A Special Award of
The John Philip Sousa Foundation
Scott Barnstead is the band director at Fannin County High School in Blue Ridge, Georgia. He is currently Vice-Chair of GMEA District Nine, and has served as the GMEA Marching Band Committee Statewide Chair. Scott has also been GMEA District Nine Concert Assessment Site Coordinator and Co-Conductor of the Tri-State Community Band.
In 2009, Scott was inducted into Phi Beta Mu, and in 2017 was selected as Fannin County School System Teacher of the Year. His bands have consistently received Superior Performance and Superior Sight Reading at GMEA since 2013. His student brass quintet was a featured performance at GMEA in 2020.
Barnstead received his Bachelors in Music Education from Furman University, his Masters in Music from Northwestern University, and his Ed.D from the University of Georgia.
The Bandworld Legion of Honor was established in 1989 to honor, over the course of a year, eight of the finest band directors in our business.
Recipients have taught for at least fifteen years, have maintained a very high-quality concert band program, and have contributed significantly to the profession through dedication to bands and band music.
Each is honored at the annual Sousa Foundation awards ceremony during the Midwest Band Clinic in Chicago, Illinois.
Chairman of the Legion of Honor Committee is Terry Austin, Virginia Commonwealth University.
When asked what factors do you consider most important in shaping your career, Scott states, “One of the key factors that has shaped my career is the relationships with the spectacular role models I have worked with over the years. These individuals include Glenn Price, Nancy Neal, Lorraine Paris, Dr. John Carmichael, Dr. Les Hicken, and Gaither Bumgardner. Pat Gallagher, Don Cheyne, Robin Christian, and Elden Moates of Georgia are still major influences in my life, and I still speak with regularly.”
His professional philosophy statement is, “My philosophy is centered around providing an excellent educational and collaborative experience through music to all. All means all. In my classes, I strive to provide an environment that allows students to feel they belong, able to contribute, and grow. The discipline of music is a vehicle for the development of a strong work ethic, commitment, and perseverance that leads to musical success. The community band in which I co-lead is a product of that philosophy, but with a diverse mix of life-long learners that come together for a sense of community, camaraderie, and musical excellence.”
