Personnel

Amanda Irby is the Band Director at Burney Harris Lyons Middle School in Athens, GA. She has previously taught middle and high school band in Gwinnett, McDuffie, Forsyth and Douglas County. In addition to her band director duties Amanda serves as an adjunct music instructor for Truett-McConnell University. Professional Affiliations for Mrs. Irby are the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Band Association, Professional Association for Georgia Educators, National Association for Music Educators, and Women Band Directors International. 

Amanda received her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from Valdosta State University and a Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia. Solo flute recordings of Mrs. Irby are featured on Thrivent Financial for Lutheran’s Music for Members Website and through the Harvest Home Series at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in Atlanta, Georgia.   

Amanda is no stranger to the world of Pageantry. She is a seven time national titleholder and the reigning American Beauties Elite Educator 2022-2023.  Aside from her endless practice hours, teaching responsibilities and love of pageantry Amanda and her husband, Richard enjoy playing with their dogs, Belle and Lily. 

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.

Bio coming soon.

BIO Coming Soon

Jerry Pharr is a retired music educator with more than three decades of teaching experience who has been rehired part-time by Jefferson City Schools to assist with the Jefferson Band program. He most recently served as Director of Bands at Winder-Barrow High School (WBHS) in Winder, Georgia. In his seven years at WBHS, he served as Fine Arts Department Chair and was selected as STAR Teacher in 2016. Previously, he served as Director of Bands at Russell Middle School for 21 years, and an annual band scholarship was established in his honor. Mr. Pharr was selected as Barrow County Teacher of the Year in 2002. His bands consistently earned Superior ratings in Symphonic, Marching and Jazz competitions, and numerous students achieved All-State and District Band honors, among other recognitions. He began his teaching career in Louisville, Kentucky, where he taught high school and elementary band. 

Mr. Pharr holds degrees from the University of Georgia (Bachelor of Music, Music Education), University of Louisville (Master of Music, Performance), and Piedmont College (Education Specialist, Curriculum and Instruction).

Mr. Pharr is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He maintains an active schedule of teaching and performing across the Northeast Georgia area. He serves as Low Brass Section Chair for the North Georgia Winds Concert Band and Lead Trombone with the Venue Jazz Orchestra. Mr. Pharr resides in Winder with his wife of 33 years, Kathy. They have two sons: Joshua, age 25 and Andrew, age 22.

BIO Coming Soon