Aligned for Excellence: High School & Middle School Directors in Partnership
Clinic Synopsis:
Orchestra directors from Dodgen Middle School and Walton High School share their seven-year journey of intentional vertical teaming that has shaped nationally-recognized programs. While audiences may know their performances, this session reveals the work behind the scenes. Presenters will outline strategies for recruitment, retention, engagement, middle-to-high school transition, scheduling, skill-building, culture, and excellence through collaboration.
Sara Grimes
- Biographical Information
Sara Grimes has been the
Assistant/Executive Director of Orchestras at Walton High School in Marietta,
Georgia since 2010, and has been a Teacher of the Year nominee twice (2022,
2017). Since 2018, she has been the Fine Arts Department Chair. As a graduate
of Walton, she is proud to be teaching at her alma mater. Mrs. Grimes' prior
teaching experiences include Barber Middle School in Cobb County and West
Laboratory Elementary in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Additionally, she was the
graduate teaching assistant at the University of Miami and taught undergraduate
string techniques. Her thesis research, “Assessment Practices of String
Teachers” won first prize at the University of Miami Research
Symposium. Mrs. Grimes is a member of NafME, GMEA, ASTA, Pi Kappa Lambda,
and has been recognized as a Presser Scholar.
Mrs. Grimes serves on the Cobb
County Performing Arts Support Team and as the GMEA District 12 LGPE
coordinator. She is proud to have served as the GMEA Vice-President for
Performance Evaluation from 2023-2025. Previously, she has been on the
Orchestra Standing Committee for GMEA, coordinator for the 11/12 GMEA All-State
Full Orchestra, District 12 GMEA Orchestra Chair, and GMEA District 5 Honor
Orchestra conductor. Mrs. Grimes presented at the 2023 GMEA Conference on
authentic assessments and assignments. She was accepted to present a session
entitled “Strategies for Teaching Students Not in Your Top Orchestra” at
The Midwest Clinic in 2020. Previously, she presented sessions at the
Georgia Music Educators Association Conference in 2020, The Midwest Clinic
in 2015, and Florida Music Educators Association Conference in 2009. Mrs.
Grimes has previously conducted at The Midwest Clinic with Walton in 2012,
2016, 2022, with Dodgen Middle School in 2025, and performed as a student with
Walton in 2000.
Sara Grimes holds a Bachelor of
Music in Music Education from the University of South Carolina and Master of
Music in Music Education from the University of Miami with cello as her primary
instrument. She and her husband, William, a middle school band director, live
in Marietta, Georgia, with their sons Charlie (a bass player at Dodgen MS!) and
Teddy (3rd grade). In her free time, she takes barre & yoga
classes and enjoys reading.
Perry Holbrook - Biographical Information
Dr. Perry Holbrook has served as Artistic Director of Orchestras at Walton High School since 2001, where he has grown the orchestra program from 130 to more than 300 students. Under his leadership, Walton orchestras have earned eight invitations to perform at The Midwest Clinic, three invitations to the ASTA National Conference, and eight appearances at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference. Walton orchestras have toured internationally on four European concert tours, and Walton string quartets have performed in Salamanca, Spain. An active guest conductor and clinician, Dr. Holbrook has conducted All-State and regional orchestras throughout the Southeast and served as a clinician for the 2021 ASTA National Orchestra Festival. He has presented sessions at numerous state and national conferences, including multiple appearances at The Midwest Clinic and ASTA National Conferences. In 2007, he was a featured clinician at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, presenting five sessions. In addition to directing orchestras, Dr. Holbrook teaches AP Music Theory and was named Walton High School’s S.T.A.R. Teacher in 2004. As a composer, he has ten published works. His compositions, including Someday, Never Summer Mountain, Acadian Solstice, and Bear on the Square, are performed throughout the United States, with Someday having been featured by All-State orchestras and state music conferences nationwide. Dr. Holbrook serves as Composer-in-Residence for the Buford Highway Orchestra Project and is a member of The Midwest Clinic Advisory Board. He holds degrees from the University of Minnesota, Arizona State University, and Wichita State University, and completed his teaching certification at the University of Georgia.
Ashley Culley - Biographical Information
Ashley Culley is Director of Orchestras at Dodgen Middle School in Cobb County, Georgia. A 27-year educator, she has spent the past 21 years at Dodgen, where enrollment has grown from 190 to 380 students. She serves as a Cobb County Teacher Leader for middle school orchestras and was named Dodgen’s 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year. In 2026, she was honored as Georgia ASTA Educator of the Year. Previous positions include Kell High School in Cobb County and Milton High School, Northwestern Middle School, and several elementary schools in Fulton County.
Mrs. Culley earned a Bachelor of Music Education with Performance Certificate from the University of South Carolina, where she worked with the USC String Project. She holds both a Master of Music in Cello Performance and a Master of Arts in String Pedagogy from The Ohio State University.
An active performer, clinician, and adjudicator, she has worked with orchestras in Georgia, Ohio, and South Carolina and conducted regional and All-State orchestras in South Carolina. She is a member of ASTA and NAfME and currently serves as GMEA District 12 All-State Orchestra Chair and Middle School Honor Orchestra Organizer. She also directs the Upbeat! String Camps.
Evelyn Champion - Biographical Information
Mrs. Evelyn Champion graduated magna cum laude with High Honors from the University of Georgia in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, and also earned her Master of Music Education and Education Specialist degrees there.
She taught orchestra at Daniell Middle School in Cobb County for nine years before moving to Sprayberry High School in 2003. In 2016, she joined Northwestern Middle School in Fulton County, and in 2023 returned to Cobb County to teach at Dodgen Middle School. She is a member of NAfME, GMEA, and ASTA.
Mrs. Champion was named the 2011 Georgia ASTA String Teacher of the Year and the 2012 GMEA Music Educator of the Year. She was also a 2013 Woodruff Arts Center Salutes Georgia Arts in Education Leaders finalist for Music Education. She has held numerous elected leadership roles in GMEA, including District Chair, Vice-President (2007–2009), Orchestra Division Chair (2009–2011), and President (2017–2019), and served as statewide organizer for the GMEA All-State Orchestras from 2009 to 2022.
An active clinician and adjudicator, she is a GMEA Certified Head Adjudicator and became a MakeMusic Cloud clinician in 2025. Her ensembles have performed at the GMEA In-Service Conference, the ASTA National Orchestra Festival, and the The Midwest Clinic. She performs with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, now celebrating its 75th anniversary.
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