Band Director - Adam Mitchell
Adam Mitchell is Director of Bands at Hardaway High School. He is graduate of The Schwob School of Music of Columbus State University where he received a BM in Music Education (Magna Cum Laude) and a MM in Music Education. He was awarded "Most Outstanding Bachelor Student" and "Most Outstanding Graduate Student" in music education from CSU. He served as Director of Bands at Jordan High School from 2007- 2015 where he developed an award winning band program. He served as Music Director at Living Grace United Methodist Church in Columbus, Georgia from 2005-2016. Mr. Mitchell is an active trumpet player, vocalist and conductor with ensembles such as The Bob Barr Community Band, The Cavaliers Jazz Orchestra, The Columbus Community Orchestra, Cantus Columbus, and Fountain City Brass Quintet.
Dance Team Sponsor - Karen Powers
Karen Powers received her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Westfield State College in Westfield, MA and her Master's degree in School Counseling from Columbus State University. She taught math at Carver High School and the Teenage Parenting Center before becoming a school counselor. She counseled all grade levels at Spencer High School and has been the 9th, 10th, and/or the 11th grade counselor at Hardaway for the past 8 years. She participated in her high school's marching band as a member of the Pep Squad for 2 years. This year marks Mrs. Powers 9th year as the Dancin' Hawks Dance Team sponsor. Mrs. Powers is married with 2 children who both graduated from Hardaway. Each was active in the Marching Band (Drum Line and Dance Team). She has been an educator for 30 years.
Dance Team Instructor - Gyanna Blackmon
Gyanna Blackmon is the choreographer for the Hardaway Dancin’ Hawks. She is pursuing her Business Management degree at Columbus Technical College. She first recognized her passion for dance at the age of five. She trained at Performance Dance Centre in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Acrobatics. She is one of the Dancin’ Hawks’ very own. In 2011, she was selected to be a part of the team. Her leadership skills were recognized and she was selected as Captain in 2013. In 2014 she auditioned and was chosen as a United Dance Association All-American and was given the opportunity to perform in the London New Year’s Eve Parade. After high school Gyanna decided that she wanted to continue performing in college. She auditioned and became a part of the Valdosta State Red Hots dance team. In 2017 she was picked to perform at the NDA National Championship in which she and the team received 1st place. After achieving her goal to become a college National Champion, she decided to return to her hometown where she will begin the process of opening her own dance establishment.
Color Guard Sponsor - Joia Colbert
Joia Colbert received her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Columbus State University. She has taught math at Hardaway for two years. This year will be Ms. Colbert's 2nd year as the Hawkettes' color guard sponsor. She has previous experience (through college) as a musician in marching band, symphonic band, and jazz ensembles. Ms. Colbert is currently working on her Master's in Secondary Mathematics Education at Columbus State University. She has one child, Kevin (10).
Color Guard Instructor - Ashton Shivers
Percussion Instructor - Matthew Andrade
Percussion Instructor- SGT Matthew Andrade AKA SGT Taco: This is SGT Andrade's 27th year of teaching Drumline and Percussion. He is a graduate of CSU with a Percussion Performance degree. Afterwards Mr. Andrade auditioned for The United States Marine Band and performed with “The Few The Proud.” Mr. Andrade then completed his Music ED degree at Barton College/East Carolina and taught at various North Carolina high school bands, choruses, theatres and was a hired clinician for many high school percussion programs as well as colleges across the southeast. Mr. Andrade is currently working on his Master’s in Music Ed and has studied under Dr. Tracy Wiggins at North Alabama University.
He has taught music to students at all levels, Elementary thru College. In North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. He currently is teaching Chorus at Aaron Cohn and Double Churches (AC/DC) Middle Schools. He also is the current Director of Percussion the at Hardaway HS, and Heard County HS.
SGT Andrade is also a member of the 116th Army Band in Atlanta, GA. He thoroughly enjoys performing for the public and also has a strong passion for teaching and educating and also changing lives positively through music. Matt Andrade has 2 children, senior at Northside Columbus, Rain Andrade and freshman, also at Northside Columbus, Wolf Andrade. Mr. Andrade's hobby is gourmet cooking.
HHS Band Booster Organization Officers
President
Emily Roberts
Vice President
Tameka Ogletree
Treasurer
Sherina Bedell-Grissett
Secretary
Liz Atkins
Head Chaperones
Lane Ogletree-Battle
Ann Bedell
Dance Team Sponsor - Karen Powers
Karen Powers received her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Westfield State College in Westfield, MA and her Master's degree in School Counseling from Columbus State University. She taught math at Carver High School and the Teenage Parenting Center before becoming a school counselor. She counseled all grade levels at Spencer High School and has been the 9th, 10th, and/or the 11th grade counselor at Hardaway for the past 8 years. She participated in her high school's marching band as a member of the Pep Squad for 2 years. This year marks Mrs. Powers 9th year as the Dancin' Hawks Dance Team sponsor. Mrs. Powers is married with 2 children who both graduated from Hardaway. Each was active in the Marching Band (Drum Line and Dance Team). She has been an educator for 30 years.
Dance Team Instructor - Gyanna Blackmon
Gyanna Blackmon is the choreographer for the Hardaway Dancin’ Hawks. She is pursuing her Business Management degree at Columbus Technical College. She first recognized her passion for dance at the age of five. She trained at Performance Dance Centre in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Acrobatics. She is one of the Dancin’ Hawks’ very own. In 2011, she was selected to be a part of the team. Her leadership skills were recognized and she was selected as Captain in 2013. In 2014 she auditioned and was chosen as a United Dance Association All-American and was given the opportunity to perform in the London New Year’s Eve Parade. After high school Gyanna decided that she wanted to continue performing in college. She auditioned and became a part of the Valdosta State Red Hots dance team. In 2017 she was picked to perform at the NDA National Championship in which she and the team received 1st place. After achieving her goal to become a college National Champion, she decided to return to her hometown where she will begin the process of opening her own dance establishment.
Color Guard Sponsor - Joia Colbert
Joia Colbert received her Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from Columbus State University. She has taught math at Hardaway for two years. This year will be Ms. Colbert's 2nd year as the Hawkettes' color guard sponsor. She has previous experience (through college) as a musician in marching band, symphonic band, and jazz ensembles. Ms. Colbert is currently working on her Master's in Secondary Mathematics Education at Columbus State University. She has one child, Kevin (10).
Color Guard Instructor - Ashton Shivers
Percussion Instructor - Matthew Andrade
Percussion Instructor- SGT Matthew Andrade AKA SGT Taco: This is SGT Andrade's 27th year of teaching Drumline and Percussion. He is a graduate of CSU with a Percussion Performance degree. Afterwards Mr. Andrade auditioned for The United States Marine Band and performed with “The Few The Proud.” Mr. Andrade then completed his Music ED degree at Barton College/East Carolina and taught at various North Carolina high school bands, choruses, theatres and was a hired clinician for many high school percussion programs as well as colleges across the southeast. Mr. Andrade is currently working on his Master’s in Music Ed and has studied under Dr. Tracy Wiggins at North Alabama University.
He has taught music to students at all levels, Elementary thru College. In North Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. He currently is teaching Chorus at Aaron Cohn and Double Churches (AC/DC) Middle Schools. He also is the current Director of Percussion the at Hardaway HS, and Heard County HS.
SGT Andrade is also a member of the 116th Army Band in Atlanta, GA. He thoroughly enjoys performing for the public and also has a strong passion for teaching and educating and also changing lives positively through music. Matt Andrade has 2 children, senior at Northside Columbus, Rain Andrade and freshman, also at Northside Columbus, Wolf Andrade. Mr. Andrade's hobby is gourmet cooking.
HHS Band Booster Organization Officers
President
Emily Roberts
Vice President
Tameka Ogletree
Treasurer
Sherina Bedell-Grissett
Secretary
Liz Atkins
Head Chaperones
Lane Ogletree-Battle
Ann Bedell
