FACULTY Dr. Nicholas Enrico Williams nicholasenrico.williams@uga.edu 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 comprehensive 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. As an advocate of chamber music, Professor Williams was the founder and conductor of the East Plano Brass and was the principal guest conductor for the Harmoniemusik chamber ensemble. In the wind band world, he has been a guest conductor with the Royal Australian Navy Band; United States Air Force Band; Dallas Wind Symphony; Lone Star Wind Orchestra; at the annual Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois; the College Band Directors National Association regional conference; 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 sought-after 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 projects, including the 2019 worldwide 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 is a primary consultant of 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. Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger jlhart@uga.edu Jaclyn Hartenberger serves as Associate Professor of Music and Associate Director of Bands at the University of Georgia where she conducts the Wind Symphony and teaches conducting. Dr. Hartenberger received her Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The University of Texas at Austin, under the tutelage of Jerry F. Junkin. While serving as a graduate conducting associate, she conducted various ensembles, wrote transcriptions and arranged and charted for the Longhorn Band. She received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of North Texas, where she performed and recorded with the prestigious UNT Wind Symphony. Dr. Hartenberger’s teaching experiences in developing successful award-winning band programs at the secondary education levels include serving as Associate Director of Bands at Forestwood Middle School in Flower Mound, TX and Associate Director of Bands at Centennial High School in Frisco, TX.As an accomplished clinician and guest conductor, Dr. Hartenberger has served as a visiting conductor in concert with the West Point Band in New York; the University of Missouri Wind Ensemble in St. Louis, Missouri; and most recently traveled to Zlin, Czech Republic to work with Larry Rachleff and the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic. Dr. Hartenberger has presented professional workshops/clinics that focused on ensemble concepts for the developing performer at the Missouri State Music Educator’s Annual conference; at the Texas Independent School District In-Services, and at the National Association for Music Education – Southwest Division Conference in Dallas, Texas. Her professional affiliations are the College Band Directors National Association, Texas Music Educators Association, and the National Association for Music Education. Dr. Michael Robinson mcrob@uga.edu Dr. Michael C. Robinson serves as Professor of Music Education and conducting. His duties include teaching courses in music education and conducting as well as conducting the Symphonic Band. A native of Florida, Robinson received the B.M. and M.M. degrees in Music Education and the D.M.A. degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Miami. Prior to this appointment, he served as Associate Director of Bands at the University of South Florida in Tampa and Director of Bands at Fort Hays State University in Kansas. Robinson also taught eleven years in the public schools of Florida, most notably as Director of Bands at Seminole High School in Pinellas County Florida. During his teaching career, Robinson has received numerous honors and awards including; Pinellas County Teacher of the Year, City of Seminole Educator of the Year, USF College of Visual and Performing Arts Outstanding Service Award, The Orpheus Award from Phi Mu Alpha, and The Friend of the Arts award from Sigma Alpha Iota, among others. Robinson is active as a guest conductor, clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. He also has extensive experience in the marching arts having served in a variety of capacities with top DCI Drum and Bugle corps such as the Boston Crusaders, The Cadets, Carolina Crown, Iowa Colts, Madison Scouts, and Suncoast Sound. Dr. Brett Bawcum bbawcum@uga.edu Brett Bawcum is Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Georgia. He directs the Redcoat Marching Band, guides and administers other athletic bands, guest-conducts concert bands, and teaches courses in other areas including Songwriting and Marching Band Techniques. Dr. Bawcum has been a creative force behind many beloved performances and traditions of the Redcoat Marching Band and Georgia Football. He was a key member of the inaugural UGA Spirit Committee that developed the Dawg Walk. He designed the celebrated post-9/11 tribute by the Redcoat Band. He created the “Angel Tag” version of “Glory to Georgia” by fusing existing Tom Wallace arrangements into the modern signal of Bulldog victory. He conceived and realized the “Battle Hymn of the Bulldog Nation” segment of the football pregame show, along with composing the late Larry Munson’s now legendary spoken celebration of the past and future of Georgia Football. This production, which builds upon Jeff Simmons’ arrangement of the UGA school song, is unique in its integration of pre-recorded stadium video and audio, amplified trumpet solo, and live band performance. It was recently voted “Greatest Georgia Football Tradition” by Georgia fans. Dr. Bawcum is an active composer and arranger for marching and concert bands. His conducting, arranging, and/or performing work can also be found on commercial recordings by such artists as Band of Horses, Half Dozen Brass Band, and Modern Skirts. He has also served as producer, associate producer, or editor for seven recordings on the Mark, Summitt, and Naxos labels. Dr. Bawcum’s professional affiliations include the National Band Association, Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, College Band Directors National Association, Pi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Psi (Honorary). Mr. Rob Akridge rakridge@uga.edu Rob Akridge is a retired music educator with 27 years experience throughout the state of Georgia and assists with all aspects of the Redcoat Marching Band. His most recent position was at North Oconee High School in Bogart. During his tenure at North Oconee, both concert and marching bands consistently received superior ratings. The marching band received numerous class, division, and grand champion awards. A former Redcoat, Mr. Akridge received his Bachelors (1987) and Masters (2010) of Music Education from the University of Georgia. He was a Star Teacher state finalist in 1998. Mr. Akridge is an active drill writer, consultant, and adjudicator. His professional affiliations include GMEA, NAfME, and NBA. Mr. Akridge lives in Bogart, GA with his wife, Carolyn, and children, Abby and Ben. Dr. Myriam Athanas myriam.athanas25@uga.edu Myriam Athanas Faulkner is the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Dr. Athanas earned a Ph.D. in music education and an M.M.Ed. from the University of Georgia, and graduated summa cum laude with a B.M. in Music Education from Kennesaw State University. Her research interests include pre-service teacher training, scale development, and broad applications of assessment and educational measurement in music education. She continues to present research at the international and national levels. Dr. Athanas has a background in teaching secondary instrumental music education, specifically at the middle school band level. She was formerly the Associate Director of Bands at Mabry Middle School, in Marietta, GA. She has been on the instructional staff for the Lassiter High School Band, the Wheeler High School Band, and the University of Georgia Redcoat Band. At the collegiate level, she has instructed courses in woodwind techniques and pedagogy, secondary instrumental teaching techniques, and has assisted with Secondary Instrumental Methods, Music Techniques and Field Experiences for Children, music education seminar, graduate Research in Music Education, as well as supervised and prepared pre-service teachers for certification during their student teaching. Dr. Athanas studied flute performance with Christina Smith and Alison Gillon, and was a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony from 2013-2018. She is also an active member of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the Society for Music Teacher Education (SMTE), and the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). GRADUATE ASSISTANTS Anthony Morris Anthony.Morris@uga.edu Anthony Morris (he/him) 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 “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.Professional affiliations include Collegiate Band Directors National Association, National Association for Music Educators, Georgia Music Educator Association, Florida Music Educator Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. R. Scott Mullen smullen@uga.edu Scott Mullen is a conductor and music educator, pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts at the University of Georgia. Scott serves as a Graduate Assistant for UGA Bands in conducting, teaching, and administrative duties with the Wind Ensemble, Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and the Redcoat Marching Band. Prior to UGA, Scott was a Graduate Assistant at the University of Central Florida, in Orlando (Master of Arts, 2023). At UCF, he worked with the concert bands, hosted chamber wind concerts, worked with undergraduate music education students, and helped teach and lead the Marching Knights and Jammin’ Knights pep bands. Scott also received his undergraduate degree from UCF (Bachelor of Music Education, 2016), serving as Drum Major and as a trombonist in ensembles. Scott was a teacher in Orange County Public Schools, most recently as Director of Bands, Chorus, and Orchestra at Wedgefield School. Scott has maintained activities as an educator, and clinician with band programs in Florida and Georgia. His professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Georgia Bandmasters Association, The Florida Bandmasters Association, The College Band Directors National Association, Kappa Kappa Psi Band Fraternity, and Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society. Scott’s conducting mentors include Scott Lubaroff, Tremon Kizer, Kelly Miller, Scott Tobias, Nicholas Williams, and Jaclyn Hartenberger. Jeremy Smith smithjb@uga.edu Jeremy Smith is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and a proud product of the DeKalb County School District, where he graduated from Southwest DeKalb High School. He attended Florida A&M University and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education. Jeremy later received his master's in music education from Norfolk State University while serving as a graduate assistant with the band program. In this capacity, he co-conducted the symphonic wind ensemble, assisted with the marching band, and aided in the recruitment efforts for the band program. Most recently, Jeremy completed his Education Specialist degree (EdS) in Music Education from Piedmont College (Demorest, Ga). Jeremy began his teaching career as an elementary band director in the DeKalb County School District. He later served as the Orchestra and Assistant Band Director at Stephenson Middle School and as the Assistant Band Director at Stephenson High School. As Assistant Band Director at Stephenson High School, he assisted with the wind ensemble, conducted the symphonic band, served as the primary drill writer for the marching band, and conducted the trumpet choir for its lobby performance at GMEA in 2020. Jeremy is a member of the College Band Directors Association (CBDNA), National Association for Music Educators (NAFME), the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, and Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity. Jeremy is a second-year doctoral student at the University of Georgia and is in the conducting studios of Dr. Nicholas Williams and Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger. Gilbert P. Villagrana gilbert.villagrana@uga.edu Gilbert P. Villagrana is currently serving as a Doctoral Conducting Associate for the University of Georgia Bands. Originally from Texas, he earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Texas. Recently, he completed his Master of Music in Trumpet Performance at the University of Georgia. Before joining the University of Georgia, Gilbert served with distinction in the United States Marine Corps stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC. During his enlistment, he showcased his musical prowess as a trumpet instrumentalist with the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band. His diverse roles also included serving as an assistant enlisted conductor, a leader of small ensemble units, and as principal trumpet. Gilbert's dedication to his craft is evident through his extensive training with notable mentors such as Philip Smith, Allen Vizzutti, Dr. Jason Bergman, and John Holt. As a performer, Gilbert has excelled, achieving recognition as a finalist in the Military Band excerpt division at The National Trumpet Competition for multiple years. His musical journey has led him to perform with prestigious ensembles including the Quantico Marine Corps Band, University of North Texas Symphonic Band, and as principal trumpet in the University of Georgia Symphony Orchestra. Beyond his musical pursuits, Gilbert has been deeply involved in the world of marching arts since 2012, both as a skilled performer and an adept educator. Within the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, he plays an active role as a dedicated staff member, helping contribute to the musical and visual demands of the organization. Currently, he lends his expertise to the acclaimed Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, where he serves as a brass technician, contributing to the corps' brass performance awards. Caroline Wright caroline.wright@uga.edu Caroline Wright is joining the University of Georgia after quite an adventurous journey around the world. After graduating magna cum laude from Southeastern Louisiana University with her Bachelor's degree in Music Education, Caroline moved to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to obtain her Master's in Music Education at the University of Alabama. In both of her degrees, Caroline was awarded Most Outstanding Student by the faculty and staff by both Universities upon her completion. Caroline taught briefly in St. Tammany Parish at Mandeville High School, before trading her swamp boots to work with a mouse down in Florida. Her work with Walt Disney’s Performing Arts in Orlando led her to start an international travel journey teaching in schools in Mainland China. During this time, Caroline was voted one of the top ten most sought-after teachers in China and was awarded first in overall parent satisfaction. After returning to the U.S., Caroline was hired as the Director of Bands at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy working on curriculum development from grades K-12. Caroline has been passionate about youth activism and has worked alongside with Legacy Youth Leadership which provided her work as a public speaker in places such as Yale, Princeton, Penn State, Harvard, and Model UN conferences throughout the United States. Caroline has taught Elementary music, and middle/high school bands in states such as Louisiana, Arkansas, Florida, and Georgia. Caroline has joined the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia as a Doctoral Conducting Associate. She is currently pursuing a D.M.A in Wind Conducting where she will study with Dr. Nicholas Williams and Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger.
