Band

Josey J. Jimenez is going into her tenth year as the Director of Bands at Duluth Middle School, where she leads a thriving and rapidly growing band program. Under her direction, the program has more than doubled in size, growing from 135 students in 2016 to over 300 today. Duluth Middle School offers multiple ensembles, including the DMS Symphonic Band, Beginning Band, and Wildcat Winds, providing students with opportunities to develop their musical skills at every level. Most recently, the DMS Wildcat Winds were selected to perform at the Minority Band Directors National Association National Concert and Jazz Band Invitational in the spring of 2025, a prestigious honor showcasing the dedication and talent of Duluth’s young musicians.

A California native and proud product of Georgia’s music education programs, Ms. Jimenez developed her love for music at an early age, inspired by her mother, who encouraged her to play the saxophone and pursue a career as a band director. She is a graduate of South Effingham High School and holds a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Georgia and a Master of Music Education from Georgia College and State University. She is currently pursuing an Education Specialist degree in Music Education at Piedmont University. While at UGA, she studied saxophone under Connie Frigo and wind band conducting under Jaclyn Hartenberger. She was also a proud member of the Redcoat Marching Band. Go Dawgs!

Ms. Jimenez is incredibly proud to teach in Duluth, a diverse community with a deep passion for music education. She strives to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where students from all backgrounds can grow as musicians and individuals. Her bands consistently earn superior ratings at the Georgia Music Educators Association Large Group Performance Evaluation, and her students regularly participate in District Honor Band, All-State Band, UGA Midfest, and Solo & Ensemble Festival.

Beyond the classroom, Ms. Jimenez remains active in the music community. She was a member of Tara Winds for two years and currently subs with the Atlanta Wind Symphony when available. She is also a sought-after clinician and adjudicator throughout Georgia.

She is a member of several professional organizations, including Sigma Alpha Iota, Women Band Directors International, the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Minority Band Directors National Association, and the National Band Association.
 

Dr. Kevin Schoeller currently serves as the Associate Director of Bands at Duluth Middle School in Duluth, Georgia. Dr. Schoeller is an active free-lance trombonist throughout the Southeast and holds current positions with the Georgia Philharmonic and the Georgia Brass Band. In addition to performing, Dr. Schoeller is also a sought-after low brass clinician and maintains a thriving private studio of middle and high school low brass students.  

Dr. Kevin Schoeller earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Georgia, where he studied trombone pedagogy and performance with Dr. Josh Bynum and instrumental conducting with Dr. Jaclyn Hartenberger. As a graduate teaching assistant, he worked extensively throughout the University of Georgia’s band program and served as a teaching assistant for the Redcoat Marching Band. While at the University of Georgia, Dr. Schoeller had the privilege of conducting the University of Georgia Trombone Choir at various concerts, with notable performances at the International Trombone Festival in Columbus, GA and at the American Trombone Workshop presented by the United States Army Band in Washington D.C.

Before joining Duluth Middle School, Dr. Schoeller served as the assistant band director at Mabry Middle School in Marietta, Georgia and helped lead students in a performance at the Music For All Southeast Regional Concert Festival. He also served as the head band director of Lakeside Middle School in Cumming, Georgia prior to pursuing his doctoral degree.

Dr. Schoeller also holds a Master of Music degree in Low Brass Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he served as an inaugural teaching assistant with the Badger Marching Band and served as a conductor for a wide variety of university athletic events. He also earned undergraduate degrees in Music Education and Trombone Performance from the University of Georgia.

He is a member of a wide variety of professional organizations, including Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, the National Band Association, the Georgia Music Educators Association, the National Association for Music Education, the International Trombone Association, and the International Tuba-Euphonium Association