Seth J. Bates was born a Georgia native and lived most of his life in Canton, Georgia. He attended Cherokee High School in Cherokee County from 1996-2000. During his time at Cherokee High School, Mr. Bates marched all four years and one additional year as an eighth grade student. He also performed in the symphonic bands each of his four years.

 

Mr. Bates pursued his music degree at Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia. Saxophone being his primary instrument, he studied with world-renowned saxophone and jazz artist Sam Skelton. Mr. Bates also performed in the Kennesaw State University Wind Ensemble under the direction of Mr. Peter Witte.

During his collegiate career, Mr. Bates taught music lessons to students from all over Cobb County, Cherokee County, Paulding County, and Fulton County.  Mr. Bates has a wide range of teaching experience. He has taught students who range in age from 9 years to 60 years old. He was hired to teach private lessons at well-known music stores including Draisen-Edwards, Jennings Music, and Ponier Music. He also was on staff at Cherokee High School during the past four marching seasons. During that time he arranged music, taught marching drill, rehearsed the marching band, and assisted in show selections for each year. Also, at Cherokee high school, Mr. Bates arranged and composed several pieces that were each debuted by the Cherokee High School Symphonic Band.

While entering his final semester at Kennesaw State University, Mr. Bates completed his student teaching experience at Pope High School in Marietta, Georgia. Under the supervision of band director, Mr. Gary Gribble, and associate band director, Ms. Cynthia Sallas, Mr. Bates completed a variety of tasks and assignments which proved vital to his success as a future band director.

Thomas L. Moore was born and raised in Calhoun, Ga. where he attended and graduated from Calhoun High School. He obtained his degree from Jacksonville State University, where he holds the distinction of being the first featured soloist with the renowned Marching Southerners. He also performed as principal trumpet with the brass choir, symphonic winds, university brass quintet, and played lead trumpet with Jazz ensemble.

 

His professional experience includes being band director at Murray County Junior High School, Gordon Lee High School, Rockmart High School, Ranburne High School, Trion High School, and Armuchee High School. He founded the band program at Ranburne High School. His bands have been consistently successful, both in marching and concert. Mr. Moore has also founded several successful marching competitions in Georgia and Alabama. He has been selected as STAR teacher twice, and was selected as teacher of the year for the Cleburne Co. school system in 2003.

Mr. Moore is a member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity, M.E.N.C., G.M.E.A., National Band Association, and several other professional organizations.

He is an adjudicator in several states, and is still an active performer with The Georgians Dance Band, The Clocktower Jazz Ensemble, and the Northwest Georgia Winds. 

He has three sons: Thomas and his wife, Allison, and grandson, Jackson, of Richmond Virginia; Christopher and his wife Kelli, of Smyrna, Georgia; and Matthew, a freshman at Jacksonville State University. Mr.Moore is currently Director at Armuchee High School.

Crystal Penland graduated from Harrison High School in 2003.  She is currently finishing a Music Education degree at Kennesaw State University.  She studies trombone with Richard Brady and Colin Williams, and studies conducting with Dr. Michael Alexander.  Crystal performs principal trombone in the Kennesaw State University Orchestra and Wind Ensemble.  She also performs in the KSU Jazz Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Trombone Choir, Brass Quintet, and Pep Band.

Crystal has performed in the National Wind Ensemble under H. Robert Reynolds in 2005 and placed principal trombone of the CBDNA Southern Division Intercollegiate Band in 2006.  She has also performed with the Cobb Symphony Orchestra.  In 2007, she participated in the Maud Powell Music Festival under the instruction of Dr. David Becker focusing on orchestral conducting. 

Crystal has been on staff with the Roswell High School and Etowah High School marching bands.  She has also been a brass clinician with the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Matthew Mattice has studied with Sam Skelton, Michael Alexander, and Peter Witte. In the past few years, Matt has been awarded positions with the National Wind Ensemble, the Georgia All College Band, and the Kennesaw State Wind, Jazz, and Saxophone Ensembles. He has taught privately and served as the saxophone instructor for Harrison High School for the past 4 years.  Matt plans to graduate from Kennesaw State University in 2008 with a Bachelors degree in Music Education with a woodwind concentration-Saxophone. He plans on pursuing his masters in music history after completing his bachelor's work