Instructors

Jamie Pamplin, Flute

Jamie Pamplin is an active flute instructor in the Metro Atlanta area. A Cobb County native, Mrs. Pamplin began her flute studies while participating in the band programs of our own Dodgen Middle School and Pope High School. Mrs. Pamplin graduated summa cum laude from Georgia State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. During her time at Georgia State, Mrs. Pamplin studied flute with Mrs. Sarah Kruser Ambrose and performed in various chamber ensembles and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Robert J. Ambrose. Mrs. Pamplin also served as Secretary of GSU’s chapter of CMENC. 

 

Upon completing her education at GSU, Mrs. Pamplin began private teaching and now maintains a thriving flute studio. Students of Mrs. Pamplin’s have won auditions for Honor Band and All-State Bands, as well as for youth programs such as the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra and the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. In addition to private teaching, Mrs. Pamplin has served as a sectional coach for many Cobb County Schools including Dickerson, Simpson, and Mabry Middle Schools and Kell and Lassiter High Schools.

 

Mrs. Pamplin lives in Marietta with her husband, Walter, and their sons, Ryan and Jonathan. 

 

Gary Paulo, Saxophone

Gary is a graduate of Indiana University where he received a BM in classical saxophone performance while studying with legendary saxophonist Eugene Rousseau. When he returned home in 2001 he was in high demand as a teacher and performer in the Atlanta area. He has worked teaching clinics and master classes at many of the wonderful high school and middle school band programs in metro Atlanta helping prepare for performances at the GMEA state in-service and the prestigious Mid-west Band and Orchestra Clinic. He was the adjunct saxophone instructor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham during the 2004-2005 school term before starting his master’s degree in 2006. Beginning in 2010 he joined the faculty at Emory University in Atlanta as the Artist Affiliate for saxophone.

 

Gary has performed with national touring acts, spanning several genres of music. His performance credits include - soloist with the Berry College Wind Ensemble, St. Cloud St. University Wind Ensemble and the Emory University Wind Ensemble. He also performs regularly with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and has performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Augusta Symphony Orchestra, Albany Symphony Orchestra, The Temptations, and the Temptations Review featuring Dennis Edwards, the Zac Brown Band and Natasha Bedingfield. In addition, he has toured internationally with the AJ Ghent Band and performed at the Hollywood Bowl, BB Kings in Times Square and Memphis, the Hard Rock in the Dominican Republic, and recorded a live album “Live at Terminal West” at Terminal West in Atlanta, Georgia in 2015. Gary is also a member of "the horn band of Atlanta - Bumpin' the Mango" and was a contributing writer for their self-titled release in 2018, the Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, and the Cobb Wind Symphony. In 2008 he completed a Master of Music at Georgia State University, and in 2010 he studied with renowned contemporary music composer Christian Lauba and saxophonist Richard Ducros in Estoril, Portugal at the Estoril Music Festival. Gary is a D’Addario Woodwinds Reserve Clinician and a member of the American Federation of Musicians.

 

Bob Cowles, Saxophone

Robert J. Cowles served as Director of Bands at Walton High School in Cobb County from the school’s opening in 1975 until his retirement in 1999.  Prior to his arrival at Walton, Mr. Cowles held positions at Griffin Middle School (Smyrna, GA) and Grady High School (Atlanta, GA).  Bands under his direction received consistent superior ratings for over 20 years. 

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At his retirement in 1999, the Walton Band Program consisted of the marching band, four concert bands, and two jazz ensembles.  Under Mr. Cowles’ direction, bands at Walton performed as guests of Valdosta State University, the University of Georgia, and Florida State University. The marching band also performed in Thanksgiving Day parades in Philadelphia and New York (Macy’s).

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He served the music education profession in many capacities over the years.  These include GMEA District Instrumental Chair, District Jazz Chair, All-State Organizing Chair, State Marching Band Chair, and State Music Selection Chair; GAJE’s Vice President; and Phi Beta Mu Secretary /Treasurer. 

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Mr. Cowles’ professional affiliations include MENC, IAJE, NBA, Phi Mu Alpha, Phi Beta Mu, Phi Kappa Phi, Kappa Delta Pi, Who’s Who in American Education and Who’s Who Among American Teachers. He has served as clinician and adjudicator in Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Massachusetts. 

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He was named to the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Legion of Honor as one of America’s 10 best band directors in 1998 and was named Georgia Music Educators Association outstanding educator in 1998.  He was also presented with the Georgia Music Educators Association Distinguished Career Award at their in-service conference in January of 2016.

 

Mr. Cowles currently teaches saxophone and serves as guest clinician and adjudicator for high schools and middle schools throughout Georgia and the Southeast.  He also performs with the rock band “Back In Time,” the Cobb New Horizons Band, and he plays saxophone in the Cobb Wind Symphony as well as serving as their assistant conductor.  He resides in Marietta with his wife, Bette.

 

John Jeffres, Saxophone

John Jeffres has a long history of helping students achieve success. He has taught private saxophone lessons at all levels, from beginner to the college level, since 1994. John understands what it takes to excel in band, perform well in auditions, and derive personal satisfaction from playing the saxophone.

John graduated from Emory University with dual degrees in music and psychology, where he was a Candler Scholar and won the Emory University Concerto Competition. He furthered his education at Northwestern University, earning a Master of Music degree in saxophone performance and music education under the mentorship of Frederick L. Hemke, a highly influential saxophonist. Returning to the Atlanta area in 1995, John served as the artist affiliate in saxophone at Emory University until 2005. For nearly three decades, from 1995 to 2024, he directed the band program at Dodgen Middle School, achieving remarkable success with his students.

Throughout his career, John's private students have consistently earned placements in the District Honor Band and All-State Band, secured prestigious honors such as the Governor’s Honor Program, earned college scholarships, and pursued professional careers as performing musicians and music educators.

Are you ready to take your saxophone skills to the next level? Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your technique, John is eager to help you achieve your musical goals!

  

Dylan King, Saxophone

Dylan King is the music teacher at Clay Harmony Leland Elementary School. A recent graduate of Auburn University with a bachelors in music education, Mr. King is a multi-instrumentalist who was been teaching private lessons since 2019 to numerous students in both Georgia and Alabama. Mr. King was the winner of the first annual Auburn University Concerto Competition in 2021, and had performed at numerous state conferences as the leader and soprano saxophone player of his saxophone quartet. As an alumni of Walton High School, Mr. King is excited to return to his Alma mater and help shape a new generation of saxophone players!

 

 

 

Andrew Clark, Trumpet

Andrew Clark is a trumpeter and teacher originally from Kentucky.  He has an undergraduate degree from Murray State University in music education, and a Master's Degree in Jazz Studies and Trumpet Performance from the internationally recognized University of North Texas.  While a master's student at UNT, Andrew had the opportunity to play with a wide variety of musicians in a mixture of ensembles, from straight-ahead jazz to R&B. 

 

In addition to teaching music, Andrew works with Dr. Lindsey Schuller as the visual caption supervisor of Legends Drum and Bugle Corps.  Andrew can offer lessons in trumpet technique, or in Jazz improvisation.

 

 

 

 

  

Patrick O'Brien, Trombone

Patrick O’Brien is a classical trombonist and music educator based in the North Metro-Atlanta area. Mr. O’Brien has performed in several professional ensembles including the Tallahassee Symphony, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, and the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra. Patrick also has experience playing in a wide variety of ensembles including brass quintet, big band, pop/rock band, brass choir, and other chamber ensembles.

 

During the summer months of his college career, Mr. O’Brien marched as a member of the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps for three seasons, 2014-2016. After his first summer, he was voted as the New Member of the year. Additionally, following his final season, Patrick was voted as the top visual performer in the drum corps.

 

Mr. O’Brien earned his Master’s Degree in Trombone Performance from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, where he played in the conservatory’s top ensembles. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Florida State University.

 

  

Eric Hawkins, Horn

Atlanta-based Horn player Eric Hawkins is a well-established and familiar face in the freelance orchestral and chamber scene, performing frequently with ensembles such as the Atlanta Pops Orchestra, The Atlanta Opera Orchestra, the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Chamber Brass. Hawkins has collaborated and performed with artists and bands including Mannheim Steamroller, The Who, Kansas, Chloë Agnew, Balsam Range, and Michael W. Smith. He recently recorded with John Driskell Hopkins from Zac Brown Band for Hopkins’ newest album “Lonesome High,” released in 2021.

 

Mr. Hawkins graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.M. in Music Performance from the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University, and also earned an M.M. in Music Performance from Georgia State University. As a graduate from Georgia State, his instructional career has come full-circle as he currently holds an Artist Affiliate position on faculty in GSU’s School of Music. He is a past winner of the Southeast Horn Workshop Quartet Competition (2013), the Atlanta Horn Clinic Solo Competition (2016), and the Brumby Concerto Competition (2016) with his performance of Franz Strauss’s Concerto, Op. 8. Hawkins maintains an active teaching studio of students from Atlanta, Alpharetta, Buckhead, Douglasville, and Marietta, with a large number earning places in the Georgia All-State Band, the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra. He enjoys spending time with his wife, flutist Aleksandra Tevdoska.

   

Corey Sherman, Euphonium/Tuba

Corey Sherman has a high focus on the single most important aspect of the aural arts - the sounds you create! Using varied pedagogical approaches, Mr. Sherman works to establish strong fundamentals and music instinct in the members of his private studio.

 

Mr. Sherman currently serves the Atlanta Metro area as a tuba performer, clinician, and private instructor and currently serves as Principal Eb Bass of the Georgia Brass Band. He currently serves as Instructor of Tuba and Euphonium at LaGrange College and has also served as Interim Instructor of Tuba at Columbus State University. His primary teachers are Andrew Miller, Demondrae Thurman, and Joel Mason, with additional instruction from Sam Pilafian, David Zerkel, and Eric Bubacz. Corey qualified as a Finalist in the Artist Division Solo Competition of the International Euphonium and Tuba (IET) Festival in Atlanta, GA; Finalist in the International Tuba and Euphonium Conference (ITEC) Mock Military Band Audition; and was selected as a participant in the 2nd annual United States Air Force Band Collegiate Symposium. As an orchestral performer, Corey has played with the Mobile, Macon, Columbus (GA) and Alabama Symphony Orchestras.

 

Corey holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Alabama. While there, he performed with the University’s Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and marched in the “Million Dollar” Band. In addition to large ensembles, Corey has performed and competed with the Southern Bells Tuba-Euphonium Quartet, winning First Place in the Chamber Music Competition at the Southeastern Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference (SERTEC). Corey continued his involvement with the University’s Education Department and was elected Vice-President for the UA’s chapter of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). Upon graduating from the University, Corey earned a Master of Music Degree in Music Performance from Columbus State University, serving as a Graduate Assistant to the Schwob School of Music. At CSU, Corey served as a Graduate Assistant to the School of Music. During his time at CSU Corey performed with Columbus Brass, the school’s faculty brass quintet, the CSU Philharmonic, and the CSU Wind Ensemble which was selected to perform at the Collegiate Band Director’s National Association (CBDNA) Conference in 2015. Corey Sherman is a Buffet Crampon performing artist and plays exclusively on B&S and Besson Instruments.

 

Colin Brewer, Percussion

Colin Brewer, a native of Ringgold, Georgia, is a freelance percussion educator and performer in the Chattanooga and Atlanta areas.

He graduated from Jacksonville State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music focusing on percussion performance. While at JSU, Colin studied under Clint Gillespie, Dr. Tony McCutchen, and Dr. Todd Mueller.  He has performed with the Roman Festival Brass, Gadsden Symphony Orchestra, Jacksonville Opera Theater, and other various ensembles ranging from playing timpani at mass, hand drumming for dance groups, vibraphone in jazz quintets, and in 2019 performing on stage with Equinox Percussion at the Super Bowl LIII half-time production featuring Maroon 5.

Colin has taught a number of accomplished groups in various settings, most recently serving as the front ensemble coordinator and assistant director of percussion for WGI Scholastic Concert Open finalist and Scholastic Marching World Class semi-finalist North Gwinnett High School. In addition, Colin was the percussion director for Heritage High School in Ringgold, Georgia, and served as interim front ensemble coordinator for Q2. Colin has also most recently been on staff at Equinox Percussion, Roswell High School, and Collins Hill High School.

Colin’s professional affiliations include the Percussive Arts Society, Georgia Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education. Colin is a member of the Vic Firth Education Team.