Staff

Mr. Sam Hutcherson, Director of Bands, Dunwoody High School

Mr. Hutcherson graduated from Georgia State University in December of 2018 with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. During his time at Georgia State, he studied Tuba under professor Eric Bubacz and performed in the Wind Orchestra and various chamber brass ensembles. Mr. Hutcherson was also a member of the “Sound of Downtown”, Georgia State’s marching band, where he served as sousaphone section leader for two seasons. He also performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade and the Super Bowl with that ensemble.

Mr. Hutcherson served as the visual captain head at McEachern High School in Powder Springs, GA, a band that performed at the Bands of America Regional in Jacksonville, AL. Prior to this, Mr. Hutcherson worked with Bands of America Regional finalist schools Mill Creek High School, Kell High School and Milton High School, where he also student taught.

Mr. Hutcherson is the acting Executive Director of Vivace! Summer Music camps, a summer weeklong performing band camp in Johns Creek, GA, which serves middle school students with a rigorous, weeklong camp culminating in a final concert.

A native of Johns Creek, GA, Mr. Hutcherson has most recently been serving as a long term substitute for band programs in DeKalb County, GA for the 2022-2023 school year, working with the bands at Chamblee High School in Chamblee, GA and Arabia Mountain High School in Stonecrest, GA.  He currently resides in Tucker, GA with his dog Kova.

Mr. Walter Hickman, Director of Bands, Peachtree Middle School Mr. Hickman earned his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Tennessee and a Master of Music from Georgia State University. He moved to the Atlanta area in 1986 to accept the award of Graduate Assistant at Georgia State University. He has served as a church musician since 1988. He began studio teaching in 1990, and has performed professionally often since age 16. He has enjoyed a variety of engagements, including hundreds of community, recording and traveling events, performing for such artists as The Temptations, The Four Tops, the Impressions, The Supremes, Barry Manilow, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Bernadette Peters, Marvin Hamlisch, Frank Sinatra Jr., Dionne Warwick, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, the Moody Blues, and others. Mr. Hickman is the Assistant Conductor and Principal Trombonist of the Atlanta Concert Band, and Musical Director of the Big Peach Swing Band. He has been married to Loraine Hickman since 1989, and has taught at Peachtree since 2001.