WAYNE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
YELLOW JACKET BAND
DIRECTORS & STAFF
ANDY HURSEY
DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Andy Hursey is the Director of Bands at Wayne County High School and has been teaching band since 2002. Prior to coming to Wayne Co High School, Mr. Hursey taught for 15 and 1/2 years as the Director of Bands at Perry High School in Perry, GA, 3 and 1/2 years as the Assistant Director of Bands in both Perry High School and Perry Middle School, and one year as Director of Bands at The Academy of Richmond County High School in Augusta, GA.
During his time at Perry High School, Mr. Hursey built the band program into a state recognized powerhouse in both marching and concert bands. The Perry High School "Panther Regiment" has won SIX Grand Championships in marching band throughout the state under Mr. Hursey's direction and has earned a reputation of being a trend-setting, crowd entertaining band. The Concert Bands at PHS have consistently received Superior Ratings at the yearly Georgia Large Group Performance Evaluations, with multiple bands performing level III-VI music.
Other awards and honors include 2009 Perry High School Teacher of the Year and Top Ten Finalist for Houston County's System Teacher of the Year, one of three bands in the United States selected to perform at Chicago Symphony Hall for the Percy Grainger Wind Festival, guest performance with Mercer University Wind Ensemble at the Macon Grand Opera House, and numerous marching awards in addition to the six Grand Championships.
Students in Mr. Hursey's band program consistently make District, Region, and All-State Bands each year. Mr. Hursey has had several students continue in music after college and has several former students who are now band directors (including two former students that took over Perry Middle and High Schools). Other student accolades include Golden Eagle Winners in Music and two GHP participants selected.
Mr. Hursey has served three and a half terms as Band Chair of the Georgia Music Educators Association District XI, hosted GMEA Honor Band Auditions, LGPE, and has served on the GMEA Marching Band Committee.
Originally from Charleston, SC, Mr. Hursey graduated from Houston County High School in Warner Robins, GA and attended Georgia Southern University for one year before transferring to and graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelors of Music Education. Later, Mr. Hursey received his Masters of Post Secondary Education from Troy University. He is married to his best friend, Christy Hursey and has two step children, Hannah and Evan as well as a foster parent to a former student Ivy. The Hurseys currently live in Brunswick, GA.
CHRISTY HURSEY
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF BANDS
Christy Hursey has been Director of Bands at Perry Middle School in Perry,
Georgia since 1999. A native of Powder Springs, Georgia she received her
Bachelors of Music Education Degree from the University of Georgia in 1996.
While at UGA she was a member of the Redcoat Marching Band, Symphonic
Band, and Wind Ensemble as well as a member of the Athens Symphony. Since
graduating she has performed with Tara Winds Community Band and has been a
member of the faculty at ENCORE! Music Camps. In 2008 she received her
Masters Degree in Music Education from Boston University.
While at Perry Middle School, her bands have consistently received Superior
ratings at GMEA concert festivals. She has created small ensembles such as Flute
Ensembles, Woodwind Ensembles, Brass Ensembles, Percussion Ensembles and
Jazz Ensembles which have performed all over the state of Georgia. She has
organized several events for GMEA including District Honor Band, All State Honor Band Auditions, and Large Group Performance Evaluations. She also received GMEA Volunteer of the year in 2016 and was named one of the most Oustanding Women in Education for the middle Georgia area in 2011.
Professional affiliations include Georgia Music Educators Association, National Band Association, Professional Association of Georgia Educators, and Sigma Alpha Iota. She is married to Andy Hursey (Band Director at Wayne Co. High) and has two wonderful children, Hannah and Evan as well as our foster daughter Ivy. We are currently living in our retirement home next to Jekyll Island.
Jonathan Henderson
DIRECTOR, MARTHA PUCKET MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mr. Jonathan Henderson is a passionate and enthusiastic band director with a Bachelor's degree in Music, Education, and Performance from Troy University. Committed to inspiring young musicians, he fosters an inclusive learning environment that encourages creativity and a lifelong love for music. Drawing on his experience as a musician, Mr. Henderson envisions a dynamic band program, striving for excellence in performances and competitions while instilling essential life skills in students.
SAMMY ALDAY
DIRECTOR, ARTHUR WILLIAMS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Mr. Sammy W. Alday began his teaching career at Arthur Williams Middle School in 2022. Mr. Alday is a graduate of Troy University with his Undergraduate Degree in Music Education-Instrumental. During his time at Troy, Mr. Alday was the Head Drum Major for the Sound of the South Marching Band, Principal Chair French Horn in Symphony Band, and also student conductor.
KENZLEE SIMS
MAJORETTE COACH
ANDREA WILLIS
MAJORETTE COACH
DAVID MICHAEL SINGLETON
COLOR GUARD INSTRUCTOR
David Michael Singleton (Coach Sing), a Bradwell Institute alum, is currently a sixth grade Social Studies teacher at Arthur Williams Middle School and serves as the Guard Director with the Wayne County High School Marching Band.
Singleton’s color guard journey began at Bradwell Institute where he learned to spin and began to take dance lessons his senior year. This led him to being part of the Southern Pride Color Guard, where he served as a captain the 2017 season. Singleton has experience teaching successful color guard programs such as Burke County High School, Bradwell Institute, May River High School, Long County High School, and his alma mater, Georgia Southern. This will be his seventh season as a director/choreographer.
Coach Sing is a Hinesville, GA native and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Theater from Georgia Southern University. He is currently pursuing a MAT in Middle Grades: Social Studies at Liberty University.
LESLIE MANSFIELD
FRONT ENSEMBLE INSTRUCTOR
Leslie Mansfield, a Wayne County alum, is finishing her education degree at College of Coastal Georgia. She is in her second year as front ensemble instructor for the Wayne County High School Marching Band.
Josh "Teddy" Brown
PERCUSSION INSTRUCTOR
Joshua "Teddy" Brown started his musical journey at Warner High school, performing in concert band, marching band, and the first indoor percussion ensemble. He later went to many different clinics to expand his knowledge of percussion such as BOA marching Symposium, lessons with Clint Gillespie of JSU, Miguel Castro of Middle Ga State, and Paul Rennick of Carolina Crown.
He was previously the percussion instructor for Perry High School Panther Regiment, Perry Middle Schoo, Warner Robins High School, Dublin High School, and various other schools in the Middle Ga. area. During his tenure, he has written several drum books for marching band shows.
Teddy has performed numerous times at PASIC (Pecussive Arts Society International Convention). He has marched and taught indoor percussion with Middle Georgia State as well as performed in many ensembles in the Atlanta area