wally.shaw@hcbe.net  

Wally Shaw (Director) is a native of Baxley, Georgia located in the southeastern part of the state.   He completed his Bachelor of Music Education at Valdosta State College in 1981.  Mr. Shaw returned to his home in Baxley where he assumed the responsibilities as Band Director at Appling County Junior High School and Assistant Director at Appling County Comprehensive High School.   In 1985 he moved to the high school and became director of bands at his Alma Mater.   During his tenure at Appling County High, Mr. Shaw completed course work and received his Master of Science in Teaching from Georgia Southern College.  The band program in Appling County grew during Mr. Shaw’s career in Baxley, with the High School band receiving superior ratings at marching contests and district festival five of his six years as director.

In 1991, Mr. Shaw assumed the duties of Band Director at the newly opened Houston County High School in Warner Robins, Georgia.  The band’s first rehearsal of 12 students was held in the cafeteria as the band room was yet to be completed.  From that first rehearsal with twelve students in the summer of 1991, the band program has grown to over 300 students in 2008.  The program consists of four concert bands, a percussion class and jazz band, music technology class with its own MIDI lab and two marching bands.  The symphonic band has never received less than straight superiors at festival. The Football marching stays busy throughout the fall entertaining crowds at Houston County High School football games.  The Competitive Marching band has evolved into an award winning program over the past few years; receiving superior ratings in all categories and Grand Champion awards in the last two years.

Mr. Shaw holds a Masters and Education Specialists Degree in Leadership and Supervision from Georgia College and State University and Columbus State University, respectively.  He is a member of Georgia Music Educator’s Association where he has served as District Chairman of District 11 GMEA and has served as the GA All State Concert Band Coordinator for the past eight years.  He was teacher of the year in 1994 at Houston County High School and was selected to Who’s Who among American Teachers in 2002 and 2005.  Mr. Shaw has judged both marching and concert festivals and competitions in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.  He is a member of Tau Beta Sigma Honorary Band Fraternity, an honorary member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Phi Beta Mu, NBA and the Professional Association of Georgia Educators.

Mr. Shaw is married to Julia Nell Mobley of Baxley and they have three children.  Catheryn 23, who is the assistant band director at Perry High School in Houston County; Claire, 19 and a sophomore at Kennesaw State University; and Jim 11, whose percussion abilities have dashed the hopes of his father of a French horn scholarship to a major college or university.

Travis Roye is a native of Lincolnton, Georgia located in the Augusta area. He completed his Bachelor of Music Education degree at Georgia Southern University in 2004 where he was named the prestigious Presser Scholar awarded to the top rising senior music major. While attending GSU he participated in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Band, Statesboro Symphony Orchestra, Big Band, Community Band, Indoor Drumline, and the “Southern Pride” Marching Band. He held the position of principal percussionist in each of these ensembles, while also holding the position of Caption Head/Instructor and Arranger for the Marching Band and Indoor Drumline. Under his direction the Indoor Drumline placed in the top 3 in the nation at PASIC. He was also a member of the Georgia All-College Band for 3 years.

His work as an educator over the years includes being on the staff as a percussion coordinator at several high schools and middle schools throughout the state of Georgia. He is currently a full time percussion instructor at Houston County High School, Northside High School, Bonaire Middle School, and Feagin Mill Middle School in Warner Robins, Ga. His ensembles consistently garner superior ratings and class championships at festivals and competitions. He also has a private lesson studio consisting of 16 students. His students have been selected to District, Region and All State Bands. Several of his students have received music scholarships to major universities and are now music majors.

Travis also finds time to perform in two bands that have released studio albums, and are currently finishing up new albums for spring release. In his performing career he has performed under the respective batons of Frances McBeth, David Holsinger, Jan Vanderoost, James Curnow and Robert Sheldon. He has also performed with Tom “Bones” Malone who is the trombonist on “The Late Show With David Letterman.” He belongs to several professional organizations including GMEA, PAS, MENC, and NBA. Travis and his wife currently reside in Centerville, GA.