Mrs. Megan Williams, Director of Bands
Hannah Harris, Drill Team Instructor
Mark Little, Percussion Instructor
Matthew Howell, Percussion Instructor
Deidra Dobbelmann, Color Guard Instructor

Mrs. Megan Williams

Director of Bands
mwilliams@csdecatur.net

Mrs. Megan Williams is a native of Phoenix, AZ and is a 2006 graduate of the University of Georgia where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education, cum laude. Mrs. Williams is entering her third year as Director of Bands at Decatur High School, where she instructs the wind ensemble, concert band, percussion ensemble, chamber ensembles, and jazz band. Since Mrs. Williams arrival at Decatur High School in 2009, the band program has grown to over 120 members, received Superior Ratings in Marching and Concert performances, and recently had three students named to the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program in Music. In addition the band has had an over 900% (2 in 2008, 19 in 2012) growth in members accepted to the Georgia District IV Honor Bands, as well as the first two students being named to the Georgia All State Band in over a decade. Prior to coming to Decatur, Mrs. Williams served as Director of Bands at Stockbridge High School with Jaime Powell and as an assistant at Parkview High School with esteemed colleagues Richard Magner and Allen Beach.

During her college career, Mrs. Williams was honored to serve as Drum Major, Clarinet Section Leader, and Assistant Band Captain for the Redcoat Marching Band. Mrs. Williams continues to teach clarinet and conducting privately to students from the metro Atlanta area. She has also served as an adjudicator for state and local events and is in demand as a clinician for instrumental ensembles and as well clarinet masterclasses. Mrs. Williams has also served on Team SWAG at the Music for All Summer Symposium in Normal, IL as a resident assistant and clinician.

During her undergraduate career, Mrs. Williams studied conducting privately with Dr. David Kish, Dr. David Romines, and Ms. Laura Moates Stanley and served as an undergraduate conductor for the UGA concert bands. She has also studied conducting abroad with Dr. Robert Ambrose, Professors Gary Hill, Tom Lee, and Michael Haithcock. Mrs. Williams was a clarinetist with the UGA Wind Ensemble, and has studied privately with Dr. D. Ray McClellan, and Mrs. Wendy Westberry of South Carolina. She is currently serving as wind section leader and principal clarinetist with the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra and also performs with the Northwinds Symphonic Band. Mrs. Williams was a recipient of the Georgia Music Educator’s Collegiate Scholarship in 2005.

Mrs. Williams’ professional affiliations include Sigma Alpha Iota, Kappa Kappa Psi (National Honorary Band Service Fraternity), the International Clarinet Association, the National Band Association, and GMEA, where she currently serves as coordinator of the District IV Senior Honor Band and co-coordinator for LGPE. Mrs. Williams would like to express her sincere gratitude to the teachers who led her to become a band director and gave her so much guidance over the years; Mr. Ryan Westberry, Ms. Patrice Mullis, and Mr. Chris Brown. Mrs. Williams currently lives in Snellville with her husband James, and their dog Percy. When she’s not working in the basement of Decatur High School, Mrs. Williams likes to play trivia, learn new stuff about the world, and go to Dancing Goats.

Hannah Harris

Drill Team Instructor

Hannah Harris began dancing in Macon, GA at age three, and has taught dance for more than 30 years. She was a principal dancer with the Macon Ballet Company and attended Brenau University in Gainesville, GA on a dance scholarship. She was a principal dancer for two years with the Gainesville Ballet Company and studied ballet, jazz and modern dance.

In 1986, Hannah established and ran the dance department of an Atlanta church for 17 years. She graduated from their Biblical Institute with an arts BA with an emphasis in dance and was involved in the large church’s theater and television production departments as well. From 2004-2008, she ran her own studio, Dance South Studios, where she taught all levels of dance to students ages two years through adult and continues to teach ballet as Dance South Studios at two Atlanta Metropolitan Creme de la Creme Early Learning Centers.

A certified yoga instructor and a CrossFit Level I trainer, Hannah serves on the board of directors of Zoetic Dance Ensemble and is on the faculty of Decatur School of Ballet. She and her husband, Dana, own Zest Atlanta Catering. Hannah has two children, Aaron, who graduated from Decatur High School in 2009, and Elizabeth, class of 2014.

Mark Little

Percussion Instructor

Mark grew up in Cumming, GA, where he began studying percussion at the age of 10.  Thanks to the support of wonderful teachers and patient, loving parents, he actually learned how to do this musically, and was soon captivated by the beauty and power of people joined together to bring a piece of music to life.  Throughout middle school and high school, Mark participated in District Honor Bands, All-State Orchestra, All-State Wind Ensemble, and All-State Jazz Clinic.  He went on to study percussion at Western Carolina University and then Berry College.

Over the last 20 years, Mark has performed and taught in various capacities with groups such as the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps, The North Georgia Wind Ensemble, the Big Peach Swing Band, and many others.  He has worked as a freelance and studio session drummer in the Atlanta area, and also taught private students and drumlines at high schools throughout Georgia.

Mark lives in Decatur, and when not drumming, is often thinking about words, people he loves, or delicious snack items.

Matthew Howell

Matthew Howell has been involved in the marching arts since 2000. Matthew marched with multiple organizations, including the University of Memphis Marching Band, Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps, and Gateway Indoor Percussion. Since aging out of the performance realm, Matthew quickly transitioned onto the other side of the performance arena into teaching. He has had the pleasure of teaching at many outstanding programs, including Collierville High School, Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, Gateway Indoor, Tyler Junior College Indoor and Spirit Drum and Bugle Corps in 2010. Currently, Matthew is working with Chattahoochee High, Forsyth Central High and Decatur High schools, all in the metro Atlanta area. In addition, Matthew is working with the drumline at Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps for the summer of 2011. Outside of the marching activity, Matthew enjoys playing pool, hanging out by the river, and playing with his dog, Julian. He currently resides in Atlanta, GA with some awesome roommates.

Deidra Dobbelmann

Deidra graduated from Forsyth Central High School with a college prep diploma and a Tri-M Honor Music Society seal. She started her color guard career in 2006 as a sophomore in high school, and became captain in 2008. She has also marched two years of Aureus Winterguard, an organization that has placed in multiple SAPA Competitions and WGI Regionals. Currently, Deidra attends Kennesaw State University and holds a place on the dean’s list, and marches as a sophomore with the Georgia Tech Marching Band.