Columbia.

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 seven-year old son Jacob.

Bridget Wildes is currently Fine Arts Assistant at the Buford High School 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.  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 Marching Band of Wolves. She also works closely with the Buford High School Theater department, assisting with musical theater and the One Act Play competition. During her time at Mill Creek High School, their 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, a band director as well, reside in Suwanee with their four year old son, Caleb, and their newborn daughter, Kerry Beth.