Meet the Directors

Andrew Cole, Director

Andrew Cole is completing his sixteenth year as Band Director at Hightower Trail Middle School. Prior to teaching at Hightower Trail, Mr. Cole taught for five years at Marietta Middle School, a Marietta City School. Mr. Cole attended Furman University (Bachelor of Music Education, 1990), where he was awarded the Outstanding Freshman Award (1987) and Vince Perone Outstanding Bandsman Award (1990). He completed his Masters degree at Northwestern University (Master of Music, Trombone Performance, 1991). Mr. Cole was a student of Jay Bocook, Dr. Robert Chesebro, and Dan Ellis at Furman, and a student of John Paynter and Frank Crisafulli at Northwestern. He has been awarded the Citation of Excellence by the National Band Association on two occassions.

Under Mr. Cole's direction, the bands at Hightower Trail receive consistently high ratings at the annual Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluation. The 8th Grade Band was a featured performing ensemble at the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival (2006). For this performance, the band commissioned composer Erik Morales to write The Impossible Machine, the opening selection for the concert. The 8th Grade Band performed at the GMEA In-Service Conference in Savannah, Georgia (2008). Composer Brian Balmages was commissioned to write Etowah to commemorate the 15th anniversary of the school that year; it was the final selection performed at the Conference.

Mr. Cole has worked with many area high school and middle school bands providing band clinics, low brass coaching, and adjudication. Mr. Cole was the low brass instructor at the Cobb County Summer Music Camp (1999-2007). He was guest band clinician at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Middle School Band Festival (2005, 2009). Mr. Cole conducted the GMEA District 9 Clinic Band (2009) and was a guest conductor at the UGA Middle School Band Festival (2007). Mr. Cole was the Brass Instructor at the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program (1995-1997), which included conducting the Brass Ensemble for the Valdosta, GA Olympic Torch Ceremony in 1996. He was also an adjunct faculty member at Kennesaw State University (1995-1997), directing the brass ensemble and teaching low brass lessons.

A trombonist, Mr. Cole has been the Principal Trombonist of Orchestra Atlanta
(1992-1999) and is currently in the Atlanta Brass Renaissance Quintet. Mr. Cole has been a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony, an all-adult community band, since it began in 1999. He serves as the trombone section leader in the group. As a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony, Mr. Cole has played at the GMEA In-Service Conference (2003, 2007), the CBDNA Southern Division Conference (2002, 2008), and the Midwest Clinic (2003). He will perform with the Cobb Wind Symphony at the UGA High School Band Festival in January, 2010.

Mr. Cole has served GMEA District 12 in many capacities during his teaching career. He has served as the Solo & Ensemble Co-Organizer (1993), Band Festival Site Host (1994, 1997-2001), Band Festival Organizer (2004, 2005, 2008, 2009), District Honor Band Host (2002), and as Vice Chairman (2006-2008). Mr. Cole has served Hightower Trail as Music Department Team Captain for many years, and is presently serving a two year term on the School Council (2009-2011). Mr. Cole is a Member of NBA, MENC, GMEA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

E-mail: andrew.cole@cobbk12.org

Fred Norton, Assistant Director

Fred Norton is in his sixth year as Assistant Band Director at Hightower Trail Middle School. While at Hightower Trail, the 8th Grade Symphonic Band has performed at the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival (2006, 2010), the GMEA In-Service Conference (2008, 2012), and the Music For All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis (2010). In 2010 he was awarded a Citation of Excellence from the National Band Association. Mr. Norton previously taught at Griffin Middle School, where his jazz bands hosted WCLK radio’s “Jazz in the Classroom” project.

Mr. Norton received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from the University of Georgia (2001), where he studied with Dr. John Culvahouse. At UGA, he served on the Dean’s Student Advisory Board, was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, and held state offices in CMENC and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He earned his Master of Music Education degree from Indiana University (2006), where he studied with Ray Cramer and Stephen Pratt. As an Associate Instructor and Course Coordinator at IU, he wrote curricula for four courses, including Woodwind Techniques and the Music Education Instrumental Laboratory. He also co-directed the Bloomington Middle School Honor Band.

A saxophonist, Mr. Norton has studied with Sam Skelton, Kenneth Fischer, Otis Murphy, and Tom Walsh. He has worked with numerous Georgia bands as a symphonic band instructor, marching band instructor, music judge, and private lesson instructor. He has been on band staff with Lassiter High School (his alma mater) for many years, including the 2002 National Championship season. He has also served on band staff at Pope High School and has directed the Pope High School Woodwind Choir. As a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony, he has performed at the UGA High School Band Festival (2010), GMEA In-Service Conference (2003, 2007, 2011), CBDNA Southern Division Conference (2002, 2008), and will perform at the 2011 Midwest Clinic.

Mr. Norton currently serves as GMEA District 12 Solo & Ensemble Festival Organizer and as Team Captain for the HTMS Music Department. He is a member of MENC, GMEA, NBA, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.

E-mail: fred.norton@cobbk12.org