CONGRATULATIONS to the following students for successfully auditioning into the 2023-2024 Riverwatch Symphonic Band:

Riverwatch Symphonic Band 2023-24

The Riverwatch Symphonic Band is performing at the Georgia State Music for All Southeastern Invitational Concert Festival in March 2023. They will also perform in Carnegie Hall, alongside the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and Brooklyn Wind Symphony, in June 2023.

CONGRATULATIONS to the 37 RMS Band students who earned a position in the 2023 GMEA All-State Bands!This is the highest number in Riverwatch school history and the highest number from a single middle school in recent GMEA history. We are so proud of all students who auditioned!

CONGRATULATIONS to the 84 RMS Band students who earned a position in the 2023 District IX Honor Bands, as well as the 14 alternates! For the 14th year in a row, this is the highest number from a single school in the district - and the highest number in Riverwatch school history.

Important Dates

About the Riverwatch Band Program ...

The Riverwatch Middle School Band Program serves over 600 students in grades 6-8. Each year, all students perform in several concerts at Riverwatch. 7th and 8th grade students participate in GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluations. Riverwatch students consistently participate in the GMEA All-State Band, District IX Honor Band, and District IX Solo & Ensemble. Riverwatch hosts the annual District IX Solo & Ensemble event in April.

The Riverwatch Symphonic Band has presented invited performances at the following conventions: 

2023 Carnegie Hall Performance with Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony and Brooklyn Wind Symphony

2023 Music for All Southeastern Concert Band Festival  

2022 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference

2019 Reinhardt University Middle School Honor Band Clinic

2017 The Midwest Clinic: An International Band & Orchestra Conference

2017 Music for All Southeastern Concert Band Festival

2016 National Band Association/College Band Directors National Assoc. Southern Division 

2015 University of Georgia Middle School Festival

2014 University of Alabama Honor Band

2014 Music for All National Concert Band Festival

2013 Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference

2012 Southeastern United States Band Clinic at Troy University

2012 National Band Association/College Band Directors National Assoc. Southern Division 

2010 University of Georgia Middle School Festival. 

The Riverwatch Middle School Band Program is a four-time recipient of the Exemplary Performance Award from the Georgia Music Educators Association (2010, 2015, 2019, and 2022). The Exemplary Performance Award is the most prestigious award available to middle school bands in Georgia and recognizes middle school bands that achieve outstanding results in all areas of performance, including Large Group Performance Evaluation, Solo and Ensemble, All-State Band, and District Honor Band. The award is presented to the most outstanding bands in Georgia whose students excel in all aspects of band performance, both individually and as part of a group.

The Riverwatch Band Program is a 2017 recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Cup and 2016 recipient of the National Blue Ribbon Program of Excellence Award, presented by the National Band Association. The Riverwatch Symphonic Band was named a 2015 Commended Winner in the National Wind Band Honors, and has previously been a four-time state level winner (2011-2014). The Riverwatch Symphonic Band has appeared on "Strike Up the Band" on National Public Radio, WABE 90.1. 

In active encouragement of new music composed for middle school band, the Riverwatch Band Program is commissioning a new piece of music in 2022 by Minoo Dixon. Mr. Dixon is a composition student at the New England Conservatory of music who is originally from Suwanee, Georgia.

Previous commissions/consortiums:

Tribute (Richard A. Crosby) - 2011
Baron Piquant on Pointe (Donald Grantham) - 2012
Tapestries (Haley Woodrow) - 2018

 Please visit the following links for more information:

Private Lesson Instructors 

Online Metronome

Music Theory / Music Reading Practice Tools

7th & 8th Grade Percussion Required Materials List

 About The Directors . . .

Hunter McGee is the Director of Bands at Riverwatch Middle School. Under his direction, the Riverwatch Symphonic Band performed at the GMEA In-Service Conference and is a two-time recipient of the GMEA Exemplary Performance Award (2019 & 2022). McGee was selected as the 2022-2023 Riverwatch Middle School Teacher of the Year and was also a Forsyth County Schools Teacher of the Year Semi-finalist. He has worked extensively with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony, serving as the Percussion Coordinator from 2013-2020. McGee has performed with AYWS (and worked on performance tours) in Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA), Carnegie Hall (NYC), Severance Hall (Cleveland), the New World Center (Miami), and the Music Center at Strathmore. Additionally, McGee serves as Director of Music at Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church and Co-Director of the Atlanta Trumpet Ensemble. 

Mr. McGee graduated summa cum laude from the University of Georgia, where he was a percussion student of Timothy K. Adams and Kimberly Toscano Adams. While completing his Bachelors of Music Education, he performed with the UGA Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, and Percussion Ensemble, including a performance at the GMEA In-State Conference and recording sessions with the Hogdson Wind Ensemble. Prior to his appointment at Riverwatch, Mr. McGee served as Director of Bands at Dacula Middle School. He also served as Director of Percussion at Lakeside High School (Atlanta) from 2014-2017. McGee arranges and composes music for various organizations in the Metro-Atlanta area. Professional affiliations include NAfME, GMEA, NBA, and PAGE.

Mr. McGee believes that music has the power to make positive, transformative change - to individuals and to the world. Education is the key to a better future, and music must be close to the heart of it all!

Katie Larkin is the Associate Director of Bands at Riverwatch Middle School. She has also served on the marching band staff of several high school band programs in both Florida and Georgia.

Ms. Larkin graduated from The Florida State University, where she studied clarinet under Dr. Deborah Bish and Dr. Jonathan Holden. While completing her Bachelors of Music Education, she performed with the FSU Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Orchestra, Clarinet Choir, and Marching Chiefs. While a member of these ensembles, she performed in venues throughout the state of Florida on the 2018 CBDNA Southern Division Tour and played in the memorial performance for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day in France. She has also performed with the Atlanta Youth Wind Symphony in Walt Disney Concert Hall (LA) and Carnegie Hall (NYC). Before coming to Riverwatch, Ms. Larkin served as the Director of Bands at Largo Middle School in Pinellas County, Florida. Her professional affiliations include NAfME, GMEA, and FMEA.