Directors

 

 

Director of Bands

 

        Email Mr. Ancell

Johnathan A. Ancell currently serves as Director of Bands at Grayson High School in Gwinnett County, Georgia. In this role, he oversees a comprehensive band program of 240 students, which includes Concert Band II, Concert Band I, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Winterguard, Percussion Ensemble, and the 180-member Marching Band. Under his leadership, the Grayson bands have consistently earned superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation and have received numerous Class Champion awards. In Fall 2021, the Marching Band performed in the program’s first Bands of America Regional in Jacksonville, Alabama. Most recently, in January 2024, the band marched in the London New Year’s Day Parade. During the 2024–2025 school year, Mr. Ancell was named a finalist for Teacher of the Year at Grayson High School.

 

Prior to his appointment at Grayson, Mr. Ancell served as Director of Bands at Shiloh Middle School, also in Gwinnett County. During his five-year tenure at Shiloh, the program grew from 190 to 310 students, consistently earned superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation, and saw many students selected for UGA’s MidFest Honor Band, District Honor Band, and All-State Band. He was named runner-up for Teacher of the Year for both the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 school years. In addition to his middle school teaching, he served on the marching band educational staff at Duluth High School and Chattahoochee High School.

 

Mr. Ancell holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education (percussion) from Georgia Southern University (2015), a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Columbus State University (2019), and a Specialist in Education in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University (2022).

 

From 2019 to 2024, he served on the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Marching Band Committee, acting as committee chair during the 2023–2024 school year. He also serves as Director of Worship Technology at Duluth First United Methodist Church, a role he has held since 2022.

 

Mr. Ancell is a member of the Atlanta Wind Symphony, an all-adult community band based in North Fulton County, which performed at the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference in 2020 and 2025 & Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, Illinois, in December 2021.

 

 

Associate Director of Bands

 

          Email Mr. Stanley

Jeremy Stanley is serving in his second year as Associate Director of Bands at Grayson, and his twentieth year as a Music Educator.  At Grayson, Mr. Stanley assists with overseeing all operations of the band program including the Marching Rams, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band 1, Concert Band 2, Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Winter Guard.
 
Prior to his appointment at Grayson High School, Mr. Stanley served as Director of Bands at Upson-Lee High School in Thomaston, Georgia and Fultondale High School in Fultondale, Alabama.  A native of Opp, Alabama, he holds a Bachelor's in Music Education from Troy University.  Ensembles under his direction have consistently earned superior ratings at GMEA concert band and marching band events, and have performed in London, England, New York City, Washington D.C. and Orlando, Florida. 
 
Mr. Stanley currently resides in Lawrenceville, Georgia with his husband Caine, and three dogs Weston, Cooper, and Woodrow.