Voting will occur via OPUS from January 12 - January 26, 2026
President
jon cotton
Jon Cotton is in his 21st year of teaching in the Georgia public schools, currently serving as Director of Bands at Oconee County Middle School in Watkinsville, GA. Previously, he taught band, chorus, and general music at Jefferson Middle School in Jefferson, GA. Mr. Cotton has served as a volunteer with the Georgia Music Educators Association in many capacities throughout his career. Previous statewide service includes: GMEA Vice-President for Performance Evaluations, GMEA All-State Band Committee Chair, and Statewide Middle School All-State Band Coordinator. As Vice-President for Performance Evaluations, he served on the GMEA Executive Committee and Board of Directors, and he chaired the Band LGPE Music Review Committee which worked to modernize and update our Band Division’s required music list.
Mr. Cotton has also served GMEA at the district level for many years, including 18 years as LGPE Organizer for Districts 13 and 14. He has also served as District 13 Secretary/Treasurer and District 14 Band Chair and Solo & Ensemble Coordinator. He frequently serves as a Certified Adjudicator for both Large Group Performance Evaluations and Solo & Ensemble Performance Evaluations in numerous districts throughout Georgia, and regularly serves as a conductor for honor bands throughout the state. Professional affiliations include the National Band Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity where he currently serves as Member-at-Large for the Zeta Chapter. He is a recipient of the National Band Association's Citation of Excellence.
Under his direction, the Oconee County Middle School Band received the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award in both 2013 and 2021. The OCMS Symphonic Band was a 2014 featured ensemble at the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival, and presented a rehearsal clinic performance along with Dr. Mary Land at the 2016 GMEA In-Service Conference. Mr. Cotton served on the staff of the UGA Summer Music and Marching Band Camps from 2003–2020. He was selected as Jefferson Middle School’s “Teacher of the Year” for the 2008–2009 academic year, and was honored as Oconee County Middle School’s “Teacher of the Year” for the 2025–2026 academic year. Recently, Mr. Cotton was recognized with the GMEA “Volunteer of the Year” award at the 2025 In-Service Conference.
Mr. Cotton earned a Bachelor of Music from the University of Georgia, the Master of Education degree from Auburn University, and the Specialist in Education degree from UGA. A lifelong resident of Georgia and longtime resident of Athens, Mr. Cotton graduated from Troup County High School in LaGrange, GA, where he played saxophone in the concert band program, served as Drum Major of the Tiger Marching Band, sang with the Troup High Singers, and was an active member of the Troup High Thespian Society.
dr. sara womack
Dr. Sara Womack is dedicated to creating arts-rich schools across the Cobb County School District, ensuring every student has access to high-quality, sequential arts education. In her third year as Supervisor for General and Choral Music, Dance, and Theatre, she leads initiatives that expand student engagement, strengthen teacher capacity, and build community partnerships.
Previously, Dr. Womack served as Fine and Performing Arts Coordinator for Atlanta Public Schools for six years and taught elementary music for fifteen years in metro Birmingham, while also serving as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She holds degrees in music education and instructional leadership from UAB and an Ed.D. in music education from the University of Georgia, along with Orff-Schulwerk Certification from the American Orff-Schulwerk Association and National Board Certification in early and middle childhood music.
A recognized leader in arts advocacy, Dr. Womack has served as President of the Alabama Music Educators Association and Southern Division of NAfME and currently chairs advocacy for GMEA. She is also a Conn-Selmer Educational Clinician and serves on the boards of Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, Metropolitan Atlanta Community Band, and Pianos for Peace. Her contributions have earned her numerous honors, including the GMEA Administrative Leadership Award and recognition as a Woodruff Arts Center Arts Education Honoree.
Outside of work, she enjoys traveling and hiking with her husband, Sean, and their two sons, Will, 21, and Mason, 17.
Vice-President for All-State
vanessa edwards
Vanessa Edwards is in her twentieth year as a music educator in Georgia public schools. Throughout her career, she has actively served as a GMEA volunteer and leader. Statewide service includes the All-State Chorus Standing Committee (2023–2028) and Handbook Revision Committee (2024–2025). She is a longtime volunteer for District V, currently serving as District Chair. She previously served as District V Secretary and Choral Chair and has organized District V Choral events for several years, including District V Honor Chorus, Solo & Ensemble, and Large Group Performance Evaluation.
Vanessa is currently the choral director at Autrey Mill Middle School in Johns Creek. Previously, she taught elementary music in Fulton County Schools. Throughout her leadership at Autrey Mill, choral students have consistently performed in District V Honor Chorus, All State Chorus, 6th Grade Statewide Honor Chorus and Solo & Ensemble. Embracing a true middle school program model, all students are welcome in all choral groups at AMMS. Choral groups at AMMS have routinely earned Superior ratings in performance and sightreading at LGPE. The Autrey Mill Chorus was awarded the 2023 GMEA Exemplary Performance Award and performed at the 2025 GMEA In-Service Conference. Vanessa is the recipient of the GMEA District V Teacher of the Year in 2025, and Autrey Mill Middle School received the GMEA Program of the Year Award in 2025.
A graduate of McNeese State University, Vanessa earned a Bachelors of Music Education and two levels of Kodaly certification. While at McNeese, she was an active member and treasurer of the Beta Chi Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. A believer in lifelong learning, she is a member of the VoiceCare Network, having completed the training courses in pedagogy and conducting in 2018 and 2019. She also participated in the Atlanta Conducting Summer Institute 2021–2024 through Georgia State University as a Conducting Fellow, Auditor and Staff Singer. She currently is a member of Lux, a professional chorus for women, who will be performing at the GMEA In-Service Conference and Southern Division ACDA Conference this year.
Vanessa currently serves as Fine Arts Support Teacher Lead for Fulton County Schools (2022–2026). Vanessa Edwards is a GMEA Choral LGPE and S&E adjudicator, having evaluated in Districts VI and VII. She directed the GMEA DV 7th–8th Grade Treble Honor Chorus in November 2024 and will direct the Louisiana DV Vocal Music Teacher Organization 7th–8th Grade Mixed Honor Chorus in February 2026.
As an educational leader, Vanessa was invited by the Georgia Department of Education as a curriculum developer for Middle School chorus and served on the Fulton County Schools Standards Mastery Framework Middle School Chorus writing team. She was blessed to serve as a cooperating teacher for student teachers in Fall 2020 and Fall 2025. Vanessa presented at the Fulton Education Conference in 2021 and the GMEA In-Service Conference in 2024. Vanessa served on the Autrey Mill School Governance Council from 2015–2018 and as GA American Choral Directors Association R&R Chair for Middle School/Junior High in 2018–2019.
Vanessa and her husband, Corey, live in Suwanee with their daughter (a proud member of the Johns Creek High School Marching Band and Cantus Chorus).
christy hursey
Christy Hursey is currently the Assistant Director of Bands at Wayne County High School in Jesup, GA. Prior to this, she has spent 26 years as a middle school band director, mainly at Perry Middle School in Perry, GA where she spent 23 years. A native of Powder Springs, Georgia she received her Bachelors of Music Education Degree from the University of Georgia in 1996. While at UGA she was a member of the Redcoat Marching Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble as well as a member of the Athens Symphony. Since graduating she has performed with Tara Winds Community Band, Wellston Winds, and is currently an active member of the Savannah Winds. She has also been a member of the faculty at ENCORE! Music Camps. In 2008 she received her Masters Degree in Music Education from Boston University followed by her Specialists degree from Georgia Southwestern.
During her career, her bands have consistently received Superior ratings at GMEA concert festivals. She has created small ensembles such as Flute Ensembles, Woodwind Ensembles, Brass Ensembles, Percussion Ensembles and Jazz Ensembles which have performed all over the state of Georgia. She has organized several events for GMEA including District Honor Band, All State Honor Band Auditions, and Large Group Performance Evaluations, and most recently presented a session at the GMEA conference on Demystifying the Sight-Reading Room at LGPE.. She also received GMEA Volunteer of the year in 2016 and was named one of the most Outstanding Women in Education for the middle Georgia area in 2011. Most recently, she conducted the Wayne County High School Band at Carnegie Hall.
Professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators Association, National Band Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and Sigma Alpha Iota. She is married to Andy Hursey (Band Director at Wayne Co. High) and has two wonderful children, Hannah and Evan as well as our bonus daughter Ivy. We are currently living in our retirement home next to Jekyll Island.
Vice-President for Performance Evaluations
Dominique lane
Dominique Lane currently serves as the Director of Bands at Crisp County High School in Cordele, Georgia. Now in his eighteenth year of teaching, Mr. Lane has dedicated his career to developing strong, dynamic band programs across the state. Prior to his appointment at Crisp County High School, he spent eleven years as Director of Bands at Southwest High School in Macon, Georgia, where he built a legacy of musical excellence and community impact.
Mr. Lane is a proud alumnus of Albany State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 2008. He continued his academic pursuits at Georgia College & State University, completing a Master of Music Education degree in 2012. In 2022, he earned a Specialist in Advanced Educational Studies with a concentration in Music Education from Augusta University, further solidifying his commitment to professional growth and instructional leadership.
Throughout his career, Mr. Lane has been recognized for his exceptional contributions to music education. His honors include Southwest High School’s Teacher of the Year (2015), 13WMAZ’s My Teacher is Tops (2016), the Grammy Museum’s Enterprise Award (2017), STAR Teacher distinctions (2016 and 2019), and the Golden Apple Award for five consecutive years (2021–2025).
Mr. Lane is a sought-after adjudicator and clinician across Middle and South Georgia. He has adjudicated numerous marching and concert band events, including serving as the sight-reading judge for the GMEA District XI Middle School LGPE in March 2025. His clinician work includes leading the Dougherty County All-County Middle School Honor Band (2017) and High School Honor Band (2024), serving as the GMEA District 11 Ninth and Tenth Grade Honor Band Clinician (2023), and conducting the Bibb County All-County Honor Band (2024). He has also adjudicated at the Deep South Marching Competition Invitational, evaluating Visual Effect.
Under his leadership, bands have consistently earned Superior ratings at LGPE. Most recently, the Crisp County High School Symphonic Band was selected to perform at the Minority Band Directors National Association’s Concert Invitational in March 2025—an honor reflecting the outstanding musicianship and discipline fostered within the program.
In addition to his work in the classroom and on the podium, Mr. Lane serves as the District Chair for GMEA District 2, overseeing band, chorus, orchestra, and elementary music events across multiple counties. He is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Educators, the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity of America, Inc., and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Mr. Lane resides in Cordele, Georgia with the love of his life, his wife Cyrenah, and their son, Jr., who continue to inspire and support his passion for music and education.
leah williams
Leah Williams has served as Director of Bands at Bonaire Middle School since the 2005-2006 school year. Prior to her appointment as Director of Bands, she served as the Assistant Director at Bonaire Middle for three years. Ms. Williams received her Bachelor of Music Education degree from Mercer University in 1999, Master of Music in Saxophone Performance degree from the University of Georgia in 2002, and Specialist in Music Education degree from Auburn University in 2006.
Bands under Ms. Williams’s direction have consistently earned Superior ratings at Large Group Performance evaluations. The Bonaire Middle School Band is always well-represented at District Honor Band, South Georgia Region Honor Band, All-State Band, and Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluations. The Bonaire Middle School Symphonic Band has been selected to the Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State University twice since 2019 and received the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award in 2025.
Ms. Williams has been an organizer for Large Group Performance Evaluations in District XI since 2005. She served as the organizer for middle school band LGPE from 2005-2015 and has served as the organizer for high school band LGPE from 2015 to the present. Ms. Williams has also served in the past as the organizer and host for Solo and Ensemble Performance Evaluations in District XI as well as First Year Honor Band. Ms. Williams was the District XI Treasurer from 2021-2024 and has served as the District Chair from 2024 to the present. She serves as the Houston County PLT lead teacher for middle school band and the Connections Department Chair at Bonaire Middle School.
Ms. Williams is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, National Band Association, and NAfME. She is a Head Adjudicator for Large Group Performance Evaluations and also an active clinician in the state. In 2015, Ms. Williams was named Teacher of the Year at Bonaire Middle School and was runner-up for Houston County Teacher of the Year. She also performs with the Wellston Winds community band in Warner Robins.
Ms. Williams lives in Kathleen, Georgia with her 3 rambunctious pups, Sophie, Emma, and Daisy, and her sweet fat cat, Felicia. In addition to teaching band, Ms. Williams enjoys all things nerdy, video games, cooking, and traveling.