R. KEVIN BROWN
DIRECTOR OF BANDS
R. Kevin Brown is the Director of Bands at Villa Rica High School in Villa Rica, Georgia. He leads all aspects of the program, including two concert ensembles, marching band, jazz band, chamber ensembles, percussion ensemble, and winterguard. Ensembles under his direction have consistently earned superior ratings at Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA)-approved performance evaluations. His most noteworthy accomplishments include the Villa Rica High School Saxophone and Trumpet Choirs (2022), the Rockdale County High School Saxophone Choir (2018, 2019), the Fayette County High School Brass Choir (2014), and the Adairsville High School Brass Quintet (2012, 2013) performances at the GMEA In-Service Conference. Most recently, the Villa Rica High School Symphonic Band was invited to perform at the 2024 GMEA In-Service Conference.
Mr. Brown earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Newberry College in Newberry, South Carolina. He performed as the principal tubist for four years in the Newberry College concert band under the tutelage of Mr. Bill Long, Director of Bands Emeritus. Brown also holds a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. While attending the University of Illinois, he served as a counselor for the Illinois Summer Youth Music Program.Mr. Brown is extensively sought after in Metro-Atlanta as a guest conductor, GMEA adjudicator, band clinician, and brass
section coach. He is an accomplished tuba player and maintains an extremely successful low brass studio. Several of his students have earned placement in their respective district honor bands, and he has had as many as four private students named to the GMEA All State Band in one year (2015). He is currently performing tuba in the Cobb Wind Symphony. He is also a former tubist with the Atlanta Community Symphony Orchestra and the Atlanta Wind Symphony, where he also served as Associate Conductor.
Mr. Brown enjoys serving as a mentor for young and aspiring music educators. He presented lectures for the Collegiate National Association for Music Education chapters of Newberry College, University of Georgia, University of West Georgia, Mercer University, and Kennesaw State University.
Brown has traveled extensively, attending several conducting clinics and workshops to study with some of the world’s most noteworthy music educators, such as Frank Battisti, Paula Crider, Jerry Junkin, Thomas Lee, and James F. Keene.
Brown currently serves as the GMEA District 7 Band Chair. Brown’s professional and social affiliations include the National Association for Music Educators, Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He is also a proud member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Ann Wilson is in her second year as Associate Director of Bands at Villa Rica High School (VRHS) in Villa Rica, Georgia. Her responsibilities include assisting with middle and high school band operations, conducting the VRHS Concert Band, VRHS Midnight Jazz Cats, and co-sponsoring the VRHS Tri-M Music Honor Society. Ensembles under her direction have consistently earned superior ratings at Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) performance evaluations. Most recently, she led the VRHS Trombone Sextet at their lobby performance at the 2023 GMEA In-Service Conference.
Ms. Wilson is a proud alumna of Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of West Georgia (UWG) in 2022. During her time at UWG, she was heavily involved in the jazz department and performed as a member of the UWG Marching Wolves, Symphonic Band, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Brass Ensemble and Wind Ensemble. In 2019, she was appointed as the Principal Trombonist of the Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Josh Byrd. Ms. Wilson continues to perform as a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony under the direction of Dr. Alfred Watkins.
Aside from performing, Ms. Wilson actively serves as a low brass instructor, drum major clinician and adjudicator. She collaborates with composer Katahj Copley as a program annotator. Ms. Wilson’s love for wind band literature has prompted her to grow as a conductor. Most recently, she studied as a conducting fellow with the Atlanta Summer Conducting Institute led by Dr. John Lynch and one of her mentors, Dr. Robert Ambrose. Her professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and Kappa Kappa Psi. Ms. Wilson resides in Villa Rica, Georgia with her dog, Maisie!
