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GMEA 2022 PANELISTS

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DR. CYNTHIA JOHNSTON TURNER

Former UGA Director of Bands and Dean—Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario

The first in her family to attend university, Cynthia Johnston Turner received her B.Mus and B.Ed  from Queen’s University, a M.Ed. at the University of Victoria and a D.M.A. (Conducting) from the Eastman School of Music. She has received numerous teaching, research, and leadership awards.

Cynthia is currently Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and Artistic Director of “CCE” at the Hodgson School of Music, University of Georgia where she conducts the Hodgson Wind Ensemble, leads the MM and DMA programs in conducting, provides strategic leadership in diversity, equity, and belonging initiatives as well as innovative curriculum, and oversees the entire band program including the 400+ member Redcoat Marching Band. She is a sponsored clinician with Conn-Selmer.


Cynthia has guest conducted bands, new music ensembles, and orchestras at several universities and conservatories as well as state honor bands in the United States and abroad. She has recorded with the Innova and Albany labels and continues to actively promote commissions by today’s leading and emerging composers around the world with a focus on underrepresented voices. 


Cynthia spearheaded a community partnership between Athens HipHop artists, UGA composers, and the Hodgson Wind Ensemble, and the reimagining of ‘new music’ at UGA that embraces decolonization, the dismantling of musical “genre,” and anti-racism.


She was appointed Dean—Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, just outside of Toronto, July 1, 2021.

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WOLSON GUSTAMA

Dutchtown High School Director of Bands

Wolson Gustama currently serves as the Director of Bands for Dutchtown High School. In his role, Gustama oversees nearly 170 students in several ensembles, including the Dutchtown High School Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, the “Sound of Dutchtown” Marching Band, Jazz Band, and numerous chamber ensembles. Under his leadership, the band has been invited to a number of prestigious events including the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) In-Service Conference, the University of Georgia January Festival “Janfest”, the Southeastern United States Concert Band Clinic (SEUS) at Troy University, the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State University and the University of South Carolina Honor Band Clinic. Prior to joining Dutchtown High School, Gustama served as the assistant director of bands at Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain, Georgia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Bethune-Cookman University, a Master of Music in Music Education from Florida State University and an Educational Specialist Degree (EdS) from Piedmont College. As a trumpeter, Gustama performs with the Cobb Wind Symphony in Marietta, Georgia. He holds memberships with the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), National Band Association (NBA), and the National Association for Music Educators (NAFME). Gustama is a native of Brooklyn, New York, and currently resides in McDonough, Georgia.

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CECILIA CLARK

Allatoona High School Director of Bands

Cecilia Clark, Director of Bands at Allatoona High School in Acworth, Georgia. She attended Duquesne University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education. Her percussion teachers include Stanley Leonard, Gerald Unger, and Andrew Reamer.  She studied conducting with Robert Cameron, Craig Kirchhoff, and Larry Rachleff. Ms. Clark also received a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Duquesne. 

Ms. Clark’s professional experience includes Assistant Director at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA where she also served as Fine Arts Department Chair. Prior to joining the faculty at McEachern, Ms. Clark was the Director of Bands at Deer Lakes High School and Thomas Jefferson High School.  She also taught beginning band in the Diocese of Pittsburgh. 

Ms. Clark has served as a percussion consultant and technician for several schools including Norwin Senior High School in North Huntingdon, PA.  She was also the Front Ensemble Instructor for the General Butler Vagabonds Drum Corps and the Pit Caption Head for Conquest Percussion and Project Percussion Independent Open and World Class WGI Finalists.


Ms. Clark is an active adjudicator, guest conductor, and clinician. She has served on the Review Committee for the National Association of Secondary School Principals, as a member of NAfME Band Advisory Committee, and as a Program Coordinator at the Music for All Summer Symposium. Ms. Clark currently serves on the Alfred Music Acquisition Team for Band Repertoire and the Wind Band Committee for the Institute for Composer Diversity. Her professional affiliations include the NAfME, GMEA, PAS, NBA, ASBDA, WBDI and Mu Phi Epsilon. 


Ms. Clark is married to Patrick Clark, Band Director at Hightower Trail Middle School. They have three beautiful Weimaraners, Coltrane, Mingus, and Monk.

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SHELDON FRAZIER

North Cobb High School Director of Bands

Mr. Sheldon Frazier is currently the Director of Bands at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia. He is the primary conductor of the Wind Symphony, Concert Band 1, and directs the North Cobb Marching Band. In addition, he assists with the Symphonic Band, Concert Band 2, and coaches various chamber ensembles.
In his time at North Cobb, the concert bands have received consistent superior ratings at the GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation and the marching band has consistently scored in the top percentage at regional competitions. The Wind Symphony was most recently selected as a featured performing group at the University of Georgia’s January Music Festival and the GMEA State Conference.
Prior to his appointment at North Cobb, Mr. Frazier served for five years as Associate Director of Bands at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA, and two years at Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, MI.
Mr. Frazier earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Western Carolina University and a Master of Music degree in Music Education from The University of Florida.
Mr. Frazier is active as an adjudicator, clinician, and student leadership consultant. In 2019, Mr. Frazier was one of 10 national educators awarded the Country Music Association Foundation’s “Music Teachers of Excellence” Award. He holds memberships in the National Association for Music Education & Georgia Music Educators Association.

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