Middle School Band 
john palmer

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.

Under Mr. Palmer’s direction, the Dickerson Middle School Band was invited to perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Band Festival (2015), the Music for All National Concert Band Festival (2010, 2014), the Georgia Music Educators Association Annual Convention (2006, 2016), and the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival (2002, 2009, and 2013).  Since Mr. Palmer’s arrival at Walton, the Wind Symphony has been invited perform at the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival (2020, 2024), the GMEA In-Service Conference (2021 virtual, 2022), and the University of Georgia January High School Band Festival (2023). The Marching Raider Band has won numerous awards at local and regional competitions and received invitations to march in the National Cherry Blossom Parade in 2022 and the London Parade on January 1, 2026.

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, served on the committee to revise the Georgia Performance Standards in 2017, and served on the GMEA Advocacy Committee. 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 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.

Middle School Band 
roland ventura

Roland Ventura is the Director of Bands at Pinckneyville Middle School in Peachtree Corners, Georgia. Since his appointment in 2007, the band program has expanded to over 300 students across 10 specialized concert, jazz, and chamber ensembles. Under his direction, the Pinckneyville Symphonic Winds have performed at prestigious venues, including the Southeastern United States Band Clinic at Troy University, the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival, the Southeastern Regional Music For All Concert Festival, and the GMEA In-Service Conference. The band was also invited to the Minority Band Directors National Association National Concert and Jazz Band Invitational in March 2027. Reflecting his commitment to education, Mr. Ventura has served as the Pinckneyville Connections Department Chair and as a Gwinnett County Lead Teacher. His excellence in the classroom earned him the title of Pinckneyville Middle School Teacher of the Year in both 2013 and 2024.

Before his career in public education, Mr. Ventura proudly served his country in the United States Army band program. He began teaching in 1997 at South Effingham High and Middle School in Guyton, GA, and later taught at Cairo High School in Cairo, GA and at the Virginia Beach Visual and Performing Arts Academy at Salem High School in Virginia Beach, VA. Over his career, he has taught students from the middle school level up through college. Mr. Ventura holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Music Education from Troy University.

An active leader in the music community, Mr. Ventura is a past Middle School Band Chair for District XIII and Multicultural Chair for the Georgia Music Educators Association. His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, NAfME, GMEA, Kappa Kappa Psi, and the National Band Association, which has honored him with four Citations of Excellence. In 2019, he received the Brent Cannon Alumni Achievement Award for Music Education from the Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni Association.

Today, he frequently serves as a guest director, clinician, and consultant across the Southeastern United States. He resides with his wife, Angel, and enjoys spending time with their three children and three grandchildren.

Concert Band (Grades 9-10)
dr. janet kim

Dr. Janet Kim is the Director of Wind Bands and Coordinator of Large Instrumental Ensembles at the University of Connecticut. In this role, they conduct the UConn Symphonic Wind Ensemble and teach courses in Woodwind Techniques, advanced instrumental conducting, instrumental pedagogy, and wind literature. Additionally, they oversee graduate studies in wind conducting.

Prior to this position, Dr. Kim served as the Director of Instrumental Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Nebraska Wesleyan University. They earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Conducting from The Herb Alpert School of Music at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Kim also holds a Master of Arts degree in Instrumental Conducting from Indiana University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Jazz Studies, magna cum laude, from Montclair State University. Their primary conducting mentors include Dr. Travis J. Cross, Dr. Timothy A. Paul, Dr. Jason Worzbyt, and Dr. Shelley Axelson.

Dr. Kim’s career began as a band director and conductor at Northern Valley Demarest High School, later continuing as a band director at several other public schools in New Jersey. They led ensembles that performed at Region and District Band Festivals, earning gold and silver ratings. During their graduate studies at UCLA, Dr. Kim developed a strong interest in audio technology and electronic music. While in Los Angeles, they also served as the Associate Director of the Peninsula Symphonic Winds in San Pedro, CA.

An active guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Kim has worked with honor bands, clinics, workshops, and festivals across the United States, Canada, and South Korea. They are a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access in music education. Dr. Kim presented on incorporating diversified programming practices at the 2022 Nebraska State Bandmasters Association conference and has written articles on the impact of diversifying music programming for the California Band Directors Association. They have also been interviewed for several podcasts discussing the tokenism of BIPOC composers and the importance of visibility. Dr. Kim’s work in quality programming was presented at The Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic. Recently, they joined the team at Carnegie Hall Music Education, where they lead workshops on the impact of intentional programming for music educators nationwide.

Concert Band (GRADES 9-10)
rudy gilbert

Mr. Gilbert is proud to continue his 32nd year of teaching at the Paideia School in Atlanta.  He previously held positions at the Paideia School (2021-2024), Director of Bands at North Gwinnett High School (2011-2021), Norcross High School (2001-2011) and South Effingham High School in Guyton (1996-2001).  He spent one year of his teaching career as the Assistant Band Director at Lanier Middle School in Sugar Hill (2024-2025).  Mr. Gilbert began his teaching career as an Assistant Director at Effingham County High School and Middle School in 1994.

Bands under his direction have earned numerous awards at national and regional levels and have performed at the GMEA Annual In-Service Conference (2007), the University of Georgia January High School Music Festival (2005, 2010, 2012), and the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State University (2018).  The bands also received Superior Ratings and 1st Place Honors at the William D. Revelli Music Award at the Festival of Music in New York (2009), Chicago (2007) and the Fiestaval! Invitational Music Festival in New York (2005).  In 2003, The NHS Wind Symphony earned the Sweepstakes Award, Best in Class Award and Straight Superior Ratings at the American Classic Music Festival held at Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Marching Bands under Mr. Gilbert’s direction were awarded numerous Best in Class trophies, including being named the Gold Division Grand Champion of the Southern Invitational at Sprayberry High School (2001, 2007) and the Grand Champion of the 31st Annual Peach State Marching Festival in Rome, Georgia (2004).

Mr. Gilbert held a position on the staff of the Georgia Ambassadors of Music having completed nine highly successful European tours. He is proud to have served the Georgia Music Educators Association as the State Band Division Chair, District 1 Chair, District 1 Band Division Chair, District 13 Band Division Chair, and High School All-State Tabulation coordinator.  He served as the Band Lead Teacher in Gwinnett County Public Schools from 2011-2017.

Mr. Gilbert is honored to have been named the 2008-2009 Norcross High School Teacher of the Year.  He was presented the Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association in January 2005, 2007 and 2010 and was inducted into the Georgia Chapter of Phi Beta Mu in March 2006.

Mr. Gilbert is a native of Mandeville, Louisiana.  He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1991 and a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 1994.  He has studied conducting with Professor Thomas L. Dvorak at UWM and Professor Frank B. Wickes at LSU and studied percussion with Dr. John Raush at LSU.  Mr. Gilbert remains sincerely appreciative of his first band directors, Mr. John Gilmer at Collierville Middle School in Collierville, Tennessee and Mr. Doug Bergeron at Mandeville High School in Mandeville, Louisiana. 

He and his wife Amanda, an Assistant Principal at Collins Hill High School, reside in Snellville, Georgia with their dog, Minnie and cat, Jasper.

Symphonic Band (GRADES 11-12)
dr. kenneth ozzello

Dr. Kenneth Ozzello is the Director of Bands and Professor of Music at The University of Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and a Master of Music in Conducting from West Virginia University, followed by a Doctor of Education from The University of Alabama.

As conductor of the Alabama Wind Ensemble, Dr. Ozzello has led the ensemble to prestigious performances at the American Bandmasters Association Convention and the College Band Directors National Association National Conference. The ensemble has released several recordings, including The Glass Bead Game on Albany Records. He has commissioned and premiered dozens of works by composers including Kevin Day, Paul Dooley, Donald Grantham, Tim Higgins, Scott McAllister, and Jim Stephenson. The ensemble also regularly collaborates with distinguished guest artists such as Joe Alessi, Tim Higgins, Chris Martin, Eighth Blackbird, and the EPOCH Percussion Quartet.

Dr. Ozzello has received three of The University of Alabama's highest faculty honors: the Morris Meyer Award for outstanding contributions to student life, the Outstanding Commitment to Students Award, and the Kathleen Cramer Award, which recognizes faculty who exemplify "The University of Alabama DNA." He is a member of the American Bandmasters Association, CBDNA, NAfME, Phi Beta Mu, and Kappa Kappa Psi, and has contributed to the Teaching Music through Performance in Band series.

In addition to his work with the Alabama Wind Ensemble, Dr. Ozzello directs The University of Alabama's Million Dollar Band. Under his leadership, the band earned the prestigious Sudler Trophy and has performed at numerous College Football Playoff and BCS National Championship games. The band was selected to escort Santa Claus into Herald Square as the featured band in the 2021 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the 100th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2026. They performed in the 2024 and 2026 Tournament of Roses Parades. It has also been invited multiple times to serve as the exhibition band at the Bands of America Grand National Championships, most recently in 2023.

Dr. Ozzello also leads the graduate wind conducting program at The University of Alabama and remains active as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States and abroad. Recent engagements include performances at the Musikverein in Vienna, Harpa Concert Hall in Iceland and the Royal Festival Hall in London. Widely respected for his artistry, teaching, and leadership, he continues to make significant contributions to the advancement of wind band performance and conducting pedagogy.

Symphonic Band (GRADES 11-12)
colonel don schofield

Colonel Don Schofield serves as the Commander and Conductor of The United States Air Force Band in Washington DC, where he leads a team of 184 Air Force musicians in more than 1,600 performances annually, supporting the President of the United States, Congress, the Department of War, and foreign leaders and dignitaries, international diplomatic missions, reaching hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide each year through live and broadcast performances. His previous commands include the United States Air Forces in Europe Band in Germany, the United States Air Force Academy Band at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado, the Band of the Air Force Reserve at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and the Band of Mid-America at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. In 2007, Colonel Schofield led the United States Air Force Central Command Band, where he planned and led overseas performances for United States and coalition forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Africa, Kyrgyzstan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain in direct support of combat operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.

Colonel Schofield is also a faculty member at the University of Texas at El Paso, teaching courses in graduate conducting and wind band history and literature. He received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Georgia, his Masters Degree from Louisiana State University, and his Doctoral degree from Boston University. Prior to receiving his Air Force commission at Officer Training School, Colonel Schofield was the Director of Bands at Effingham County High School in Georgia.

Colonel Schofield has conducted military bands, professional orchestras, and school honor bands throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Brazil, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Sweden, and Ukraine. He has as served a featured conductor at 18 international, national, and regional state music conferences and commissioned 42 composers to write new works for wind band, orchestra, choir, and chamber ensembles. Ensembles under his command have performed internationally with artists such as Joshua Bell, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Chubby Checker, Jullian Bliss, Frank Tichelli, Gavin DeGraw, Andy Grammer, the War and Treaty, Dianne Shuur, Kid Rock, Little Big Town, Josh Turner, Lee Ann Womack, Chris Daughtry, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and Wynonna Judd. Colonel Schofield has been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences as a two-time Emmy Award Top Four Finalist for his musical leadership during internationally broadcast productions at the Grand Ole Opry.

Colonel Schofield serves as the Vice President of the National Band Association and the Chair of the Howard Citation for the John Philip Sousa Foundation.

11-12 Percussion ensemble
Dr. kevin bobo

Kevin Bobo is currently serving as Professor of Music (Percussion) at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, a position he has held since 2007. Prior to his appointment at IU, he served as Assistant Professor of Percussion at the University of Kansas (2003-2007). He studied percussion with J.C. Combs and Gordon Stout and composition with Greg Woodward and Dana Wilson. 

 Internationally respected as a solo marimba artist, Bobo has performed on five continents. His travels have taken him to Taiwan, Singapore, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Australia, Spain, Latvia, Lithuania, France, Italy, the Czech Republic and much of the United States. 

 As a composer, Kevin's compositions are performed all over the world with his solo works frequently appearing on international competition repertoire lists. He has authored two method books and composed numerous pieces for a variety of instruments and ensembles.