Woodland Band Staff
Director of Bands, Michael Kobito
Michael Kobito is going into his 4th year with the Woodland High School Band, and his first 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 fiancé, Emily, who teaches 2nd grade in Cherokee County.
Michael Kobito is going into his 4th year with the Woodland High School Band, and his first 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 fiancé, Emily, who teaches 2nd grade in Cherokee County.
Associate Director of Bands, Holly Maldonado
Ms. Maldonado will be joining the Woodland team as Associate Director of Bands. 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 worked with Walton High School's Marching Raider Band for four seasons.
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 currently teaching with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas.
Ms. Maldonado is excited to bring her years of performing and teaching experience to the Woodland band program!
Ms. Maldonado will be joining the Woodland team as Associate Director of Bands. 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 worked with Walton High School's Marching Raider Band for four seasons.
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 currently teaching with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas.
Ms. Maldonado is excited to bring her years of performing and teaching experience to the Woodland band program!
Director of Percussion, Armando Granados
A graduate of Woodland High School, Armando is thrilled to be coming home to lead the percussion caption at Woodland! While a student at Woodland, Armando was selected to the All-State Band five times, being named Principal Percussionist of the All-State Orchestra his senior year. After high school, he went to Young Harris College and earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. Armando worked in the Union County School System as a Fine Arts Paraprofessional, Music Teacher, and Percussion coordinator before returning to Woodland.
A graduate of Woodland High School, Armando is thrilled to be coming home to lead the percussion caption at Woodland! While a student at Woodland, Armando was selected to the All-State Band five times, being named Principal Percussionist of the All-State Orchestra his senior year. After high school, he went to Young Harris College and earned a Bachelor of Music Education Degree. Armando worked in the Union County School System as a Fine Arts Paraprofessional, Music Teacher, and Percussion coordinator before returning to Woodland.
Director of Color Guard, Nicholas Doyle
Nicholas comes to Woodland with a well-rounded background in the marching band activity. Currently studying vocal performance at Jacksonville State University, Nicholas participated in the Marching Southerners as a saxophonist and Drum Major before joining the Color Guard at Jacksonville State. He has marched with the color guard at JSU and with the DCA group Atlanta Corps Vets. He has taught in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and is looking forward to being on the team at Woodland!
Nicholas comes to Woodland with a well-rounded background in the marching band activity. Currently studying vocal performance at Jacksonville State University, Nicholas participated in the Marching Southerners as a saxophonist and Drum Major before joining the Color Guard at Jacksonville State. He has marched with the color guard at JSU and with the DCA group Atlanta Corps Vets. He has taught in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, and is looking forward to being on the team at Woodland!
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Color Guard Tech, Jojo West
Jojo is currently a student at Kennesaw State University where she is an English Education Major and a member of the Marching Owls Color Guard. Receiving most of her training from the award-winning guard program at Alpharetta High School, Jojo is excited to share her expertise with the color guard students here at Woodland! |
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