Director of Bands: Justin Burke

Mr. Burke has been the Band Director at SHS since 2017, and has been teaching high school band for 21 years. Mr. Burke also teaches Music Technology at SHS. He has a Master of Music Education degree from Kent State University (2016) and a Bachelor of Music Education from Valdosta State University (2004) where he studied trumpet. Prior to teaching at Sonoraville, Mr. Burke was the Director of Bands at Screven County High School in Sylvania, GA, Director of Bands at Claxton High School/Claxton Middle School in Evans County GA, and Assistant Director of Bands at South Effingham High School in Guyton, GA.

Mr. Burke lives in Gordon County with his wife Kristen, twin sons Lewis and Jackson who are Seniors at SHS this year, and daughter Clara who is a 8th grader at RBMS.  He enjoys fishing, hiking, kayaking, golf, disc golf, playing guitar, and Atlanta Braves baseball. 

Email Mr. Burke here.

Phone: 706-602-0320 ext 3045

Assistant Director: Lee Holley

Lee Holley is the Band Director at Red Bud Middle School, where he has been teaching since 2021. A native of Dawsonville, GA, Mr. Holley graduated from Dawson County High School and went on to earn his Bachelor of Music in Music Education degree from Georgia Southern University in 2013. He has been an active music educator ever since. Mr. Holley spent 6 ½ years as Assistant Band Director at Crisp County Middle School, and Assistant Director of the Crisp County High School Marching Band in Cordele, GA. Groups under Mr. Holley’s direction have received superior ratings at GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation. He plays saxophone and in his free time enjoys watching movies, gaming, and building models. He lives in Calhoun with his wife Kristen and daughter Penelope.

lholley@gcbe.org

Majorette Instructor: Heather Roberts