 Marcus Rayner- Director of bands, HS Band Director Michael Leeth- HS Assistant Band Director, Percussion Specialist Brooke Richardson- Auxiliary Coordinator/Color Guard Instructor, Waycross Middle School Band Director Andrew Bennett- Brass Specialist, Ware County Middle School Director Rebekah Long- Dance Line Instructor Sissy DeWitt- Majorette Instructor Megan Tapley- Majorette Instructor LaTim King- Color Guard Instructor Cailin Aucoin- Percussion Instructor Chelsie Jenkins- Percussion Instructor Marcus K. Rayner: Professional Biography Newly appointed as the Director of Bands for the Ware County Schools and Ware County High School, Marcus K. Rayner is one of the most profound and positive music educators and musician of his time. Prior to his position at Ware County High School, Mr. Rayner was the Director of Bands at Washington County High School for 8 years where his Symphonic Bands received several Superior Ratings and the Marching Bands performed many crowd pleasing “Pop” shows! Mr. Rayner has been the Director of Bands at Treutlen Middle High School in Soperton, GA, Stockbridge High School in Stockbridge, Georgia, and Alfred Ely Beach High School in Savannah, Georgia. Mr. Rayner also served as the Associate Director of Bands at Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia for five years. Throughout this time, Mr. Rayner has devoted his career to educating students in music on and off the podium to bring Advocacy & Awareness of the Arts throughout many communities. Mr. Rayner worked towards his Masters in Music degree with an emphasis in Instrumental Conducting at Georgia Southern University, where he also received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Education in 2001. He also serves as a band adjudicator for various marching band competitions in Georgia. Mr. Rayner also serves as a percussion coordinator for the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) All-State Band. Mr. Rayner has arranged, consulted, and served as a clinician for many band programs and Drum & Bugle Corps within the state of Georgia and Florida. During the 2008 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in Savannah, GA, Mr. Rayner was one of the featured clinicians and presented a clinic entitled, “The Pit is NOT the Pits!” He has also been selected to present at the Impacting Student Learning Conference at Augusta University. Mr. Rayner is married to Kimberly Rayner (18 years) and now has five loving children, Madelynn, Marcus II, Malcolm, Matthew, and Micah. Min. Rayner is served as the Minister of Music at San Clair Missionary Baptist Church in Wadley, GA for almost 5 years before moving to Waycross. He is also a Senior Minister of Music with the Kingdom Church of Christ, HUTL of Baxley, Georgia, which is also his hometown. He has also served as the piano accompanist for the New Birth Christian Ministries in Tennille, GA. Marcus is an active member of GMEA, PAGE, NAFME, and PAS. Marcus also enjoys working and recording on several gospel and jazz albums. Being a mentor to students, educating students, and performing music abroad is one of Min. Rayner’s great passions. Mr. Rayner’s favorite quote is, “A Superior Performance is a Direct Result of Superior Preparation, P.R.D.I.E. & Passion” Lastly, Mr. Rayner is very excited to be selected as the newly appointed Director of Bands as Ware County High School in Waycross, Georgia! This new opportunity will prove to be a great one for the community of Waycross and Ware County Schools. His excitement is overwhelming due to the acceptance and loving embrace of the band students, parents, and school system. Mr. Rayner is certainly humbled by the appointment and feels very “Blessed” to have been chosen to lead the students of Ware County School’s instrumental music programs. |