Aaron Garland is the Band Director at Ringgold Middle School and Assistant Band Director for the Ringgold High School Band in historic Ringgold, Georgia. Mr. Garland is a native of Ellijay, Georgia and a graduate of Gilmer High School, where Mr. Steve Calhoun and Mr. Joe Pflueger were his band directors. Mr. Garland holds Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Alabama, and a Masters of Music Degree in Conducting through the American Band College of Sam Houston State University. While a student at Jacksonville State, Mr. Garland was a member of the amazing “Marching Southerners”, the JSU Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Brass Choir, and Opera Theatre. Mr. Garland is a founding brother of the JSU Mu Iota Chapter of the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. Before coming to Ringgold, Mr. Garland previously taught for the Jackson County School System at East Jackson Middle School in Nicholson, Georgia. Mr. Garland’s bands have consistently received Superior Ratings in the Georgia Music Educators’ Association District 7, 13, and 14 Large Group Performance Evaluations. Mr. Garland has had students participate in the GMEA District 7, 13, and 14 Honor Bands, the UGA Middle School Honor Bands, the JSU Honor Bands, and the Georgia All State Band. In March 2012 and March 2014, his Symphonic Band performed at the State Capital building in Atlanta at the request of Georgia State Representative, Mr. Tommy Benton. In 2016, the East Jackson Middle School Symphonic Band performed at Walt Disney’s Epcot theme park. For the 2016-2017 school year, the Ringgold Middle School Symphonic Band was the recipient of the “Exemplary Performance Award” from the Georgia Music Educators Association. Mr. Garland is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, The JSU Alumni Association, The International Trombone Association, and the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. As a trombonist, Mr. Garland has performed with the Northwinds Community Band in Gainesville, Georgia, the Piedmont Winds Community Band in Demorest, Georgia, and the Jericho Brass in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In his free time, Mr. Garland enjoys time with family and friends, travel, hiking in the mountains, fishing, and music of all types.