Percussion arranger, Instructor & consultant
Dr. John M. Cypert currently serves as a music specialist at Duncan Creek Elementary School in Hoschton, Georgia where he teaches general music to children in grades K-5 and co-directs the Duncan Creek Cardinal Choir, a 2013 guest performance ensemble at the Georgia Music Educators annual in-service conference. Additionally, John serves as percussion supervisor and arranger for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps and is the Percussion Coordinator and arranger for the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band.
Dr. Cypert has served as the music arranger and ensemble director for Pariah Percussion Theatre from Jasper, Georgia, a competitive independent percussion ensemble in the Winter Guard International arena. While in this position, Pariah earned the WGI Percussion Independent Open Class silver medal in 2003, was a World Class finalist in 2004, and was crowned the Open Class World Champion in 2009. In 2005 and 2006, Dr. Cypert served in the same capacity for Odyssey Percussion Theatre from Suwanee, Georgia, who placed sixth and seventh respectively in the WGI Percussion Independent World Class. In 2000, he served as the percussion caption head and arranger for the DCI World Class finalist, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Newark, Delaware. In 2009, the Valdosta Middle School percussion ensemble commissioned and premiered John’s original work, Perpetuality, at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to this in 2008, the Lanier Middle School percussion ensemble from Suwanee, Georgia performed his commissioned arrangement of Voices of Spring by Johann Strauss, Jr. at the same venue. Dr. Cypert remains active as a composer, arranger, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the United States.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Georgia, a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Arkansas, and his Doctor of Education degree in Music from the University of Georgia. Additionally, he earned his Educational Leadership certificate from the University of Georgia.
John’s professional experiences include performances with the Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, Gainesville Symphony, Macon Symphony and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony. He was a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps from 1991-1993 where he performed as a snare drummer. He remains active in the Southeast in all realms of percussion performance and endorses the products of Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, and Remo exclusively.
Dr. Cypert resides in Nicholson, Georgia with his wife, Chesley, and their two children, Mason (former POMC Percussion Captain) and Madeline (former POMC Percussion Captain).
Dr. Cypert has served as the music arranger and ensemble director for Pariah Percussion Theatre from Jasper, Georgia, a competitive independent percussion ensemble in the Winter Guard International arena. While in this position, Pariah earned the WGI Percussion Independent Open Class silver medal in 2003, was a World Class finalist in 2004, and was crowned the Open Class World Champion in 2009. In 2005 and 2006, Dr. Cypert served in the same capacity for Odyssey Percussion Theatre from Suwanee, Georgia, who placed sixth and seventh respectively in the WGI Percussion Independent World Class. In 2000, he served as the percussion caption head and arranger for the DCI World Class finalist, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Newark, Delaware. In 2009, the Valdosta Middle School percussion ensemble commissioned and premiered John’s original work, Perpetuality, at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to this in 2008, the Lanier Middle School percussion ensemble from Suwanee, Georgia performed his commissioned arrangement of Voices of Spring by Johann Strauss, Jr. at the same venue. Dr. Cypert remains active as a composer, arranger, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the United States.
He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Georgia, a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Arkansas, and his Doctor of Education degree in Music from the University of Georgia. Additionally, he earned his Educational Leadership certificate from the University of Georgia.
John’s professional experiences include performances with the Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, Gainesville Symphony, Macon Symphony and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony. He was a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps from 1991-1993 where he performed as a snare drummer. He remains active in the Southeast in all realms of percussion performance and endorses the products of Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, and Remo exclusively.
Dr. Cypert resides in Nicholson, Georgia with his wife, Chesley, and their two children, Mason (former POMC Percussion Captain) and Madeline (former POMC Percussion Captain).
visual caption head
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Libby Fleck
Libby has been the Visual Caption Head for The Pride of Mill Creek Marching Band since our 2021-2022 season. Libby graduated from the J. Mack Robinson College of Business, Georgia State University. They received dual degrees in Finance and Actuarial Science, with a minor in Mathematics. Libby has worked with Cadence Drum & Bugle Corps, Surrey, England; 2018 as head brass music instructor and head visual instructor; Atlanta CV Drum & Bugle Corps, Atlanta, GA 2017 as high brass music instructor; Appalachian Sound Drum & Bugle Corps, Atlanta, GA, 2016 as visual caption head and head brass music instructor. Libby also has worked with other high school marching programs as visual caption head and brass musical instructor. Libby has help to foster growth and development in our marching student and worked to enhance amazing shows POMC has performed in multiple in Bands of America Regional competitions. |
Percussion Coordinator
Dr. Alex Wingo
Percussionist, educator, and freelance musician Dr. Alex Wingo has performed in a variety of settings throughout North America including the Tennessee and Kentucky Days of Percussion, North American Brass Band Association Championships, Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association's All State East, various churches, and with the Athens, Georgia based jazz combo Swing Theory.
He has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Georgia Brass Band, Sandbox Percussion, the Sympatico Percussion group, played in numerous masterclasses led by world-renowned artists such as Nancy Zeltsman, Ji Hye Jung, and Christopher Norton, and has been a featured soloist on Lee University's Lee Day. His major teachers include Andy Harnsberger, James B. Campbell, and Timothy K. Adams Jr., and he has received additional study under John W. Parks IV, Kevin Bobo, Scott Herring, Joshua D. Smith, J. B. Smith, and Paul Deatherage.
As an avid educator, Alex achieved a dual endorsement in instrumental and vocal K-12 instruction, has taught private lessons for drum set and percussion, held a church music teacher internship, and has held percussion coordinator positions at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia and Flowery Branch High School in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
Alex earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, his Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.
Percussionist, educator, and freelance musician Dr. Alex Wingo has performed in a variety of settings throughout North America including the Tennessee and Kentucky Days of Percussion, North American Brass Band Association Championships, Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival, East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association's All State East, various churches, and with the Athens, Georgia based jazz combo Swing Theory.
He has performed with the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, Georgia Brass Band, Sandbox Percussion, the Sympatico Percussion group, played in numerous masterclasses led by world-renowned artists such as Nancy Zeltsman, Ji Hye Jung, and Christopher Norton, and has been a featured soloist on Lee University's Lee Day. His major teachers include Andy Harnsberger, James B. Campbell, and Timothy K. Adams Jr., and he has received additional study under John W. Parks IV, Kevin Bobo, Scott Herring, Joshua D. Smith, J. B. Smith, and Paul Deatherage.
As an avid educator, Alex achieved a dual endorsement in instrumental and vocal K-12 instruction, has taught private lessons for drum set and percussion, held a church music teacher internship, and has held percussion coordinator positions at Mill Creek High School in Hoschton, Georgia and Flowery Branch High School in Flowery Branch, Georgia.
Alex earned his Bachelor of Music Education from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee, his Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia.
Woodwind Tech
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Michael Carswell II
Michael Carswell II is an upcoming saxophonist in the Atlanta area. Throughout his career, he has performed with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, GSU Jazz Band, GSU Jazz Combo, and small bands throughout the metro Atlanta area. Within these groups, he has had the privilege to perform with Miguel Zenon, Marshall Gilkes, Sean Jones, and, Jeff “Tain” Watts to name a few. Along with performing music, he has a deep passion for composing and arranging. He has composed works in a number of genres spanning from jazz to classical, and plans to pursue a graduate degree in Screen Scoring. He has had the pleasure to score a few indie films and plans to score more in the future. |
Brass Tech
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Najja Hughey
Najja (Naj) Hughey is entering his third year as a Music Education student in the Euphonium studio at the Georgia State University School of Music. Currently, he is one of the Panther Band Drum Majors and the President of the Nu Alpha Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity. After marching in the 2022 Tournament of Roses parade, he was appointed as the Baritone Section Leader. Aside from Panther Band, Naj also plays Euphonium in the GSU Symphonic Wind Ensemble under the baton of Dr. Robert J. Ambrose, Baritone in the Basketball Band, and occasionally plays in the GSU Trombone Choir. Naj spends his free time conducting, figuring out Music Theory, and spending time with friends and family. |