Instructor Biographical Information
Camp Director - Samuel J. (Jay) Hutcherson
Jay Hutcherson received his Bachelor's of Music Education at the University of Georgia in 1983. He acquired a Master's of Business Administration in 2006. Mr Hutcherson is a veteran teacher of twenty-six years - twenty four with Fulton County Schools. He has taught high school, middle school and elementary school bands during his career. He has taken all three levels of bands to district Performance Evaluations and has received superior ratings at each level. Mr Hutcherson has taught privately and also founded and directed an after school band program at a private school for five years. He has performed on Trumpet for the past thirty-six years.In 2006, Mr. Hutcherson founded and directed the first ever Fulton County Elementary Honor band. The Honor Band performed at the GMEA Fifth District Performance Evaluation and received straight superior ratings as a first-year group. Currently, the 2008-09 edition is made up of seventy-one students from twenty-five elementary schools in Fulton County, GA.
Mr. Hutcherson founded the Vivace! Summer Band Camp in 2007. The first-year camp was for fifth and sixth graders and had sixty campers in attendance. This year, the format has been expanded to two camps, elementary and middle school
Camp Assistant Director & Clarinet Specialist - Sandra Wade
Sandy Wade received her Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Georgia in 1991. She then furthered her education by completing a Master of Music Performance, with an emphasis in clarinet performance, from Michigan State University in 1993. Ms. Wade has been teaching music/band in Fulton County for the past 11 years. She currently teaches band at Barnwell Elementary and Roswell North Elementary, with over 200 students in her programs. In addition to teaching full time, Ms. Wade is also an active performer. She performs regularly with the Columbus Symphony and the Johns Creek Symphony, and has performed with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, Atlanta Ballet Orchestra, Greenville Symphony, Charleston Symphony, Macon Symphony, and was a member of the 1996 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremony orchestra. Some notable performers that Ms. Wade has accompanied include Ray Charles, Liza Minelli, Aretha Franklin, Nancy Wilson, Carly Simon, Kathy Mattea, Crystal Gayle, Don McLean, and Hall & Oates. Ms. Wade also maintains a studio of 9 private students from north Fulton County.
Flute Specialist - Sara Hdyo
Sara L. Hydo received her Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance from Georgia State University. Her primary flute instructors were Paul Brittan and Melanie Fuller. She is a freelance musician in the Atlanta area and has been a soloist several times with neoPhonia New Music Ensemble. She has taught private and group lessons since 1997. Ms. Hydo currently teaches at Music and Art Centers and in the North Fulton area, is director of the Dickerson Middle School Flute Choir, and is a regular clinician at area schools.
Saxophone Specialist - Gary Paulo
Gary is a graduate of Indiana University where he received a BM in saxophone performance and studied with saxophonist Eugene Rousseau. When he returned home to the Atlanta area in 2001 he was in high demand as a teacher and performer in the southeast. He has worked teaching clinics and master classes at many of the wonderful Cobb County middle and high school band programs, and was also the adjunct saxophone instructor at the University of Alabama-Birmingham during the 2004-2005 school year. Gary has performed for many great audiences with national touring acts, spanning many genres of music. His performance credits include The Alabama Symphony Orchestra, The Temptations, Umphrey’s Mcgee, Perpetual Groove, and Papa Grows Funk. In addition, he plays with wonderful local ensembles in the Atlanta area including the Mercury Seasons Chamber Ensemble and the Cobb Wind Symphony. In 2008 he completed a Masters in Music Performance from Georgia State University.
Trumpet Specialist - Jennifer Compton
Jennifer Compton is currently in her sixth year of teaching and her second year at River Trail Middle School. Ms. Compton began her teaching career in 2003 as Assistant Director of Bands at Woodstock High School, Woodstock, Georgia.Ms. Compton received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Berry College, where she studied trumpet with Dr. William Robison and Dr. Thomas Smith. She recently completed her Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia.
Her professional affiliations include Music Educators National Conference, Georgia Music Educators Association, International Trumpet Guild, Sigma Alpha Iota, and Omicron Delta Kappa. In addition, Ms. Compton performs with various groups in the Atlanta area, presently the Cobb Wind Symphony.
Ms. Compton resides in Cumming, Georgia with her dog Emma!
Low Brass Specialist - Tim McKinney
Tim McKinney, Bass Trombone, is an active freelance musician in the Atlanta area as well as a music educator. Tim received his Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia and is currently working toward a Master's degree. He has been a music teacher for 18 years and is currently working as an elementary band director for Fulton County Schools, teaches private lessons for middle and high school students, and works as the low brass instructor for South Forsyth H. S. In addition, Tim has been invited as guest clinician and judge for various musical events. As a performer, Tim is the bass trombonist for "His" Symphony Orchestra, the Victory Jazz Orchestra, and The First Baptist Church of Sugar Hill. Other groups have included the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra and the Macon Symphony Orchestra.