WEST COBB STAFF

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Shalunda Swift, Director

 

Shalunda Swift is a native of South Carolina. She began her amazing journey with the cello in the 5th grade. Mrs Swift holds a Bachelors in music education from the University of South Carolina and a Masters in cello performance from Bowling Green State University. She has performed with orchestras throughout Georgia, South Carolina, and Ohio. Chamber music and teaching privately are also areas that Mrs. Swift loves and continues to make a part of her life. She is currently the orchestra director at Tapp Middle School. In her spare time Mrs. Swift loves to travel, read, try new and delicious cuisine, and spend time with her family.   She is forever grateful for the many doors of opportunity and relationships that music has opened in her life.

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Michelle Clupper

 

Michelle Clupper is a native of Knoxville, where she attended the University of Tennessee.  She began her teaching career in 2000 at West Valley Middle School where she taught for three years. In 2003, Michelle became the Assistant Director of Bands at Farragut High School and in 2008 she accepted the position of Orchestra Director. While at Farragut, she led the Orchestra program, co-conducted the Wind Ensemble, taught AP Music Theory and served as woodwind caption head for the Marching Band. In 2016 she was chosen as the Farragut High School Teacher of the Year by her fellow educators. Michelle has been honored to serve in leadership roles such as Secretary for East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association, Executive Secretary of Tennessee Bandmasters, State Orchestra Chair for TMEA and was President Elect for East Tennessee School Band and Orchestra Association before moving to Georgia.  In 2018, Michelle moved to Cobb County and accepted her current position as Orchestra Director at McEachern High School. She has conducted numerous orchestra and band clinics across Tennessee and Alabama. Michelle is currently a member of GMEA, NAfME and Phi Beta Mu.

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Clay Rogers

 

Clay Rogers is currently a double bass player at Kennesaw State University who is working on getting a degree in music education. Clay has been playing bass for 8 years and in that time has made honors orchestra twice and is 2nd chair bass in the symphony at KSU. He has preformed all sorts of styles of music including classical, bluegrass, jazz as well as playing in multiple musicals. While he is a primarily a double bass player, he is not limited to just the bass. He has also taught himself how to play an assortment of other various stringed instruments such as the guitar, ukulele, and banjo. His plan is to learn most of, if not all of the stringed instruments at some point. While being around Clay, you are certain to learn more than you probably wanted to know about the British rock band Queen.

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Sade Bryant

 

Sade Bryant is a Georgia native and experienced music educator with a passion for inspiring young musicians. She earned her bachelor’s in music education from Valdosta State University in 2011 and her master’s in music education from the University of Georgia. Sade has taught middle school orchestra for 13 years, including 10 years in Cobb County Schools, and is an accomplished violinist. Her teaching philosophy centers on fostering creativity, musical excellence, and a lifelong love of music in her students.

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