Matt Young - Director of Bands
A native of Cumming, Georgia, Matt Young is in his third year as Director of Bands at Chestatee High School. Graduating from the University of West Georgia, Mr. Young received his Bachelors of Music in Music Education, with an extensive study in percussion pedagogy in 2009, and his Masters in Music Education in 2021.
During college Mr. Young was part of the University of West Georgia marching band, the UWG wind ensemble, UWG percussion ensemble and the famous UWG jazz percussion group. Mr. Young is also a proud member of the National Honorary Band Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.
Throughout his marching carrier, Mr. Young has marched with such groups as Court of Honor Drum and Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, Odyssey Percussion Theater, Atlanta CV Drum and Bugle Corps, Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Atlanta Falcons Drumline.
Before becoming the Director of Bands at Chestatee High School, Mr. Young spent seven years as Director of Bands at Buford High School. Mr. Young has also been the assistant director of bands at Sumter HS, West Forsyth HS, and the Director of Bands at Westside Magnet school.
Mr. Young was also the founder and Executive Director of Frequency Percussion, an independent indoor marching percussion ensemble. Under Mr. Young's leadership, Frequency was two time SAPA (Southern Association for Performing Arts) Independent A champions, three time SAPA (Southern Association for Performing Arts) Independent A silver medalist, and 2 time WGI (Winter Guard International) Independent A finalists (placing 11th in 2011, and 10th in 2012).
Mr. Young has been an instructor, clinician, and judge all over the state of Georgia and is currently an educational artist for Innovative Percussion.
Mr. Young currently lives in Hall County with his lovely wife Sarah, sons Grant and Barrett, and their dog Deacon.
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During college Mr. Young was part of the University of West Georgia marching band, the UWG wind ensemble, UWG percussion ensemble and the famous UWG jazz percussion group. Mr. Young is also a proud member of the National Honorary Band Fraternity, Kappa Kappa Psi.
Throughout his marching carrier, Mr. Young has marched with such groups as Court of Honor Drum and Bugle Corps, Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps, Odyssey Percussion Theater, Atlanta CV Drum and Bugle Corps, Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Atlanta Falcons Drumline.
Before becoming the Director of Bands at Chestatee High School, Mr. Young spent seven years as Director of Bands at Buford High School. Mr. Young has also been the assistant director of bands at Sumter HS, West Forsyth HS, and the Director of Bands at Westside Magnet school.
Mr. Young was also the founder and Executive Director of Frequency Percussion, an independent indoor marching percussion ensemble. Under Mr. Young's leadership, Frequency was two time SAPA (Southern Association for Performing Arts) Independent A champions, three time SAPA (Southern Association for Performing Arts) Independent A silver medalist, and 2 time WGI (Winter Guard International) Independent A finalists (placing 11th in 2011, and 10th in 2012).
Mr. Young has been an instructor, clinician, and judge all over the state of Georgia and is currently an educational artist for Innovative Percussion.
Mr. Young currently lives in Hall County with his lovely wife Sarah, sons Grant and Barrett, and their dog Deacon.
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Hannah Shuman - Assistant Director of Bands
Hannah Shuman is in her third year as Assistant Director of Bands at Chestatee High School. She attended Brookwood High School and graduated from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) with her Bachelors of Music in Music Education as well as a minor in Spanish. During her time at UGA, she performed in a wide variety of ensembles, from the UGA Wind Symphony to the UGA Steel Drum Ensemble. She was also a sister of Sigma Alpha Iota, a professional women’s music fraternity, serving as co-philanthropy chair as well as historian.
By far, her favorite UGA experience was marching in the Redcoat Band, serving as uniform chair and clarinet section leader for the last two years. As a member of the Derbies pep band, she had the opportunity to perform all over the United States, from marching in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to performing at the Apollo Theater in New York City, but nothing compares to performing in Sanford Stadium on a Saturday in Athens! She is very excited to be teaching Spanish and band at Chestatee, and can’t wait to be a part of such a great community!
By far, her favorite UGA experience was marching in the Redcoat Band, serving as uniform chair and clarinet section leader for the last two years. As a member of the Derbies pep band, she had the opportunity to perform all over the United States, from marching in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to performing at the Apollo Theater in New York City, but nothing compares to performing in Sanford Stadium on a Saturday in Athens! She is very excited to be teaching Spanish and band at Chestatee, and can’t wait to be a part of such a great community!
Beth Tallant - Colorguard Director
Beth Tallant is a science teacher at Chestatee High School and has also been Chestatee's Colorguard Instructor since 2003. Beth and her husband, Josh, have 1 son named Gavin. She is an invaluable associate and loved by all her girls! She graduated from West Hall High in 1998. She graduated from North Georgia College & State University in 2002 with a B.S. Biology/Chemistry Secondary Education in 2002. She received her M.A. in Secondary Education in 2005 from Piedmont College and her Ed. S. in Curriculum & Instruction in 2008 from Piedmont College. She taught at East Hall Middle School from 2002-2003 before moving to Chestatee.