Travis Downs has been sharing his love of music with students for over 27 years. He is currently in his 15th year at North Gwinnett Middle School in Sugar Hill, Georgia serving over 500 students enrolled in the band program grades 6-8. The NGMS music department was awarded the inaugural Music Program of the Year Award by the Georgia Music Educators Association for the 2017-2018 school year. Mr. Downs has been presented with the National Band Association Citation of Excellence on seven separate occasions. 

Before his appointment at North Gwinnett in 2013, Mr. Downs served as the Director of Bands at Valdosta Middle School in Valdosta, Ga., Assistant Band Director at VMS, and Assistant Band Director at Tapp Middle School in Cobb County, Ga.

Ensembles under Mr. Downs’ direction have received invitations to perform at many music conferences and clinics on multiple years, including the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Sandy Feldstein National Percussion Festival, the Music for All Southeastern Regional Concert Festival, the Georgia Music Educators Association Annual In-Service Conference, the University of Georgia Middle School Festival, and the Grand National Adjudicators Invitational. The NGMS Percussion Ensemble was the winner of the Percussive Arts Society 2023 International Percussion Ensemble Competition (Middle/Jr. High Category) and performed at the Percussive Arts Society International Conference held in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition, during his tenure both VMS and NGMS Band programs have been the recipient of the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award.

Mr. Downs has served GMEA in several positions, including District 13 Large Group Performance Evaluations organizer, District 13 Middle School Band Chair, the All-State Band Standing Committee, and the State Chair for the Band Division from 2020-2023.

Mr. Downs’ professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, the Georgia Music Educators Association, Phi Beta Mu, Pi Kappa Lambda, and the Percussive Arts Society.

Mr. Downs earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia and his Master of Music degree in Percussion Performance from Louisiana State University. He is an alumnus of Carolina Crown and the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, receiving the “Percussion of the Year Award” his age-out year while marching with Crown.

Fred Norton is in his 25th year of teaching middle school band, currently at North Gwinnett Middle School. At North Gwinnett, the 8th Grade Symphonic Band performed at the Music For All Southeastern Regional at GSU (2026). Prior to North Gwinnett, he taught at Hightower Trail Middle School and Griffin Middle School. During his time at Hightower Trail, the 8th Grade Symphonic Band performed at the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival (2006, 2010, 2013), the University of Alabama Middle School Honor Band Festival (2014), the GMEA In-Service Conference (2008, 2012, 2018), the Music For All Southeastern Regional at GSU (2015, 2017, 2023), and the Music For All National Festival in Indianapolis (2010). The Band program received the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award twice (2011, 2022) and the GMEA Music Program of the Year Award (2019). The Band also commissioned two pieces: The Impossible Machine by Erik Morales (2006) and Etowah by Brian Balmages (2008). Mr. Norton has received five Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2018). At Griffin Middle School, his jazz bands hosted WCLK radio’s “Jazz in the Classroom” project.

Mr. Norton received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from the University of Georgia (2001), where he studied with Dr. John Culvahouse. At UGA, he served on the Dean’s Student Advisory Board, was inducted into Pi Kappa Lambda, and held state offices in CMENC and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He earned his Master of Music Education degree from Indiana University (2006), where he studied with Ray Cramer and Stephen Pratt. As an Associate Instructor and Course Coordinator at IU, he wrote curricula for four courses, including Woodwind Techniques and the Music Education Instrumental Laboratory. He also co-directed the Bloomington Middle School Honor Band. Mr. Norton earned his Education Specialist degree in Music Education at the University of Georgia (2013).  In 2025, he graduated from the Cobb Teacher Leader Academy.

A saxophonist, Mr. Norton has studied with Sam Skelton, Kenneth Fischer, Otis Murphy, and Tom Walsh. He has worked with band programs as a guest conductor, symphonic band instructor, marching band instructor, music judge, and private lesson instructor. He was on band staff with Lassiter High School (his alma mater) for many years, including the 2002 National Championship season. He has also served on band staff at Pope High School and directed the Pope High School Woodwind Choir. As a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony, he has performed at the UGA High School Band Festival (2010), GMEA In-Service Conference (2003, 2007, 2011, 2014, 2018, 2023), CBDNA Southern Division Conference (2002, 2008, 2018), and The Midwest Clinic (2011, 2018).

Guest conducting invitations include the UGA Summer Music Camp, UAB Honor Band Festival, and several District Honor Bands. He is a certified LGPE adjudicator. 

Mr. Norton serves on the Executive Board of the Cobb Wind Symphony and is a member of NAfME, GMEA, NBA, JEN, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. He and his wife, Darby, live on the Upper Westside of Atlanta with their goldendoodle, Poppy.

Greg Gibson

greg.gibson@gcpsk12.org

Brandon Soloff

brandon.soloff@gcpsk12.org