GCPS educators and students recognized by GMEA

     Gwinnett County Public Schools’ (GCPS) Music Technology programs made a notable impression at the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Annual Conference.

     Along with robust professional learning sessions and concerts in every music discipline, the GMEA recognizes music teachers and students for their excellence in the field. Amy Clement, Orchestra Director at North Gwinnett Middle School, was named the District 13 Music Educator of the Year this year. Nominated by peers and selected through a rigorous process, this recognition is awarded to a music educator who has proven excellence in the classroom.

 GMEA showcased student accomplishments in the Composition Competition Recital, which features the top 15 student compositions in the state. The selected students are listed below:

 

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology

• Benjamin Badinger
• Analeigh St. Hilaire

 

Lanier HS

• Cody Phillips

 

School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett HS

• Emerson Green

 

     GMEA also recognizes students who compete and rank in the top tier of Music Technology students. The following are GCPS students who were recognized.

 

Brookwood HS

• Clayton Sales

 

Lanier HS

• William Sternal
• Oluwabamibo "Bam" Macgregor

 

McConnell MS

• Kamari Kelly

 

North Gwinnett HS

• Thomas Jenkins
• Quinn Nelson

 

North Gwinnett MS

• Grace Rivera

 

Parkview HS

• Aryan Damani

 

School of the Arts at Central Gwinnett HS

• Kenard Elien
• Milo Hadley
• Edwin Hernandez-Camarillo

 

     The GMEA also sponsors a High School Experience to encourage 11th- and 12th-grade students interested in a music education career. Students are nominated for the High School Experience by their music teachers. Those selected for the group are invited to the GMEA Conference, where they attend special sessions designed and led by veteran music educators, concerts, and clinics. GCPS students selected to participate in this unique experience are listed below.

Duluth HS

• Raegan Dobey

 

Meadowcreek HS

• Alexander Sale

 

Peachtree Ridge HS

• Bryson Avant
• Kayla Cakranata
• Aylin Lee
• Jack Lees
• Christopher Ngo
• Joey Pak
• Nikhil Patel
• David Williams

 

     Along with professional learning sessions and student experiences, musical ensembles from across the state submit recordings to apply to be featured ensembles throughout the conference. GCPS ensembles chosen to be among the elite ensembles in the state to perform are listed below.

• Bay Creek MS - Treble Chorus
• North Gwinnett MS - Advanced Guitar Ensemble 
• Mill Creek HS - Mastery Chorus
• North Gwinnett HS - Big Band

 

     “All of these honors and recognitions are indicative of the continued world-class fine arts instruction that our students are provided. It shows that our students are excelling in highly competitive areas of the fine arts with a passion for success,” says GCPS Director of Fine Arts David DuBose. “These accolades come as a result of our stakeholders and community being fully invested in providing the resources for quality fine arts programs, our local school administrators for ensuring that our students are given access and opportunity while also hiring the most qualified teachers for their classrooms, and a long-standing history of our school board and administration to guarantee that every student in GCPS has an opportunity to study in the fine arts at every level starting in their Kindergarten year in elementary school.”