John M. Cypert currently serves as a music specialist at Duncan Creek Elementary School in Hoschton, Georgia where he teaches General Music to children in grades K-5 and co-directs the Duncan Creek Cardinal Choir. He is also the percussion coordinator and arranger for the University of Georgia Redcoat Marching Band, a position he has held for nearly fifteen years. John has served as the music arranger and ensemble director for Pariah Percussion Theatre from Jasper, Georgia, a competitive independent percussion ensemble in the Winter Guard International arena. While in this position, Pariah earned the WGI Percussion Independent Open Class silver medal in 2003, was a World Class finalist in 2004, and was crowned the Open Class World Champion in 2009. In 2005 and 2006, John served in the same capacity for Odyssey Percussion Theatre from Suwanee, Georgia, who placed sixth and seventh respectively in the WGI Percussion Independent World Class. In 2000, John served as the percussion caption head and arranger for the DCI finalist, Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from Newark, Delaware. In 2009, the Valdosta Middle School percussion ensemble commissioned and premiered John’s original work, Perpetuality, at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Prior to this in 2008, the Lanier Middle School percussion ensemble from Suwanee, Georgia performed his commissioned arrangement of Voices of Spring by Johann Strauss, Jr. at the same venue. John remains active as a composer, arranger, adjudicator, and clinician throughout the United States.
John earned a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Georgia and a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Arkansas. As a graduate assistant for the percussion and band programs at the University of Arkansas, John instructed and arranged for the marching percussion ensemble while also teaching applied percussion and the percussion methods course required by all undergraduate music education majors. John recently earned his Educational Leadership certificate from the University of Georgia and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Music Education at the same institution.
John’s professional experiences include performances with the Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, Gainesville Symphony, Macon Symphony and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony. He remains active in the Southeast in all realms of percussion performance. John is on the educational team for and endorses the products of Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, and Remo exclusively. John resides in Madison, Georgia with his wife, Chesley, and their two children, Mason and Madeline.
John earned a Bachelor’s degree in Percussion Performance from The University of Georgia and a Master’s degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Arkansas. As a graduate assistant for the percussion and band programs at the University of Arkansas, John instructed and arranged for the marching percussion ensemble while also teaching applied percussion and the percussion methods course required by all undergraduate music education majors. John recently earned his Educational Leadership certificate from the University of Georgia and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Music Education at the same institution.
John’s professional experiences include performances with the Augusta Symphony, Augusta Opera, Gainesville Symphony, Macon Symphony and the Northwest Arkansas Symphony. He remains active in the Southeast in all realms of percussion performance. John is on the educational team for and endorses the products of Innovative Percussion, Pearl Drums, and Remo exclusively. John resides in Madison, Georgia with his wife, Chesley, and their two children, Mason and Madeline.
Amy Cook joins our staff this year as Music Specialist at Duncan Creek Elementary School in Hoschton, GA. Amy has been teaching Music Education, both public and private, for 14 years, spanning across a number of states including Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana. Amy received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, in 1997. While at Auburn, Amy served as Choral Director for the Wesley Foundation College Choir and accompanist for the Baptist Student Union Choir. In the spring of 1997, Auburn University selected Amy to represent them for the Johns Hopkins Educational Research Experimental Project of ability grouping in school settings. She traveled to Orlando, Florida, and served as the student teacher and intern at the Walt Disney World’s Celebration School in Celebration, Florida. Upon completion of her music degree, she taught the next two years as a high school, middle school, and elementary specialist for three public schools in South Georgia.
In the fall of 1999, Amy moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she received her Masters of Christian Education from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While in New Orleans, Amy served as the Children’s Music Coordinator for Calvary Baptist Church School. Upon graduation, Amy moved back to Georgia and began teaching in Gwinnett County. She taught three years at Lawrenceville Elementary in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and then opened Patrick Elementary School in Buford, Georgia, where she has taught music the last 7 years. While at Patrick Elementary, Amy coordinated all music classes and productions for the school. In 2009, Amy received the title of Patrick Elementary’s Teacher of the Year and was the 1st recipient of the Bobby Patrick Spirit Award. This award was given to her in honor of her enthusiasm and love for children and for her desire to carry on the legacy of Bobby Patrick, the 1st Gwinnett County Firefighter who died in the line of duty, for which the school was named.
Amy resides in Dacula, GA, with her husband, David, and their three children, Jon David, Nathan, and Bella. Amy and her family are very excited to join our staff and community at Duncan Creek Elementary.
In the fall of 1999, Amy moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where she received her Masters of Christian Education from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While in New Orleans, Amy served as the Children’s Music Coordinator for Calvary Baptist Church School. Upon graduation, Amy moved back to Georgia and began teaching in Gwinnett County. She taught three years at Lawrenceville Elementary in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and then opened Patrick Elementary School in Buford, Georgia, where she has taught music the last 7 years. While at Patrick Elementary, Amy coordinated all music classes and productions for the school. In 2009, Amy received the title of Patrick Elementary’s Teacher of the Year and was the 1st recipient of the Bobby Patrick Spirit Award. This award was given to her in honor of her enthusiasm and love for children and for her desire to carry on the legacy of Bobby Patrick, the 1st Gwinnett County Firefighter who died in the line of duty, for which the school was named.
Amy resides in Dacula, GA, with her husband, David, and their three children, Jon David, Nathan, and Bella. Amy and her family are very excited to join our staff and community at Duncan Creek Elementary.