53. Interview with Dr. Gregory Jackson, South Cobb High School

The Orchestra Teacher Podcast

Greg Jackson is the Director of Orchestras at South Cobb High School in Austell, Georgia, outside of Atlanta. He is currently on staff at Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps as an Ensemble Specialist. From 2017 until 2020 Dr. Jackson was Director of Bands at Saint James School. He was the Associate Professor of Percussion studies at Alabama State University for ten years. He received the Bachelor of Science degree in Performance, Specialization in Music Composition from Austin Peay State University, the Master of Music degree in Music Theory/Composition from The University of Alabama, the Master of Music Education with emphasis in Conducting from the University of Georgia, a Cerrtificat in Advanced Graduate Studies in Orchestral Conducting, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Percussion Performance at the University of Alabama. Greg is the Vice-Chair of the Mentoring Committee for American String Teachers Association. Several of his compositions were premiered at the ASTA National Conference in 2022. Although his primary performing instrument now is violin, Jackson had a long career as a percussionist. In the Percussive Arts Society International Collegiate Snare Competition, he placed in the top 10 four consecutive years and top 4 two years. He has also been associated as a consultant with four Drum Corps International Individuals champions and 1 PASIC Individuals champion. Greg has performed with numerous artists including Tito Puente Jr., Sō Percussion, Son Caliente, Nancy Zeltsman, Michael Burritt, Tomas Cruz, Sandip Burman, Bob Mintzer of the Yellow Jackets, Tom Wolfe, Ken Watters, Skyler Foster, and Downright. He is also the author of Mephisto's Spree Op. 84, Etudes Op. 56, The Synergy Method for Drumming volumes 1 and 2, The Synergy Method for Marimba, Phenom: Excellence of Execution, Pandora, Legendary Op. 44, The Well-Tempered Marimbist Op. 46, Etudes Op. 48, Jackson's Rudiment Dictionary and Congas Full Circle. His marimba solo, Requiem for 9/11 Op. 45, received a special acknowledgement from President Obama. Jackson travels across the country presenting clinics/masterclasses and conducting, in addition to composing. He is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, International Conductors Guild, American String Teachers Association, National Association for Music Education, National Band Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc., Collegiate Society of Musicians, Percussive Arts Society, Society of Composers Inc., BMI, and Bujinkan. Greg proudly endorses Remo Inc., Innovative Percussion, Pearl Percussion and Adams. https://inner3.com/

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