Welcome

Richard Irby is the Founder and CEO of the North Georgia Winds Organization. Mr. Irby currently works in Educational Sales for Pecknel Music Company Covering South Carolina and  the North Georgia areas. Since his start in the music retail world in 1996, Mr. Irby has been supporting music education by making sure that educators had the tools they needed to keep their passion for teaching alive. Mr. Irby is a product of the Valdosta City School System and Valdosta State University. It is with these Institutions that Richard got his start in music and was able to perform around the country while studying music and practicing his instrument.

This ensemble is a culmination of an idea that Mr. Irby put together many years ago. Timing, location and the right conductor finally fell into place allowing a dream to become a reality.  After many hours of planning and the support of his wife Amanda, North Georgia Winds has started its musical journey.  

Mr. Irby’s affiliations are Phi Mu Alpha Fraternity, the National Association for Music Education, and the Georgia Music Educators Association. Georgia is the lifelong home for both Richard and Amanda so it was only fitting to make this group a part of their community.

Matt Fuller is a retired music educator having taught 30 years of high school, college and elementary band. He was named the 2013-14 Teacher of the Year and served as Department Chair at Apalachee High School in Barrow County. Before starting the band program at Apalachee High School in the fall of 2000, Mr. Fuller taught in Fayette and Clayton counties. He has received degrees from the University of Kentucky (BMEd), the University of Georgia (MMEd), and from Lincoln Memorial University (EDS). Mr. Fuller’s bands have twice performed at the Music for All National Concert Band Festival as well as at the Southern Division on MENC Conference. Bands under his direction consistently received Superior ratings in concert, jazz, and marching idioms. Mr. Fuller is the past Secretary/Treasurer with the Georgia chapter of Phi Beta Mu and has performed with Tara Winds and Georgia Winds community band for over 20 years.

He currently works as a music fundraising specialist with Profit Plus and serves as a regional student representative for new electronic portal Scholarship Auditions. In addition, Mr. Fuller is an adjunct music instructor at The University of North Georgia, Toccoa Falls College, and Truett-McConnell University. Mr. Fuller is an active clinician, adjudicator, performer, and private lesson instructor. He also serves as a certified chief adjudicator for GMEA Large Group Performing Evaluations. Mr. Fuller is married to his lovely wife Kristen and reside in Winder where they have two wonderful sons, Jonathan and Patrick.

Dion A. Muldrow is in his 22nd year of teaching and seventh year as Director of Bands at Apalachee High School. Muldrow is a native of Sumter, South Carolina and a graduate of the University of Georgia (2001) where he earned a bachelor’s of music in Music Education.

While at AHS, all ensembles earned superior ratings at concert, marching, and jazz performance evaluations. The Marching Cats participated in the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2017). Mr. Muldrow was selected as Star Teacher at Apalachee high school (2020) and Cedar Shoals high school (2014). Recently, Muldrow earned recognition as Teacher of the Year for Apalachee high School and Barrow County Schools for the 2022-2023 school year.

Prior to AHS, Muldrow worked as Director of Bands at Shiloh and Cedar Shoals High Schools and Associate Director of Bands at Apalachee High School. Bands under his direction performed at the Nokia Sugar Bowl (2006 and 2012), the National Fourth of July Parade in Washington, DC. (2010), the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (2015) and the KSU Concert Band Invitational (2016).

Mr. Muldrow is an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). He serves as the state Vice President for Performance Evaluations and Band Chair for District 14. He organized district honor band(s) and large group performance evaluation(s) for several years. In addition, he held the position of District Chair in both Districts 13 (6 years) and 14 (4 years). He is an active adjudicator and clinician throughout the state of Georgia. In addition, Muldrow served as a member of the school leadership team at Apalachee and Cedar Shoals high schools.

Muldrow’s professional affiliations include Phi Beta Mu Honorary Band Masters Fraternity, GMEA, NAFME, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Music Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi Band Service Fraternity, and PAGE.

Mr. Muldrow resides in Bethlehem with his wife, Rachel, and their daughters, Raegan, and Daphne.