Dennis L. Naughton

Founder / Musical Director / Conductor

Mr. Dennis Naughton currently serves as Asst. Director of Instrumental Activities and Asst. Professor of Music Education at Reinhardt University, where he serves as a student teaching supervisor, percussion ensemble director, director of athletic bands, methods classes, and co-conductor of the Reinhardt Wind Ensemble. In June 2020, he retired as the Director of Bands at Flowery Branch High School in Flowery Branch, Georgia. During his 30-year teaching tenure, he was also the Director of Bands at North Springs High School, Riverwood International Charter School, and East Coweta High School. His bands received invitations to perform at the University of Georgia, the University of Alabama, the University of Southern Mississippi, Kennesaw State University, and Georgia State University. In addition to his teaching experience, he spent 14 summers as a staff member of the Encore Music Camps in Milledgeville, Georgia, the Spirit U. Summer Camp, and Spirit Camps. He served as a staff member of the Atlanta Olympic Band.

He received his B.S. in Music Education from Georgia State University in 1990 and his Master of Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2008. As an active member of GMEA, he has served on the instrumental council, served on the GMEA board, hosted the GMEA performance evaluation, honor bands, and numerous all-state auditions.  He has also presented clinics and performed at the Georgia Music Educators' in-Service Conference held annually in Savannah, Georgia.  He is a member of the Phi Beta Mu International School Bandmasters Fraternity and has been awarded the NBA citation of excellence on 5 occasions. Mr. Naughton has worked with the Southern Star Music Festival for 24 years as the instrumental coordinator.

Mr. Naughton lives in Woodstock, Georgia with his wife Christy Naughton, the Band Director at Northwestern Middle School in Fulton County (GA).

Dr. Kerry Bryant

Principal Guest Conductor

Dr. Kerry Bryant serves as Director of Instrumental Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at Reinhardt University in Waleksa, GA. Most recently he served as Director of Bands at Young Harris College (Young Harris, GA) and as Adjunct Instructor of Music Education at Reinhardt University. Prior to his collegiate career, for 30 years, Dr. Bryant served primarily as Director of Bands for several prominent high school band programs in GA. He also was Fine Arts Coordinator for the Barrow County Schools (GA), and for one year was an elementary music teacher at Statham Elementary (GA). He has served as Asst. Director of Bands at Riverdale HS, and Director of Bands at Jonesboro, Forest Park, Winder-Barrow, Buford and Adairsville High Schools, all in GA, as well as Interim Dir. of Bands at Irmo HS (SC). Thus, Dr. Bryant’s music education experience spans the continuum of all ages, from kindergarten-aged students through graduate-level music instruction.