Mike Ashburn -Administrator/Drums/Percussion

Mike received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Georgia where he was a member of the Redcoat Marching, Symphonic Band (principal), Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Marimba Band, Percussion Ensemble, Contemporary Chamber Ensemble, and was a charter member of the UGA Steel Drum Band.  His performing background consists of many theatrical and church productions, the Opening Ceremony of the Centennial Olympic Games in 1996, and a percussionist with the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra.  He is currently the Associate for Music Ministries at North Metro First Baptist Church, where he is the orchestra director, student choir director, and administrator for the school of music.

Barry Allen - French Horn

Barry received his Bachelor or Music from the University of Alabama and his Masters from Indiana University.  Barry performs as a member of the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra, the North Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and is currently active in the North Metro First Baptist Church Orchestra.
 
Dr. Charles Novell - Piano / Voice
 
Dr. Charles Novell is a graduate of the world famous Cincinnati Conservatory of music and holds a doctorate of music degree. He has been involved in Gospel Music as a songwriter, arranger, recording producer, and performer for over 35 years. He’s been the vocal coach and teacher for The Blackwood Brothers, Kenny Bishop, Garry Sheppard, The Isaacs, Craig Nobles, Ivan Parker, Jeff Stice, David Brooks, and Charlotte Richie.

As a recording producer he has worked in the studio with such artists as Perfect Heart, The Blackwood Brothers, J.D. Sumner, & The Stamps, The Kingsmen, The Hoppers, Jerry Goff, Bill Baize, Bobby Clark, Lavern Tripp, Steve Brock and many more.

Joe Carlan - Drums

Joe received his Bachelors degree in music from Georgia State University where he studied with Jack Bell, the principal percussionist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for many years.  Joe has been the drummer for the Atlanta Passion Play for the past 10 years, and played with the orchestra at First Baptist Church, Atlanta for 13 years.

Wes Shepard - Guitar

Wes is currently finishing up his Bachelor of Music at the University of Georgia, where he is studying under John Sutherland and has had the honor of participating in master classes with Daniel Wolfe, Mateo Mela, and Jason Vieaux.  His teaching philosophy is to teach guitar as a multi-styled instrument and to prepare students for performance.  Wes has been teaching privately for many years as well as performing as a freelance musician.
 
Scott Paretti - Clarinet/Saxophone

At the University of New Orleans from 1981-1984, Scott played in the Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, Marching Band, and the "All That Jazz" show band.  From 1984-1995, he was a full-time musician in New Orleans.  Scott has had the privilege of sharing the stage with Aaron Neville and Huey Lewis, and performed regularly at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. He has played Dixieland music in the New Orleans French Quarter, played the National Anthem for the New Orleans Hornets, and the Canadian National Anthem for the Gwinnett Gladiators. After being born again, Scott gave up the full-time music life, and has been playing in church regularly since 1995.  Scott and his family came to the Atlanta area after Hurricane Katrina and have been at North Metro since April 2006 where Scott is a member of the orchestra.
 
Jan Grissom - Voice

Has been a guest of leading opera companies and orchestras throughout North America and in Europe, including appearances with the Metropolitan Opera, the Houston Grand Opera, the Washington Opera and the Atlanta Opera.

She was born in Tupelo, Miss., more famous as the birthplace of Elvis Presley than of coloraturae. She began singing in church and junior high school, but after a debut concert performance with the Tupelo symphony when she was 16, the one-time high school cheerleader seemed destined to follow a less highbrow path in her musical pursuits. After junior college and while a student at the University of North Alabama, where she continued formal music studies, she worked summers at a theme park in Memphis performing a wide range of music in as many as eight shows a day - including a turn in which she channeled country star Crystal Gayle singing "Don´t It Make My Brown Eyes Blue."

When she was a graduate student at the University of Houston, one of her instructors nudged her to try out for the Houston Opera Studio. Not only did she win a spot begin her professional career there, but also she was selected to sing there for Britain´s Prince Charles.

Other credits include performances of top operatic roles with and symphonic concerts in San Francisco, Mobile, Memphis, Indianapolis, Dallas, Baltimore, Portland and many other America cities. In Europe, she has appeared repeatedly at the Hamburg Staatsoper. She was the recipient of the MacAllister First Place Award and Critic's Choice Award and a George London Career Grant. She was also named Washington Opera's 1994 Artist of the Year.

During the past two years, Grissom has taught voice at Mississippi State University. She currently has a vocal studio in the Atlanta area and teaches voice at North Metro School of Music.
 
Richard Marshall - Trumpet/Low Brass
 
Richard Marshall, Trumpet instructor , was born and raised in Smyrna, Ga (Cobb County). During his years at Campbell High he studied privately with Larry Black of the Atlanta Symphony trumpet section. He was named to the Ga. All State Band and regularly performed as soloist in his high school band. Additionally he performed in the Cobb County Symphony Orchestra and spent the summer of 1974 at the Brevard Music Center . He went on to study music at Valdosta State College where he played principal trumpet in the school’s wind ensemble and was also a member of the Valdosta State Jazz ensemble.
 
After receiving his undergraduate degree in Music Education he began his career as a music teacher/band director in the Waycross City Schools (1981-88). While living in Waycross Richard played with a semi professional swing band, the “Men of Note” and was very active in the local Methodist church’s choral and instrumental programs. In 1988 Mr. Marshall was named the director of bands at Washington Wilkes High School in Washington Ga and worked there until 1994. During this time period he received his Masters in Music Education from the University of Ga. In 1994 he was asked to begin the high school band program at a new Collins Hill High School in Suwanee where he directed the program for 16 years until his retirement in 2010. During his tenure at Collins Hill the band gained a national reputation for excellence. Mr Marshall was honored twice with a Citation of Excellence by the National Band Association and was Director of the Collins Hill Marching Band when they received the JP Sousa Sudler Shield in 2006.
 
During his 29 years in teaching his concert bands received consistent Superiors at Festival and his marching bands have won 12 Grand Championships while under his direction. He is married to Melody  and they have two children , Max 21 who is a forth year music ed major at UGA and Cam 18 who is a first year music ed major at Valdosta State University.