Woodland Band Staff
Director of Bands, Michael Kobito
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.
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.
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.
Director of Percussion, Chris Collins
Director of Color Guard Activities,
