The Team
Who We Are
Aaron Garland,
Band Director
Aaron Garland is currently the Band Director at Gilmer High School and assists with the Clear Creek Middle School Bands. Mr. Garland is a native of Ellijay, Georgia and a graduate of Gilmer High School, where Mr. Steve Calhoun and Mr. Joe Pflueger were his band directors. Mr. Garland holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, a Masters of Music Degree in Instrumental Conducting from the American Band College of Sam Houston State University, and the Educational Specialist Degree in Music Education from Piedmont College in Demorest, Georgia. Mr. Garland was previously the Director of Bands at Ringgold Middle School and Assistant Band Director for the Ringgold High School Band in Ringgold, Georgia. The Ringgold Middle School bands consistently received straight Superior Ratings in the Georgia Music Educators’ Association District 7 Large Group Performance Evaluations. Mr. Garland has had several students selected to participate in the GMEA District 7 Honor Bands, the UGA Middle School Honor Band, the JSU Honor Band, and the Georgia All State Band. The Ringgold Marching Tiger Band was named Grand Champion 11 out of 14 competitions entered during Mr. Garland’s time at Ringgold. For the 2016-2017 school year, the Ringgold Middle School Symphonic Band was the recipient of the “Exemplary Performance Award” for excellence in all state sponsored music events from the Georgia Music Educators Association. Mr. Garland has conducted honor bands in Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, including GMEA Districts 6, 10, and 11. Mr. Garland is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, The National Band Association, The National Association for Music Education, the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity, and is an elected member of the American School Band Directors Association. As a trombonist, has performed with the Northwinds Community Band in Gainesville, Georgia, the Piedmont Winds Community Band in Demorest, Georgia, and the Jericho Brass Band in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Mr. Garland is also on the staff of Encore! Summer Camps for Band held at Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, Georgia each year. Mr. Garland serves as a band guide for the Chick Fil A Peach Bowl for bands from around the country that participate in the Peach Bowl parade and festivities. Mr. Garland is excited to be back in the mountains of Gilmer County and to work with the young people in his hometown
C. Lloyd McDonald
Assistant Band Director
C. Lloyd McDonald is the band director at Clear Creek Middle School. He received the Bachelor of Business Administration and Bachelor of Music Education degrees from Georgia College, the Master of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia, and the Specialist in Music Education at Auburn University. As a professional musician, he remains active as a clinician, adjudicator, and performer at festivals and clinics throughout the southeast. Bands under his direction have received numerous performance accolades, including the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award and invitational performances at the UGA MidFest Clinic and Music for All Concert Festival. Mr.McDonald was recognized as the 2014 VFW Teacher of the Year for Georgia and the 2016 Teacher of the Year at Feagin Mill Middle School. His professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He currently serves as the GMEA District 9 treasurer and as the state chair for NBA. He and his wife, Sue, live in Big Canoe, GA, with their spoiled-rotten Jack Russell Terrier, Flash.
Jessica Kamholz
Colorguard Coordinator
Jessica Kamholz is beginning her 14th year as a Colorguard Coordinator for the GHS band. Ms. Kamholz grew up in Buffalo, NY and started marching in the East Aurora Middle School Marching Band playing flute and began spinning flags and rifles. With the four years with EAMS she performed at Cedar Point in Ohio and the St. Patrick's day parade in New York city. Ms. Kamholz marched nine seasons with Effervescence Winterguard competing all around the Northeast and Canada. She marched in 2002 with Patriots Drum Corps traveling to Madison, WI to perform at world championships for DCI. And marched six years in the Erie County Pepsi-Cola Marching Band. Ms. Kamholz has been director of the GHS Winterguard program for the last six years. In that time the Winterguard has medaled twice at SAPA Championships in Chattanooga, TN and been moved up three times in class rankings.
Chandler Bentley
Music and Marching Technician
This is Mr. Chandler Bentley’s second year with the Gilmer High School Marching Band. Mr. Bentley attended Gilmer High School and was in the GHS Band, where he played trumpet and mellophone. After graduating from GHS, he attended Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama and majored in Music Education. While at Jacksonville State University, Mr. Bentley played french horn in the JSU Symphonic Band, JSU Wind Ensemble, and JSU Civic Symphony. He was also in the music fraternity, Delta Omicron, from 2020-2022. Mr. Bentley was also a member of the Marching Southerners as a mellophone player from 2019-2023. This is Mr. Bentley’s second year teaching in the Gilmer County School District as the music specialist at Mountain View Elementary.
Alyssa Madison
Colorguard Instructor
Alyssa Madison is currently the STEM teacher at Ellijay Elementary School and assists the Gilmer High School Marching Band as a colorguard instructor. Alyssa is beginning her second year with the GHS Band. Alyssa is a native of Florida, and a graduate of The Villages High School, where she was a member of the colorguard. She is also a former member of the The Heat Wave Drum and Bugle Corps. Alyssa also helps instruct the award winning Gilmer High School Winterguard.
Josh Shute
Percussion Technician
Josh Shute began his music career as any musician, in high school. After graduating Cherokee high school, he helped to begin the indoor marching competition team known as Pariah based in Woodstock, GA at that time. After his time with Pariah he was a drum tech with a local band touring the metro Atlanta area. Josh is a retired Communications Officer with the Cherokee County Marshal’s office 9-1-1 division after 25 years. He now works as the band paraprofessional teacher with CCMS and GHS bands.
