Woodland Band Staff
Director of Bands, Cecilia Clark
Cecilia Clark, Director of Bands at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Georgia, is from Upper Marlboro, MD. She attended Duquesne University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education. Ms. Clark also received a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Duquesne.
Ms. Clark’s professional experience includes Assistant Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chair at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA. 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 Division III Jr. 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 the DTA Program Coordinator and member of the Leadership Faculty at the Music for All Summer Symposium. Her professional affiliations include the NAfME, GMEA, NBA, ASBDA, and Mu Phi Epsilon. Ms. Clark serves on the Wind Band Advisory Council for the Institute for Composer Diversity and the NAfME Collegiate Council. Ms. Clark is a founding Board Member and the President-Elect for the Servant Leadership Association for Music (SLAM) - Tim Lautzenheiser founder.
Ms. Clark is married to Patrick Clark, Band Director at McClesky Middle School. Patrick & Cecilia have two beautiful weimaraners, Mingus (5) and Monk (3).
Cecilia Clark, Director of Bands at Woodland High School in Cartersville, Georgia, is from Upper Marlboro, MD. She attended Duquesne University and received a Bachelor’s of Science in Music Education. Ms. Clark also received a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Duquesne.
Ms. Clark’s professional experience includes Assistant Band Director and Fine Arts Department Chair at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA. 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 Division III Jr. 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 the DTA Program Coordinator and member of the Leadership Faculty at the Music for All Summer Symposium. Her professional affiliations include the NAfME, GMEA, NBA, ASBDA, and Mu Phi Epsilon. Ms. Clark serves on the Wind Band Advisory Council for the Institute for Composer Diversity and the NAfME Collegiate Council. Ms. Clark is a founding Board Member and the President-Elect for the Servant Leadership Association for Music (SLAM) - Tim Lautzenheiser founder.
Ms. Clark is married to Patrick Clark, Band Director at McClesky Middle School. Patrick & Cecilia have two beautiful weimaraners, Mingus (5) and Monk (3).
Associate Director of Bands, Holly Maldonado
Ms. Maldonado has been with the Woodland team as Associate Director of Bands since 2019. She joins us most recently from Dayton, Ohio where she taught as assistant director for three years with the high school and middle school bands, as well as working with the Marching Firebirds. Holly is from Kennesaw, Georgia where she graduated from Kell High School under the direction of Dave McGrath. Prior to teaching in Ohio, she taught elementary music for two years at Mableton Elementary and has worked with Walton High School's Marching Raider Band since 2012.
A horn player, Ms. Maldonado graduated in 2012 from Columbus State University in Columbus, GA earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While attending Columbus State she performed with the top ensembles including the Wind Ensemble and the Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jamie Nix and Paul Hostetter. Ms. Maldonado’s accomplishments include touring Japan while performing with the Odyssey Brass Angels, performing for multiple years with the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, and taught the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas from 2016-2022.
Ms. Maldonado has been with the Woodland team as Associate Director of Bands since 2019. She joins us most recently from Dayton, Ohio where she taught as assistant director for three years with the high school and middle school bands, as well as working with the Marching Firebirds. Holly is from Kennesaw, Georgia where she graduated from Kell High School under the direction of Dave McGrath. Prior to teaching in Ohio, she taught elementary music for two years at Mableton Elementary and has worked with Walton High School's Marching Raider Band since 2012.
A horn player, Ms. Maldonado graduated in 2012 from Columbus State University in Columbus, GA earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While attending Columbus State she performed with the top ensembles including the Wind Ensemble and the Philharmonic Orchestra under the direction of Dr. Jamie Nix and Paul Hostetter. Ms. Maldonado’s accomplishments include touring Japan while performing with the Odyssey Brass Angels, performing for multiple years with the Carolina Crown Drum & Bugle Corps, and taught the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas from 2016-2022.
Percussion Faculty, Tyrell Smith
Tyrell Smith is a performer and educator in the Atlanta area. He is a native of Marietta, Georgia where he graduated from Kell High School in 2020 under the direction of David Roth and Taylor Watts. He is currently a student at Kennesaw State University pursuing a degree in Music Education and works as a student-teacher at Woodland High School. Tyrell has played with the highest performing ensembles at KSU including their Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and Black Musicians Coalition as well as playing with the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Wind Symphony. His teaching experience includes Kell High School, Cartersville High School, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Percussion Ensemble. Throughout his percussion career he has studied percussion under John Lawless and Claire Kenney.
Tyrell Smith is a performer and educator in the Atlanta area. He is a native of Marietta, Georgia where he graduated from Kell High School in 2020 under the direction of David Roth and Taylor Watts. He is currently a student at Kennesaw State University pursuing a degree in Music Education and works as a student-teacher at Woodland High School. Tyrell has played with the highest performing ensembles at KSU including their Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, and Black Musicians Coalition as well as playing with the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Wind Symphony. His teaching experience includes Kell High School, Cartersville High School, and the Georgia Youth Symphony Percussion Ensemble. Throughout his percussion career he has studied percussion under John Lawless and Claire Kenney.
Colorguard Faculty, Nanci Phillips
My name is Nanci Phillips! I'm beyond excited, and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Woodland High School band program as the Colorguard Director! My life has been nothing short of a rhythmic odyssey that spans both field and stage! Before my journey in the United States, I honed my skills as a dancer in Mexico, where I first discovered my love for movement and expression. I graduated High School in Arkansas, in the middle of nowhere, in a little town called Hermitage. I was a soprano all through my middle, and high school years, I was always involved in sports and different programs, including; basketball, track student council and FFA. During the end of my freshman year of high school I developed a love for the beautiful sport we know as Colorguard! My love for the sport brought 2 years of life changing performances, in Drum Corps International (DCI), a season of color guard at UAM, before moving to Georgia, and 2 captivating seasons in Winter Guard International (WGI). My journey led me to Woodland High School, where I served as a color guard technician last fall 2023 season, and also where I led my very first season of Winter Guard as a director, imparting my knowledge and passion to the next generation of performers! Each step in my journey has shaped me into the mentor and artist I am today! I am thrilled to join forces with outstanding musicians and artists who share my passion for pushing boundaries and creating astonishing performances!
My name is Nanci Phillips! I'm beyond excited, and thankful for the opportunity to be a part of the Woodland High School band program as the Colorguard Director! My life has been nothing short of a rhythmic odyssey that spans both field and stage! Before my journey in the United States, I honed my skills as a dancer in Mexico, where I first discovered my love for movement and expression. I graduated High School in Arkansas, in the middle of nowhere, in a little town called Hermitage. I was a soprano all through my middle, and high school years, I was always involved in sports and different programs, including; basketball, track student council and FFA. During the end of my freshman year of high school I developed a love for the beautiful sport we know as Colorguard! My love for the sport brought 2 years of life changing performances, in Drum Corps International (DCI), a season of color guard at UAM, before moving to Georgia, and 2 captivating seasons in Winter Guard International (WGI). My journey led me to Woodland High School, where I served as a color guard technician last fall 2023 season, and also where I led my very first season of Winter Guard as a director, imparting my knowledge and passion to the next generation of performers! Each step in my journey has shaped me into the mentor and artist I am today! I am thrilled to join forces with outstanding musicians and artists who share my passion for pushing boundaries and creating astonishing performances!
