Allene Haugabook was born in Plains, Georgia in 1929. Her mother was a piano instructor and served as one of her earliest musical inspirations. In this interview, Haugabook talks about music in her family, growing up and living in Plains, and her…
Cassie Evans was born in Athens, Georgia in 1991. Her youth was filled with creativity, writing poems, short stories, and raps that are tied to her current music career. In this interview, she talks about her experiences in athletics growing up and…
Melissa Link moved to Athens, Georgia in 1993 where she attended the University of Georgia as a graduate student of art history. She has served in various positions in media, community organizations, and government throughout Athens. Currently, she…
Alicia Nickles works as the publisher and advertising director for Flagpole Magazine and serves on the executive committee for AthFest Educates. In this interview, Nickels talks about AthFest Educates, the management and creation of AthFest, and the…
Edwards was born in Florida, where her first introduction to music was her father’s love of jazz. In high school, Edwards played the guitar and occasionally sang in a small band. Edwards eventually moved to Athens in the early 1980’s where she played…
Fancher came to Athens in 1978 as a University of Georgia student majoring in journalism. Fancher has worked as an artist and has hosted art shows around Athens. Fancher was also the guitarist for the band, El Caminos. In this interview, Fancher…
Vanessa Briscoe Hay, born in Atlanta, Ga, was the singer for the Athens band Pylon. In this interview, Hay discusses her experience of Athens during the 1970s and performing and recording with Pylon, before and after their break up.
Dana Downs is a bassist in Athens, Georgia. She has played in many bands over the years including the Tone-tones, Go Van Go, and Vietnam. In her interview, Downs discusses her experiences in several of her bands and her opinions and experiences of…
Lynda Stipe, sister to Michael Stipe of R.E.M., moved to Athens, Georgia in 1980 as a high school senior. A year later, she attended the University of Georgia as a sculpture major, during which she formed the band Oh-OK. Stipe worked as the band’s…
April Chapman moved to Athens in 1965 as a student at the University of Georgia. During the 1980s, Chapman was involved in the art scene and interacted with the members of bands such as R.E.M, the B-52’s, and Pylon. In this interview, Chapman talks…
Kelly Noonan came to Athens, Georgia during the early 1980’s, where she performed as a guitarist in the band, A Few Good Men. Noonan has performed in many other bands including Billy James and Jackpot City. Noonan currently works as a dog groomer at…
Deonna Mann moved to Athens, GA as a young adult and got involved in art and music. She is best known for her 1990s experimental performances with local bands. In her interview, she discusses her puppet shows, art exhibitions, and performing with…
Claire Horne moved to Athens, GA from Atlanta as a freshman at the University of Georgia. During her time in Athens, she played guitar in alternative band the BBQ Killers. In this interview, Horne discusses performing with the BBQ Killers and working…
Dr. Jacqueline Cogdell DjeDje grew up in Jesup, Georgia, learning piano from an early age. She attended Boggs Academy, Fisk University, and the Hampton Institute. She is currently a professor and the Chair of Ethnomusicology at the University of…
Kathy Kirbo moved to Athens and attended the University of Georgia where she graduated with a degree in psychology. She has been part of numerous bands including Greenhouse and Jackpot City. She currently works as the executive director for the Reef…
Mamie Fike moved to Athens to attend the University of Georgia on a music scholarship. She played violin in numerous bands including Long Low Rumble, WET, Jackpot City, Toast, Hetch Hetchy, and the Athens Symphony Orchestra. She currently works as a…
Cindy Wilson was born and raised in Athens. She was a founding member of the B-52s along with her brother, Ricky Wilson. In the band, Wilson was a vocalist, songwriter, and percussionist. During the interview, Wilson talks about her brother,…
Velena Vego is from Atlanta, GA and moved to Athens to pursue success in her sister’s girl band, Mystery Date. After the band broke up, she worked for R.E.M. and Drivin’ N’ Cryin’. She finds her work in booking shows for The 40 Watt CLub, the…
Susan Staley was born and raised in Indiana and moved to Athens in 1992 where she quickly found community within Athens’ folk and old time music scenes. In this interview she talks about her experiences with music in Athens, which include playing…
Eunice Kang is an orchestra director at Clarke Central High School and Clarke Middle School in Athens, Georgia. Eunice Kang discusses her path to teaching, what keeps her in the profession, and what factors lead some teachers to leave. She describes…
Katie Rogers is the Associate Band Director at Duluth High School in Duluth, Georgia. Rogers discusses her path to teaching and highlights specific moments of pride, challenge, and humor. She also discusses her teaching style, her role as both a…
Angela McKee is an Assistant Professor of Music Education at Kennesaw State University. In this interview, McKee discusses teaching elementary music classes in Rome, Georgia and Cartersville, Georgia. She also discusses student teaching and being a…
Kelly Mraz is a music teacher at Head Elementary School in Lilburn, Georgia. Mraz discusses her career path, her experiences in the classroom, and the importance of working for a school system that values music education. She also discusses the…
Marcy Simmons is a music integrationist at Beecher Hills and West Manor Elementary Schools in Atlanta, Georgia. Simmons discusses her career path, the highs and lows of her work, and her approach to motivating students.
Victoria Knowles is a Music Specialist at Cloverleaf Elementary School in Bartow County, Georgia. Knowles discusses her work environment, her teaching style, and how she motivates her students. She also talks about staying connected with the…
Megan Endicott is the general music teacher at Dolvin Elementary School in Johns Creek, Georgia. Endicott discusses the rewards of teaching music as students make discoveries, as well as the challenges of working with difficult administrators. She…
Myra Rhoden is the Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chairperson at Fayette County High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. Dr. Rhoden discusses her career path, her proudest moments, and her approaches to teaching and mentorship. She also…
Jennifer Chambless is an elementary school music teacher in Chattahoochee, Georgia. In this interview, Chambless discusses her late journey into becoming an educator.
Mary McGowan is a music teacher at Adamson Middle School in Rex, Georgia. McGowan discusses her career path, her teaching style, why some choose to leave the profession, and shares some of her proudest moments.
Judith Beale is a Part-Time Music Instructor at Kennesaw State University who previously taught elementary music for 39 years. Beale discusses her years as a teacher, including the challenges and rewards that a music teacher faces. She also discusses…
Laura Montanari is a music teacher at Growing Up Green Middle School in Long Island City, New York. Montanari describes her path to teaching, her proud moments and challenging moments, and mentoring.
Larrolyn Patterson Parms-Ford is a music teacher at Harlem Village Academy East Elementary in New York, New York. Parms-Ford discusses her experience as a new teacher, working with K-3 students, the challenges of teaching vs. student teaching, and…
Ashley Drake is a guitar teacher at Duluth Middle School in Duluth, Georgia. Drake discusses the demographics of the school, her path to becoming a guitar teacher, and the challenges and rewards to teaching. She also talks about influences and…
Content Warning: This interview includes references to mental distress and suicide.Adrya Stembridge was born in 1970 and grew up in Athens. In this interview, she discusses the fraught process of discovering her transgender identity and the…
