Daniel Bara is the Interim Director of Hugh Hodgson School of Music and serves as the John D. Boyd UGA Foundation Professor of Choral Music and the Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia where oversees seven university choral ensembles as well as the graduate choral conducting program. His university choirs have performed by juried invitation for state, regional, and national conventions of ACDA, MENC, and IMC. 

Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Shakhida Azimkhodjaeva began violin studies at the Tashkent State Conservatory's Special Music School. At age eleven she made her debut with the Uzbekistan Symphony Orchestra and won the Uzbekistan National Violin Competition.

Levon Ambartsumian is Regent's and Franklin Professor Professor of Violin at the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music. Prior to coming to UGA in 1995, he was a Visiting Professor at Indiana University School of Music, replacing legendary American Violin Teacher Joseph Gingold.  He also taught at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1978 where he taught for 15 years.

Timothy Adams Jr., the Mildred Goodrum Heyward Professor in Music, was named Chair of the Percussion Department at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music in fall 2010.  A master educator, Mr. Adams’ students have seen great success around the country and the world as performers, educators, and music therapists. 

Amy Pollard is Professor of Bassoon at the Hugh Hodgson School of Music at the University of Georgia, as well as the Associate Director of Performance. She formerly served as lecturer of bassoon at Baylor University and has also been on faculty at the University of Dayton and the Cincinnati School for the Creative and Performing Arts. During the summer she has been on the faculty of the Interlochen Arts Center Advanced Bassoon Institute.

Brandon Craswell holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in trumpet performance from Indiana University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky. Currently he is Professor of Trumpet at University of Georgia, in Athens, Georgia where he teaches and performs with the Georgia Brass Quintet.

Dr. Michael C. Robinson serves as Professor of Music Education at the University of Georgia. His duties include teaching courses in instrumental music education, conducting, and as Director of the UGA Symphonic Band. Robinson previously served for eleven years as the Director of The Sudler Trophy Award winning UGA Redcoat Marching Band. A native of Florida, Robinson received B.M. and M.M. degrees in Music Education and a D.M.A. degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Miami.

Hailed for his “inspiring energy, clear musical conviction, and warm lyrical tone” (International Trombone Association Journal), Dr. Josh Bynum keeps an active schedule balancing roles as educator, soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral trombonist.

Stephen Fischer serves as the director for the University of Georgia Hugh Hodgson School of Music Community Music School, Summer Music Camps, and Outreach Administrator. A graduate of the University of Georgia, he earned a Bachelor of Music degree in music education and a Masters degree and DMA in saxophone performance.  

Brett Bawcum is Assistant Director of Bands and Director of Athletic Bands at the University of Georgia. He shares responsibility for design, instruction, and administration of the Redcoat Marching Band and serves as its primary drill-writer. He also directs the Basketball and Volleyball Pep Bands, conducts various concert bands, and teaches courses in a variety of areas including Instrumentation/Arranging and Marching Band Techniques.