BIO - JEFF HARPER

Associate Director of Bands

  Mr. Jeff Harper, a native of Covington, Georgia, has lived in Georgia all his life. He graduated from Newton County High School and continued his education at the University of Georgia in Athens. While at UGA, Mr. Harper studied trumpet with Albert Ligotti, Moffit Williams, and Fred Mills, former and founding member of the Canadian Brass. Also, Mr. Harper was Drum Major of the University's Redcoat Marching Band. In addition to conducting at the football games, he was a band conductor of a University concert band during his last semester of school. Mr. Harper was a member of the Cadets of Bergen County Drum and Bugle Corps from Bergenfield, New Jersey in 1996. In 1998, Mr. Harper was on staff with the Cadets, who won the Drum Corps International World Championship.
     Upon completion of an undergraduate degree in 1998, he was hired as the Director of bands at the West Cobb School in Kennesaw, Georgia. While at the West Cobb School, Mr. Harper was responsible for the entire band program and maintained a smooth transition for students during the two years it was in existence. While at West Cobb, all of Mr. Harper’s bands received superior ratings at the GMEA District 12 band festival. In addition to his responsibilities at West Cobb, Mr. Harper was a marching instructor for Harrison high school and served as the third band director for the Harrison High School band program.
     In the Spring of 2000, Mr. Harper was hired as the Associate Director of Bands to open Kennesaw Mountain High School the following fall. Since the opening of Kennesaw Mountain High School, Mr. Harper has been involved in total operation and creation of the program. Since the opening of KMHS, Mr. Harper has served as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the country.  He is presently serving as a judge for Drum Corps International and judges in the summers.  In addition to his activities as a DCI judge, Mr. Harper teaches leadership clinics and conducting seminars to interested students. Mr. Harper teaches trumpet lessons and conducting lessons to students throughout the year.
     In August of 2002, Mr. Harper completed his Master of Music Education degree from the University of Illinois in Urbana, Champaign Illinois.  His professional affiliations include the Music Educators National Conference, Georgia Music Educators Association, the International Trumpet Guild, and Drum Corps International.

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