ABOUT JOHNS CREEK HIGH SCHOOL BAND

A Tradition of Excellence

DR. MATT KOPERNIAK

Matt Koperniak is honored and excited to be the new Director of Bands at Johns Creek High School. Previously, he served as Director of Bands at Riverwatch Middle School from 2008-2018. Under his direction, the Riverwatch Symphonic Band performed at The Midwest Clinic, National Band Association/CBDNA Southern Division Conference, Music for All National Concert Festival, GMEA In-Service Conference, University of Alabama Honor Band Festival, Southeastern United States Band Clinic at Troy University, University of Georgia Midfest, and “Strike up the Band” on WABE 90.1, National Public Radio. Under his direction, the Riverwatch Band Program received the National Blue Ribbon Middle School Program of Excellence and the Sudler Silver Cup. Additional teaching positions include Norcross High School, Jefferson High School, and Georgia Southern University. Dr. Koperniak served as State Band Chair for the Georgia Music Educators Association, and he is a member of Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He serves Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia as National Executive Committeeman-at-Large and Chair of the Commission on Standards. He serves on the Board of Directors of the National Band Association as an At-Large representative, and previously served as a member of the NBA/Alfred Young Band Composition Contest committee. He has been published in Music Educators Journal and International Trombone Association Journal, and he has presented music education research at the NAfME national research conference. He currently serves as Associate Editor of the peer-reviewed journal TOPICS (Themes, Opinions, Praxes, Innovations, Curriculum, and Strategies), published by the MayDay Group. He is active as a clinician and adjudicator throughout the United States. Dr. Koperniak received degrees in Music Education from Boston University and the University of Georgia, and he is a 2017 recipient of the UGA Alumni Association’s 40 under 40 award.