Katy Wilson-Fields, Director of Bands
Katy Wilson-Fields served as the Director of Bands at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA from 2010 until 2016. Since her appointment in 2010, the band grew from 20 students to more than 100. Under her direction, the RMA Band Program expanded to include three concert bands, a military marching band, a football pep band, a jazz band, three percussion ensembles, a battalion bugle corps, the Grenadiers Rope Drum Ensemble, and various chamber ensembles. Membership in the RMA Band Program consistently included 20% of the Academy Corps of Cadets. The Riverside Symphonic Winds received superior ratings at Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluation for five consecutive years. In 2014, the Riverside Military Marching Band accepted an invitation to represent the state of Georgia in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii.
Mrs. Wilson-Fields holds a Master of Arts in Band Conducting through the American Band College from Sam Houston State University and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, Mrs. Wilson-Fields studied trumpet with Fred Mills, former and founding member of the Canadian Brass. Her conducting teachers include Dr. John Lynch, Mr. Mark Cedel, Dr. Mitos Andaya, and Dr. Michael Robinson. While at the University of Georgia she served as Battle Hymn Soloist, Trumpet Section Leader, and Drum Major for the Redcoat Marching Band. She also performed as a member of the UGA Wind Ensemble, UGA Symphony Orchestra, and the Georgia Brass Ensemble.
Mrs. Wilson-Fields is an active musician in the Atlanta and Gainesville area, performing as a trumpet player with the Northwinds Symphonic Band and in her church orchestra. Mrs. Wilson-Fields is an active clinician and adjudicator for Drum Major students in the North Georgia and Atlanta area. She is an active citizen of the community and graduated from 2014 Leadership Hall County through the Hall County Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Wilson-Fields' professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, National Band Association, and Women Band Directors International.
Katy Wilson-Fields served as the Director of Bands at Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, GA from 2010 until 2016. Since her appointment in 2010, the band grew from 20 students to more than 100. Under her direction, the RMA Band Program expanded to include three concert bands, a military marching band, a football pep band, a jazz band, three percussion ensembles, a battalion bugle corps, the Grenadiers Rope Drum Ensemble, and various chamber ensembles. Membership in the RMA Band Program consistently included 20% of the Academy Corps of Cadets. The Riverside Symphonic Winds received superior ratings at Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluation for five consecutive years. In 2014, the Riverside Military Marching Band accepted an invitation to represent the state of Georgia in the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade in Hawaii.
Mrs. Wilson-Fields holds a Master of Arts in Band Conducting through the American Band College from Sam Houston State University and Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Georgia. While at UGA, Mrs. Wilson-Fields studied trumpet with Fred Mills, former and founding member of the Canadian Brass. Her conducting teachers include Dr. John Lynch, Mr. Mark Cedel, Dr. Mitos Andaya, and Dr. Michael Robinson. While at the University of Georgia she served as Battle Hymn Soloist, Trumpet Section Leader, and Drum Major for the Redcoat Marching Band. She also performed as a member of the UGA Wind Ensemble, UGA Symphony Orchestra, and the Georgia Brass Ensemble.
Mrs. Wilson-Fields is an active musician in the Atlanta and Gainesville area, performing as a trumpet player with the Northwinds Symphonic Band and in her church orchestra. Mrs. Wilson-Fields is an active clinician and adjudicator for Drum Major students in the North Georgia and Atlanta area. She is an active citizen of the community and graduated from 2014 Leadership Hall County through the Hall County Chamber of Commerce. Mrs. Wilson-Fields' professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, National Band Association, and Women Band Directors International.
Lindsey Foster, Director of Bands, West Hall Middle School
Lindsey Foster graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in music education with a concentration in saxophone. She grew up in Georgia and is an active performer and teacher in the Atlanta area. Ms. Foster has worked with several bands around the state including Lakeside High School, Luella High School, Norcross High School, Lost Mountain Middle School, and Dacula Middle School. She also spent a summer learning instrument repair and has interned with the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble. Most recently she was the manager of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony in Atlanta, Georgia. She is excited to be teaching at West Hall Middle School this coming year. Go Spartans!
Lindsey Foster graduated from Georgia State University with a degree in music education with a concentration in saxophone. She grew up in Georgia and is an active performer and teacher in the Atlanta area. Ms. Foster has worked with several bands around the state including Lakeside High School, Luella High School, Norcross High School, Lost Mountain Middle School, and Dacula Middle School. She also spent a summer learning instrument repair and has interned with the Metropolitan Atlanta Youth Wind Ensemble. Most recently she was the manager of the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony in Atlanta, Georgia. She is excited to be teaching at West Hall Middle School this coming year. Go Spartans!
Celeena Corbin, Percussion Coordinator
Celeena Corbin is a percussionist, educator, and author active in the southeast. Before all else, she is an artist musician capable of working in a wide range of styles from new art music, to classical, to pop/rock and jazz. The breadth of her skillset is broad and commanding-Celeena is as comfortable in the concert hall as she is in the pop music venue. Her ability to bridge styles, genres, and percussion disciplines with ease and fluidity is nothing short of remarkable. Whether on drum set or hand drums, behind marimba or timpani, or delivering soulful solo performances on vibraphone while she sings, Celeena’s musical presence is authoritative.
As an educator, Celeena has worked with high school, university, and Independent World WGI marching ensembles, percussion ensembles, and concert groups by providing engaging, effective, and efficient instruction. Additionally, her writing and arranging for marching and concert percussion ensembles is interesting, musical, and instructional-facilitating successful/competitive performances for the ensembles for which she composes.
Celeena completed her Masters in Percussion Performance in 2021 at Middle Tennessee State University under the direction of Lalo Davila. As a graduate student she was awarded a full scholarship and graduate teaching assistantship. Her duties included teaching undergraduate applied percussion lessons as well as coaching the MTSU Band of Blue drum line. Additionally, she coordinated the graduate percussion ensemble and assisted the MTSU percussion ensemble. Celeena received her B.A. in Performance from University of North Georgia in 2018.
Celeena Corbin is a percussionist, educator, and author active in the southeast. Before all else, she is an artist musician capable of working in a wide range of styles from new art music, to classical, to pop/rock and jazz. The breadth of her skillset is broad and commanding-Celeena is as comfortable in the concert hall as she is in the pop music venue. Her ability to bridge styles, genres, and percussion disciplines with ease and fluidity is nothing short of remarkable. Whether on drum set or hand drums, behind marimba or timpani, or delivering soulful solo performances on vibraphone while she sings, Celeena’s musical presence is authoritative.
As an educator, Celeena has worked with high school, university, and Independent World WGI marching ensembles, percussion ensembles, and concert groups by providing engaging, effective, and efficient instruction. Additionally, her writing and arranging for marching and concert percussion ensembles is interesting, musical, and instructional-facilitating successful/competitive performances for the ensembles for which she composes.
Celeena completed her Masters in Percussion Performance in 2021 at Middle Tennessee State University under the direction of Lalo Davila. As a graduate student she was awarded a full scholarship and graduate teaching assistantship. Her duties included teaching undergraduate applied percussion lessons as well as coaching the MTSU Band of Blue drum line. Additionally, she coordinated the graduate percussion ensemble and assisted the MTSU percussion ensemble. Celeena received her B.A. in Performance from University of North Georgia in 2018.
Courtney Brooks, Band + Colorguard Administrator
Courtney Brooks is an alumna of West Hall, class of 2010. While in high school, she was a member of the Band of Silver and a captain of the Flagettes her senior year. She was also involved with the concert band all four years. In 2012, she began working with the band under the direction of Ernie Phillips as an assistant to the Color Guard. In 2014, she became the Band + Color Guard Administrator under the direction of Katy Wilson-Fields. She is a graduate of the University of North Georgia with a degree in Middle Grades Education: Math and Science. This is her third year teaching Special Education in the math department at West Hall High School. Courtney is currently pursuing her Master's of Education in Special Education from Kennesaw State University. Courtney's immense love for both music and students keeps her excited for all the adventures to come!
Courtney Brooks is an alumna of West Hall, class of 2010. While in high school, she was a member of the Band of Silver and a captain of the Flagettes her senior year. She was also involved with the concert band all four years. In 2012, she began working with the band under the direction of Ernie Phillips as an assistant to the Color Guard. In 2014, she became the Band + Color Guard Administrator under the direction of Katy Wilson-Fields. She is a graduate of the University of North Georgia with a degree in Middle Grades Education: Math and Science. This is her third year teaching Special Education in the math department at West Hall High School. Courtney is currently pursuing her Master's of Education in Special Education from Kennesaw State University. Courtney's immense love for both music and students keeps her excited for all the adventures to come!
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Andi Yarbough, Colorguard Instructor
Andi graduated from the University of North Georgia with a Bachelors in Nursing Science in 2018. She currently specializes in Emergency Medicine- working in both the Emergency Department and the Emergency Observation Unit at Northeast Georgia. Along with her calling to nursing profession, Andi has always had a love for the performing arts. From 2016, Andi has worked with BOA marching bands across the state of Georgia to choreograph and create a visual representation for the program’s color guard and dance teams. Andi has also conceptualized and coached shows for multiple award-winning SAPA and WGI winter guard programs in the Southeast, with her last high school placing top 3 at SAPA Championships all 3 years under her employment. |
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Tim Lasseter, Band Staff
Tim Lasseter, originally from Lilburn, GA, is a 2002 graduate of The University of Georgia with a degree in Music Education. Tim has been teaching elementary music for 15 years in the state of Georgia. He currently serves as the music teacher at Tadmore Elementary in East Hall County. Tim served as Assistant Director of Bands at Hart County High school in Hartwell, GA from 2002-2012. Tim is an active performer in the metro Atlanta area and has performed in many ensembles including the UGA Redcoat Band, UGA Wind Symphony, The Atlanta Blue Notes and others. He has advanced degrees in education from Piedmont University where he earned a Masters in Early Childhood Education and an Education Specialist in Curriculum and Instruction. Tim is married to Laura Lasseter, and they have two amazing daughters; Annie and Charlotte. |