Directors & Staff

 

 

Bob Loehr

Director of Bands

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Mr. Loehr graduated from Jacksonville State University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science in Education.

During his time at JSU, Mr. Loehr was very involved with the music department and performed in numerous ensembles. Those groups included Saxophone Choir, A Capella Choir, Symphonic Band, Wind Symphony, Jazz Band, and the Marching Southerners. In 1994, Mr. Loehr held the position of drum major for the Marching Southerners. Mr. Loehr’s marching experience also extends into Drum and Bugle Corps International as a member of Spirit of Atlanta. In 1991, he was assistant drum major, in 1992 he marched soprano, and in 1994 he was head drum major.

 

Mr. Loehr began his teaching career in 1998 as director at Needwood Middle School in Brunswick, Georgia. While there, he was a member of both the Jekyll Island Big Band and the Coastal Georgia Community Band. In addition to his duties at Needwood MS, he also served as assistant director to the Brunswick High School band program.

 

In 2000, Mr. Loehr moved to the Atlanta area to take a director’s position at Smitha Middle School in Cobb County. During this time, he also worked with Osborne High School and McEachern High School in the capacity of a marching/symphonic instructor. Mr. Loehr has been the Director of Instrumental Studies at Woodstock High School since 2002.

 

Mr. Loehr is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Professional Music Fraternity), Omicron Delta Kappa (Honorary Leadership Society), Georgia Music Educators Association, and MENC (The National Association for Music Education). In 1999, Mr. Loehr received the Sally Mae Most Outstanding First Year Teacher for Needwood Middle School. In April of 2004, Mr. Loehr received the Woodstock High “Teacher of The Month” award. 

 

 

 

Sydney Hands

Color Guard Sponsor

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I was born and raised in Cherokee County, (I actually went to and marched at Cherokee High School). From there, I went to Agnes Scott to pursue my degree in English Lit. Then, I moved to Kennesaw to get my Masters in teaching. I have two beautiful dogs, and I'm so happy to be back home in Cherokee, once again participating in color guard -- something I love! The students at Woodstock are so incredibly talented and passionate that it inspires me every day, and I'm thrilled about what the season will bring. 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Terry

Brass Instructor/Show Arranger/Drill Writer

 

Michael Terry has worked with the Woodstock High School band program since 2009, serving as a brass/visual instructor, music arranger (2010-present), and drill designer (2015-present). He marched 8 seasons with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2000-2007) and has been on the brass staff for the Troopers (2010-2013), Spirit of Atlanta (2014), The Cadets (2015-2017), and Boston Crusaders (2018-present).

 

Outside of drum corps, he holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Kennesaw State University where he studied euphonium with Mr. Bernard Flythe. As an arranger/composer he has written for high school and college marching bands across the country since 2006. Michael currently lives in Woodstock, GA with his husband Kawika and their 2 dogs and 4 cats.

 

 

 

Justine Lemmo

Director of Percussion Ensembles

 

Justine Lemmo is excited to hold the title Director of Percussion Ensembles for Woodstock High School.  She is a graduate of WHS and has been working with the band for over a decade. She received her Bachelor of Music degree as a music scholarship recipient at the University of West GA in 2010.  She also received her First Steps in Music Certification in 2017 through the Feierabend Association of Music Educators.  As well as being a studied percussionist, she is also a classically trained pianist with over fifteen years of rigorous studio training.

 

Her history contains almost two decades of involvement in various music education programs comprised of jobs such as: elementary music teacher in Douglas and Cherokee Counties, as well as various music minister positions for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, including her current role as the Music Coordinator of Vacation Bible School at St. Michael the Archangel in Woodstock.

Justine also owns Sing First! LLC., a music and movement studio for children in Woodstock.  The studio has provided her an opportunity to dedicate herself to building a musical culture in Cherokee County from the ground up!  

 

Justine lives in Canton with her husband Joe and their two children as well as their cat Wasabi.

 

 

 

Mary Dru McCoy

Color Guard Director

 

Mary Dru is a graduate of the University of Georgia, where she was a captain of the Flagline and Winter Guard programs while she earned her bachelor’s degree in insurance. Mary Dru is now an insurance agent based in Atlanta, is a Woodstock alum, loves to dance, and is a Pom Pom enthusiast.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olivia Payne

Assistant Color Guard Director

 

Olivia attended the University of Georgia where she obtained her bachelor’s and, more recently, her master’s degree in social work. She was a member of the University of Georgia Flagline, captained the Winter Guard program, and has marched many summers with programs such as Atlanta CV and the Cadets. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelby Crane

Color Guard Tech

 

Shelby is currently in PT school at Brenau University since graduating from the University of Georgia, where she was captain of the Flagline and Winter Guard programs. She’s a trained dancer who has taught at several schools within our competitive circuit, notably North Gwinnett and Commerce High Schools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Mason Upshaw

Woodwind & Drum Major Instructor

 

Mason is currently pursuing a music degree at Kennesaw State University and plans to graduate in the fall of 2023. In his years at KSU, he has been recognized as an elite music educator in training, earning him an internship with Youth Bands of Atlanta in 2018 and multiple leadership and conducting opportunities at KSU. He has performed with multiple ensembles at KSU including but not limited to wind ensembles, choirs, jazz bands, and “The Marching Owls.” In addition to his studies, Mason also serves at Woodstock Christian Church as their music minister. 2023 will be his 7th year teaching Woodwinds at Woodstock High School.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jacob Borland

Visual Instructor

 

Jacob Borland, a proud alumnus of the Woodstock High School Band, is no stranger to the marching arts. Jacob has experienced the marching arts activity at all levels; from being a member of the Woodstock High School Marching Wolverine Band to competing for DCA and DCI world championships, there is not much he has not seen. Jacob marched euphonium for the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps in 2019 and was also a member of the University of Georgia Redcoat Band, marching baritone throughout his time in college. Jacob is also a recent graduate of Hunter College, a CUNY university in New York City and is soon to become a registered dietitian. Jacob is excited to bring his wide range of experiences to Woodstock as a visual coordinator and take the Woodstock High School Marching Wolverines to the next level.

 

 

 

 

Zac Carr

Battery Instructor / Technician

 

Zac Carr is a battery instructor / technician for the Woodstock High School Wolverine Marching Band. Mr. Carr has worked with Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, Atlanta Quest Independent Indoor Drumline, Roswell High School, Woodland High School in Cartersville, Sprayberry High School, Creekview High School, Barber Middle School, Kennesaw State University Marching Owls, Reinhardt University Screaming Eagle Marching Band, and the University of Alabama Million Dollar Band.

While a performing member of the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps, Mr. Carr was fortunate to be under the instruction of Christopher Lennox, Ellis Hampton, Chauncey Holder, Jonathan Anderson, & Jonathan Leal. During his time performing with Alliance Drum & Bugle Corps, Mr. Carr was fortunate to learn from Marcus Hawkins, Alan Sears, Larry Summerlin, & Jeffrey Peterson. At Atlanta Quest Independent Indoor Drumline, Mr. Carr was fortunate to learn from Michael Madaio, Marcus Hawkins, Alan Sears, Larry Summerlin, Jeffrey Peterson, & Zack Marshall.

Mr. Carr attended Creekview High School, graduating in 2010. In December of 2014, Mr. Carr graduated from Kennesaw State University with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Applied Statistics and Data Analysis. In May of 2018, Mr. Carr graduated from Arizona State University with a M.S. in Business Analytics. He now works full-time as a Customer Data Analyst for Serta Simmons Bedding in Doraville, GA.

 

 

 

Kyle Cunningham

Battery Technician

 

Kyle is excited to join the Woodstock Wolverine Band as a battery technician. Throughout his marching career, Kyle has studied under numerous world-class instructors, including Mike Madaio, Jeffrey Peterson, Ben Pyles, Clint Gillespie, and Will Campbell, just to name a few.

Kyle has been a member of many prestigious ensembles, including the Jacksonville State University Marching Southerners, Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps, and Atlanta Quest. He looks forward to sharing his knowledge gained through years of experience with the members of the Wolverine Band.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Roque Winchester

Marching Band Sound Engineer

 

Roque is currently a freelance audio engineer based in Atlanta, GA and is an engineer with Atlanta Quest Independent Drumline. He was a performing member of Atlanta Quest as a snare drummer in 2017 & 2018, and prior with Palmetto Percussion, Colts Drum & Bugle Corps and Carolina Gold. Roque works as a recording engineer and audio assistant at 11th Street Studios, a sound designer/engineer and battery instructor for numerous high school percussion programs in Atlanta in addition to working with the Boston Crusaders as part of their audio team.

 

In 2019, Roque graduated from the Atlanta Institute of Music with an Associates Degree in Audio Post-Production. Outside of working as an audio engineer, Roque plays bass in an alternative rock band known as Indigo Method and enjoys spending time with his dog Roxy.