Mr. Ray joined the Harrison faculty as the Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Jazz Ensembles in 2007. He became the Director of Bands in 2012. Mr. Ray has served the band program as a co-lead teacher with all three concert ensembles, assisted with the fall percussion class, three Jazz Ensembles, and served as the Lead Visual Instructor for the nationally acclaimed Harrison Marching Band.

Originally from Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Mr. Ray graduated with a Bachelor degree in Music Education with a concentration in Trumpet from the University of Oklahoma. Mr. Ray has experience as a performer with Southwind (Trumpet) and Madison Scouts (Mello) Drum and Bugle Corps. He student taught with David Gorham at the nationally acclaimed Owasso High School Band program, a Sudler Flag of Honor program.

Mr. Ray is an active brass adjudicator and instructor for various ensembles in Georgia. Mr. Ray has conducted ensembles performing in state and national in-service conferences including the Midwest Clinic, and the Georgia Music Educators Convention. He is an AP certified Music Theory instructor who also serves as adjudicator, brass specialist, and guest conductor across the state of Georgia. He is affiliated with professional organizations that include: NBA, MENC, and GMEA. Mr. Ray and his wife reside in Dallas, GA.

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Mr. Hope has served as Director of Percussion at Harrison High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, since 2010. At Harrison, he oversees all aspects of the percussion program, including  the Harrison Marching Band percussion section and the Harrison Indoor Percussion Ensemble, conducts multiple concert percussion ensembles, and serves as the battery arranger for both programs. During his tenure, the Harrison Marching Band earned the 2013 and 2015 BOA Grand National Class AAA Championship titles, and Harrison Indoor Percussion was a WGI Open Class Semifinalist in 2019. He also works closely with Harrison’s nationally recognized concert band program, a recipient of the prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor. 

Jeffrey earned his degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst before returning to UMass to pursue a master’s degree in Percussion Performance, studying under Eduardo Leandro. While at the university, he served as a graduate assistant to Thom Hannum, teaching and arranging for the percussion section of the Sudler Trophy-winning Minutemen Marching Band. 

Since 1997, Jeffrey has been active as an educator, arranger, and designer for numerous high school marching, indoor, and concert percussion ensembles. Specializing in battery percussion  arranging, he currently writes for Harrison High School, North Hagerstown High School in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Pelham High School in Pelham, Alabama. His involvement with Drum Corps International began as a performing member of The Boston Crusaders and The Crossmen and continued as a percussion technician with the Troopers, Magic of Orlando, Madison Scouts, and Blue Stars. 

From 2005 to 2008, Jeffrey served as Director of the Spirit of America Indoor Percussion  Ensemble in Orleans, Massachusetts, leading the ensemble to four consecutive WGI Independent A Class Finals appearances. During that time, he also served as Percussion Director and front ensemble arranger for the Spirit of America Marching Band, which was named WAMSB World Champion in 2007. 

In addition to his work as an educator and arranger, Jeffrey has maintained an active career as a percussion performer. He has performed with ensembles throughout New England and the Southeast, including the Berkshire Symphony, Amherst College Orchestra, Smith College Orchestra, the Dartmouth Handel Society, Manchester Music Festival, and the Cobb Wind Symphony. 

Jeffrey lives in Dallas, Georgia, with his wife, Michelle, their dog, and two cats. He is an Innovative Percussion Educational Artist and proudly endorses their sticks and mallets.

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