Band Directors Through the Years
Director of Bands, Michael Kobito 2016-2023
Michael Kobito is going into his sixth year with the Woodland High School Band, and his third year as Director of Bands. The band program consists of the marching band, four concert bands, a jazz band, as well as multiple chamber ensembles. Over the last several years, the band has received multiple Grand Championships, marched in the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Parade in Washington D.C. (2017), performed at the Southeastern United States Honor Band Invitational at Troy University (2018), and most recently traveled to New York City to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2018).
Mr. Kobito is a native of Cartersville, GA and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. While in college, he served as drum major of the Redcoat Marching Band for two years and was president of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education. Currently, Mr. Kobito serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and performer with Tara Winds and the Georgia Brass Band. His professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators’ Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He attends numerous professional development conferences each year across the United States and is dedicated to learning more to help serve the students at Woodland. Mr. Kobito is happily in love with his wife, Emily, who teaches 2nd grade in Cherokee County.
2019-2023: Director of Bands
2016-2019: Associate Director
Michael Kobito is going into his sixth year with the Woodland High School Band, and his third year as Director of Bands. The band program consists of the marching band, four concert bands, a jazz band, as well as multiple chamber ensembles. Over the last several years, the band has received multiple Grand Championships, marched in the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Parade in Washington D.C. (2017), performed at the Southeastern United States Honor Band Invitational at Troy University (2018), and most recently traveled to New York City to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2018).
Mr. Kobito is a native of Cartersville, GA and graduated Cum Laude from the University of Georgia in 2015 with a Bachelor of Music Degree in Music Education. While in college, he served as drum major of the Redcoat Marching Band for two years and was president of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education. Currently, Mr. Kobito serves as a clinician, adjudicator, and performer with Tara Winds and the Georgia Brass Band. His professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators’ Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He attends numerous professional development conferences each year across the United States and is dedicated to learning more to help serve the students at Woodland. Mr. Kobito is happily in love with his wife, Emily, who teaches 2nd grade in Cherokee County.
2019-2023: Director of Bands
2016-2019: Associate Director
Director of Bands, Eric Willoughby 2008-2019, 2022-2023
Mr. Eric Willoughby has been a music educator in Georgia for twenty-four years and is in his 11th year as Director of Bands at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Georgia. The band program consists of the marching band, four concert bands, jazz band, and multiple chamber ensembles. The marching band has received multiple Grand Championships during the last six years and was voted "Best Band in Georgia" in 2008 by WSB-TV. The Woodland marching band has performed in the World Showcase Parade in Epcot, Orlando (2009), the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Parade (2011 & 2017), and the Macy's Holiday Parade in Orlando (2012), and the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, CA (2014).. Most recently the band performed in the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The Woodland High School Wind Symphony has been featured recently at the GMEA In-Service Conference in Savannah, Georgia (2011 and 2016), the University of Georgia High School Music Festival "Janfest" (2013), the University of Alabama Honor Band Clinic (2014), and the Southeastern United States Honor Band Clinic at Troy University in Troy, AL (2018).
Mr. Willoughby holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia and a Masters Degree in Music Education from The University of Southern Mississippi. His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Educators, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha. He is active as a clinician and judge through the southeastern United States. Mr. Willoughby is a multiple recipient of the Citation of Excellence, awarded by the National Band Association and his bands at Woodland High School are recipients of the Exemplary Performance Award given by the Georgia Music Educator's Association. Most recently, the Woodland Band Program was also recognized as one of eight Regional Winners nationwide of the National Band Association Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award.
Prior to teaching in Bartow County Schools, Mr. Willoughby founded the band program at Peachtree Ridge High School in Gwinnett County. The band performed in the National Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington D.C., and at the Waikiki Holiday Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii, in memory of the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Before teaching in Gwinnett County, Mr. Willoughby taught in the Cobb County School System at Wheeler High School for eight years and Lost Mountain Middle School for one year.
Mr. Willoughby and his wife, Rebecca, have been married since 1993 and have three beautiful children: Sarah - age 20, Stephen - age 18, and Hannah - age 11. His family serves and worships at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia.
2022-2023: Interim Co-director when Michael Kobito took a leave of absence to serve as the State Teacher of the Year for Georgia
2021-2022: Assistant Principal
2019-2021: Magnet Coordinator
2008-2019: Director of Bands
Mr. Eric Willoughby has been a music educator in Georgia for twenty-four years and is in his 11th year as Director of Bands at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Georgia. The band program consists of the marching band, four concert bands, jazz band, and multiple chamber ensembles. The marching band has received multiple Grand Championships during the last six years and was voted "Best Band in Georgia" in 2008 by WSB-TV. The Woodland marching band has performed in the World Showcase Parade in Epcot, Orlando (2009), the National Cherry Blossom Festival and Parade (2011 & 2017), and the Macy's Holiday Parade in Orlando (2012), and the Hollywood Christmas Parade in Hollywood, CA (2014).. Most recently the band performed in the 2018 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The Woodland High School Wind Symphony has been featured recently at the GMEA In-Service Conference in Savannah, Georgia (2011 and 2016), the University of Georgia High School Music Festival "Janfest" (2013), the University of Alabama Honor Band Clinic (2014), and the Southeastern United States Honor Band Clinic at Troy University in Troy, AL (2018).
Mr. Willoughby holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from The University of Georgia and a Masters Degree in Music Education from The University of Southern Mississippi. His professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu, Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Educators, National Band Association, and Phi Mu Alpha. He is active as a clinician and judge through the southeastern United States. Mr. Willoughby is a multiple recipient of the Citation of Excellence, awarded by the National Band Association and his bands at Woodland High School are recipients of the Exemplary Performance Award given by the Georgia Music Educator's Association. Most recently, the Woodland Band Program was also recognized as one of eight Regional Winners nationwide of the National Band Association Program of Excellence Blue Ribbon Award.
Prior to teaching in Bartow County Schools, Mr. Willoughby founded the band program at Peachtree Ridge High School in Gwinnett County. The band performed in the National Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington D.C., and at the Waikiki Holiday Parade in Honolulu, Hawaii, in memory of the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Before teaching in Gwinnett County, Mr. Willoughby taught in the Cobb County School System at Wheeler High School for eight years and Lost Mountain Middle School for one year.
Mr. Willoughby and his wife, Rebecca, have been married since 1993 and have three beautiful children: Sarah - age 20, Stephen - age 18, and Hannah - age 11. His family serves and worships at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville, Georgia.
2022-2023: Interim Co-director when Michael Kobito took a leave of absence to serve as the State Teacher of the Year for Georgia
2021-2022: Assistant Principal
2019-2021: Magnet Coordinator
2008-2019: Director of Bands
Interim Co-director, Sheila Smith 2022-2023
Ms. Smith is a retired music educator having taught band for 32 years at South Central Middle School in Emerson, Georgia. In 1987 Sheila received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, and in 2000 she received her Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
Ms. Smith was voted South Central Middle School's Teacher of the Year in 1989-1990, 2000-2001, and again in 2009- 2010. She was selected as “STAR” teacher in 2009 and 2019. She has served as guest clinician/conductor throughout the Southeast. She is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, The National Association for Music Education, Georgia Association of Educators, The National Band Director Association and The American School Band Directors Association. She has served her state music organization as an officer and has been the host for district events. Ms. Smith is a multiple recipient of the Citation of Excellence awarded by the National Band Association and she served on the Board of Directors for the NBA from 2017-2019. Groups under her direction have performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Carnegie Hall in New York, The Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference multiple times, The University of Georgia Middle School Honor Band Festival, The University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival, the Reinhardt University Middle School Honor Band Festival, and the Southeastern United States Middle School Honor Clinic. In 2017, the South Central Middle School Band performed at the 75th commemorative anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Since retiring, Ms. Smith has served as an adjunct faculty member at Berry College and she is currently employed as one of the band directors at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Georgia. She has played principal flute with the Rome Symphony Orchestra, Gadsden Symphony Orchestra, and is a member of the Tara Winds Community Band.
2022-2023: Interim Co-director when Michael Kobito took a leave of absence to serve as the State Teacher of the Year for Georgia
1988-2017: South Central Middle School (now Red Top Middle)
Ms. Smith is a retired music educator having taught band for 32 years at South Central Middle School in Emerson, Georgia. In 1987 Sheila received her Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from Jacksonville State University, Jacksonville, Alabama, and in 2000 she received her Master of Music Education degree from VanderCook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois.
Ms. Smith was voted South Central Middle School's Teacher of the Year in 1989-1990, 2000-2001, and again in 2009- 2010. She was selected as “STAR” teacher in 2009 and 2019. She has served as guest clinician/conductor throughout the Southeast. She is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, The National Association for Music Education, Georgia Association of Educators, The National Band Director Association and The American School Band Directors Association. She has served her state music organization as an officer and has been the host for district events. Ms. Smith is a multiple recipient of the Citation of Excellence awarded by the National Band Association and she served on the Board of Directors for the NBA from 2017-2019. Groups under her direction have performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, Carnegie Hall in New York, The Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference multiple times, The University of Georgia Middle School Honor Band Festival, The University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival, the Reinhardt University Middle School Honor Band Festival, and the Southeastern United States Middle School Honor Clinic. In 2017, the South Central Middle School Band performed at the 75th commemorative anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. Since retiring, Ms. Smith has served as an adjunct faculty member at Berry College and she is currently employed as one of the band directors at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Georgia. She has played principal flute with the Rome Symphony Orchestra, Gadsden Symphony Orchestra, and is a member of the Tara Winds Community Band.
2022-2023: Interim Co-director when Michael Kobito took a leave of absence to serve as the State Teacher of the Year for Georgia
1988-2017: South Central Middle School (now Red Top Middle)
Associate Director of Bands, Wesley Brooks 2010-2016
Wesley Brooks is in his 15th year of education and is currently an Assistant Principal at North Gwinnett Middle School. Previously, he spent and five years as a director of the Alton C. Crews Middle School Band. Before teaching at Crews, Mr. Brooks served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Woodland High School for six years. At Woodland, he served as the principal conductor of the Symphonic Band and assisted with the Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and all aspects of the marching band. Mr. Brooks also spent a year as the Assistant Band Director at South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia where he assisted in all aspects of the band program.
Mr. Brooks received his Master of Education degree from Auburn University and his Bachelor of Music Education from The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. While at UGA, Mr. Brooks studied clarinet with Dr. D. Ray McClellan and performed with the UGA Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. John Culvahouse and Dr. John Lynch. Also, while at UGA, Mr. Brooks was a member of the Redcoat Marching Band and served on the executive board of the Kappa Mu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Originally from Snellville, Georgia, Mr. Brooks attended Crews Middle School and graduated from Brookwood High School. During High School, Mr. Brooks served as drum major for the marching band. Mr. Brooks’s professional affiliations include the NBA, NAfME, GMEA, and Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
2010-2016: Associate Director
Wesley Brooks is in his 15th year of education and is currently an Assistant Principal at North Gwinnett Middle School. Previously, he spent and five years as a director of the Alton C. Crews Middle School Band. Before teaching at Crews, Mr. Brooks served as the Assistant Director of Bands at Woodland High School for six years. At Woodland, he served as the principal conductor of the Symphonic Band and assisted with the Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and all aspects of the marching band. Mr. Brooks also spent a year as the Assistant Band Director at South Forsyth High School in Cumming, Georgia where he assisted in all aspects of the band program.
Mr. Brooks received his Master of Education degree from Auburn University and his Bachelor of Music Education from The University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia. While at UGA, Mr. Brooks studied clarinet with Dr. D. Ray McClellan and performed with the UGA Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. John Culvahouse and Dr. John Lynch. Also, while at UGA, Mr. Brooks was a member of the Redcoat Marching Band and served on the executive board of the Kappa Mu chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Originally from Snellville, Georgia, Mr. Brooks attended Crews Middle School and graduated from Brookwood High School. During High School, Mr. Brooks served as drum major for the marching band. Mr. Brooks’s professional affiliations include the NBA, NAfME, GMEA, and Kappa Kappa Psi, National Honorary Band Fraternity.
2010-2016: Associate Director
Associate Director of Bands, Geana Gault
Bio coming soon
Bio coming soon
Director of Bands, Harold Ford 2000-2008
Mr. Ford is a retired band director. His career has spanned 39 years and included teaching stints in Florida and Virginia as well as stints at Woodland High School in Cartersville from 2000-2007 and at Gilmer High in Ellijay from 2007-2011. Major accomplishments include being the first high school concert band to be invited to perform at the Virginia Music Educators State Convention, finalist at several BOA events and winner of several major marching band events. Mr. Ford’s concert bands have received superior ratings for 37 of the 39 years he taught. Additionally, he has supervised 19 student teachers of which 16 are currently enjoying successful teaching careers. While serving at Woodland High School Mr. Ford developed the color guard from 8 members to 24, took the marching band to several first-place finishes and the concert bands received superior ratings every year.
Mr. Ford has judged marching and concert festivals in 9 states including state finals in several states. He has conducted district and state honor bands and was the conductor of the Tennessee All State Band and the South Carolina All State Band. He has also been a guest conductor at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention. He served on the curriculum committee to write the state standards for the Virginia Board of Education and as a consultant for the state standards for music in Georgia. Mr. Ford served as the interim band director at Virginia Tech, and as adjunct faculty for Lynchburg College and Stetson University. Mr. Ford holds degrees from the University of Tennessee, Arkansas State University and Nova Southeast University. Professional organizations include Phi Mu Alpha, GMEA, NEA, MENC, Phi Beta MU, GEA, RBDA.
Mr. Ford is currently active as an adjudicator and clinician. He currently has a small business selling band supplies to local high school bands. He is married to Debbie Ford for 51 years and has two sons, two daughters in law and five grandchildren. One son is an electrical engineer for Proctor and Gamble and the other is a middle school band director who had his middle school jazz band perform at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention. He and Debbie live in Jasper, Georgia where he plays trumpet in a jazz rock band (Mountain Jazz) and enjoys playing a lot of golf. He stays connected to many former students via social media and celebrates both their personal and professional successes.
Mr. Ford is a retired band director. His career has spanned 39 years and included teaching stints in Florida and Virginia as well as stints at Woodland High School in Cartersville from 2000-2007 and at Gilmer High in Ellijay from 2007-2011. Major accomplishments include being the first high school concert band to be invited to perform at the Virginia Music Educators State Convention, finalist at several BOA events and winner of several major marching band events. Mr. Ford’s concert bands have received superior ratings for 37 of the 39 years he taught. Additionally, he has supervised 19 student teachers of which 16 are currently enjoying successful teaching careers. While serving at Woodland High School Mr. Ford developed the color guard from 8 members to 24, took the marching band to several first-place finishes and the concert bands received superior ratings every year.
Mr. Ford has judged marching and concert festivals in 9 states including state finals in several states. He has conducted district and state honor bands and was the conductor of the Tennessee All State Band and the South Carolina All State Band. He has also been a guest conductor at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention. He served on the curriculum committee to write the state standards for the Virginia Board of Education and as a consultant for the state standards for music in Georgia. Mr. Ford served as the interim band director at Virginia Tech, and as adjunct faculty for Lynchburg College and Stetson University. Mr. Ford holds degrees from the University of Tennessee, Arkansas State University and Nova Southeast University. Professional organizations include Phi Mu Alpha, GMEA, NEA, MENC, Phi Beta MU, GEA, RBDA.
Mr. Ford is currently active as an adjudicator and clinician. He currently has a small business selling band supplies to local high school bands. He is married to Debbie Ford for 51 years and has two sons, two daughters in law and five grandchildren. One son is an electrical engineer for Proctor and Gamble and the other is a middle school band director who had his middle school jazz band perform at the prestigious Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention. He and Debbie live in Jasper, Georgia where he plays trumpet in a jazz rock band (Mountain Jazz) and enjoys playing a lot of golf. He stays connected to many former students via social media and celebrates both their personal and professional successes.
Assistant Director of Bands, Ryan O'Kelly 2000-2003
Bio coming soon
Bio coming soon
Director of Bands, Mike Hand 1999-2000
Bio coming soon
Bio coming soon
Director of Bands, David McDaniel 1997-2000
Bio coming soon
Bio coming soon
