Mr. J. Craig Cantrell
was appointed Director of Bands at East Hall High
School in the Fall of 2003. As only the fourth
person to hold this position in the school's
history, he administers all aspects of the music
department and serves as chairmen of the department
of Fine Arts. In addition to his administrative
duties, he also conducts all of the instrumental
music ensembles, which include the Viking Marching
Band, Concert Band, Wind Symphony,
Indoor Percussion Ensemble, and other wind chamber
groups. Additionally, he teaches courses in AP
Music Theory and Musicianship. Mr. Cantrell is a
1997 alumnus of East Hall, where he served as Drum
Major and principal euphonium in the Viking Bands.
He received the Associate in Music from Truett-McConnell
College in Cleveland, GA, where he studied piano
with Dr. David George and euphonium with Brian
Lambeth and the Bachelors of Music Education from
Kennesaw State University, studying conducting and
musicianship with Peter Witte and Alexander
Mickelthwate (Assistant Conductor-Los Angeles
Symphony Orchestra) and euphonium with Michael
Moore (principal tuba-Atlanta Symphony Orchestra).
Other influential musicians with whom he has worked
include “the legendary” Mr. Mercer Crook, Dr. Tom
Barnett and Paula Peace in performance; Dr. John
Shipp, H. Robert Reynolds, Allan McMurry, and John
Lynch in conducting; and Marianne Ploger in
musicianship. He is currently working towards a
Masters in Music Education from the University of
Georgia and degree in educational leadership from
Nova Southeastern University.
Mr. Cantrell maintains an active schedule as an
adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor
throughout the state. He has conducted performances
with the bands and wind ensembles at Kennesaw State
University, Truett-McConnell College, and Durham
Middle School. He has also guest conducted the
Northeast Georgia Wind Symphony and has served as a
conducting and brass clinician for various schools,
which include Sprayberry High School, Campbell High
School, and Lassiter High School. In 2005, he was
chosen as one of only ten conductors to participate
in the first annual University of Georgia Conductors
Workshop. In addition to his teaching duties at
East Hall, he performs with the Northwinds Symphonic
Band, serving on the executive board of directors,
and the Faith Band.
He is affiliated with professional organizations
which include the National Band Association, Music
Educators National Conference, and the Georgia Music
Educators Association. His hobbies include reading,
baseball/softball, and playing “Hot Wheels” and
“Spiderman” with his nephew, Trent.
Mr.
Daniel A. Gray
joined
the East Hall staff in the summer of 2007. He
serves as the Assistant Director of Bands at the
high school and Choral Director.
He received his
Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of
West
Georgia. While at UWG, he served as principal horn
in the university’s top ensemble and drum major for
two years in
the “Sound That Lights the South.” In addition to
these accomplishments, he studied for a semester at
the Alessandria Conservatory in Italy and received
the Gordon Watson Award in music at his
institution. During his Senior year in college, Mr.
Gray was one of only two graduating seniors at his
university to receive the nationally recognized
Omicron Delta Kappa Award for Leadership. He has
also helped as a clinician at such events as the
Georgia Music Educators Convention in Savannah and
the Arizona Music Educators Convention.
In addition to his
concert achievements, Mr. Gray has been involved
with several drum and bugle corps. He has been a
performing member and soloist at corps such as the
Santa Clara Vanguard, Carolina Crown, and Magic of
Orlando. During his time marching with these
ensembles, he marched both mellophone and trumpet
and received the Bronze Medal during DCI’s 2004
season, in addition to being a consistent Finalist.
He lives in
Gainesville and is an active drill designer for high
school and collegiate ensembles. He has been
teaching marching organizations for several years
and is very excited to be apart of the instructional
staff of Alliance. He is an active freelance
musician and performs regularly with the Northwinds
Band. His professional affiliations include MENC
and Phi Delta Musica.
Mr. Geoffrey Lonberger
was appointed Director of Bands at East Hall Middle
School in the Fall of 2006. In addition to his job
as middle school band director,
he also assists with
the East Hall High School Marching Band.
Additionally, he teaches courses in General Music to
non-music students. Prior to teaching at East Hall
Middle School, he taught band at Fannin County
Middle School in Blue Ridge, Georgia for two years.
Mr. Lonberger is a 2000 graduate of Shiloh High
School in Gwinnett County, where he was principal
trumpet in both concert and marching bands.
He received the Bachelors of Music Education from
the University of Georgia in 2004 where he studied
trumpet with Dr. Edward Sandor and conducting with
Dr. John Culvahouse. While at The University of
Georgia, Mr. Lonberger was a member of the Redcoat
Marching Band for four years, where he served as
section leader during his senior year. He was also a
member of the UGA Wind Symphony. At the end of his
senior year, he student taught with Mr. Bryan Agan
at Oconee County Middle School, and Mr. Mark Provost
at Oconee County High School.
Mr. Lonberger is very active in his community and
with professional organizations. He is a member of
Air Line Baptist Church in Gainesville, where he is
involved in the church orchestra and assists in the
pre-school choir. He is also a member of the
Northwinds Symphonic Band, an adult community band
based in Gainesville. His professional organizations
include The Georgia Music Educators’ Association,
Music Educators’ National Conference, and the
Professional Association of Georgia Educators. His
hobbies include playing soccer, watching sports,
working outside, and spending time with his wife,
Erin.
Mrs. Twylita Gee
is currently the Auxiliary sponsor for the Viking
Marching Band. Her duties include supervision and
instruction of all twirling corps
(Majorettes, Flagettes, and Color Guard), coordinating Band
Equipment Managers, and assisting with the visual
components of the Viking Marching Band.
In addition to these duties, she serves on the
faculty at East Hall Middle School as a seventh
grade math teacher and math department chairman, as
well as, grade level chairman. Prior to this appointment, Gee
was a math and social studies teacher in the Barrow
County School System from 1991 - 2001.
Mrs. Gee received an Associate Degree in Middle
Grades Education with a minor in Music Education from Gainesville College,
Bachelors of Science in Middle Grades Education from Brenau University,
and Master degree in Reading and Literacy from
Walden University. She resides in Gainesville with
her husband, Horace, and two sons, Andrew and
Matthew.
