Woodland Band Staff
Director of Bands, Eric Willoughby
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.
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.
Associate Director of Bands, Michael Kobito
Michael Kobito is the Associate Director of Bands at Woodland High School. Before coming to Woodland, he served one year as Associate Band Director at Newnan High School. 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 at the University of Georgia, he served as Drum Major of the Redcoat Marching Band for two years and worked with the Concert Band as a Guest Conductor. He also served as President of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education and Vice President of the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. His studies include conducting with Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger and trumpet with Dr. Brandon Craswell and Prof. Michael Tiscione.
As an educator, Mr. Kobito serves actively as a clinician and adjudicator. He also keeps active as a performer playing cornet in the acclaimed Georgia Brass Band and trumpet in Tara Winds. His professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators’ Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Michael Kobito is the Associate Director of Bands at Woodland High School. Before coming to Woodland, he served one year as Associate Band Director at Newnan High School. 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 at the University of Georgia, he served as Drum Major of the Redcoat Marching Band for two years and worked with the Concert Band as a Guest Conductor. He also served as President of the Collegiate National Association for Music Education and Vice President of the Epsilon Lambda Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. His studies include conducting with Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger and trumpet with Dr. Brandon Craswell and Prof. Michael Tiscione.
As an educator, Mr. Kobito serves actively as a clinician and adjudicator. He also keeps active as a performer playing cornet in the acclaimed Georgia Brass Band and trumpet in Tara Winds. His professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators’ Association, National Association for Music Education, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
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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Battery Tech, Caleb Mathis
Caleb Mathis is the Battery Tech for the Woodland High School Drum Line. He called Woodland High School home for four years, as he was a part of the Class of 2015. During his time at Woodland, he participated in District Honor Band, All-State Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and was a percussionist in the Wind Symphony. Upon high school graduation, Caleb continued his education at Kennesaw State University where he graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. While at Kennesaw State University, he served as a Drum Captain for two years and participated in the Concert Band. Outside of his musical career, Caleb is heavily involved with sports as he is an Operations Coordinator at LakePoint Sporting Community. |
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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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