Directors

Mr. Jami Fennell

Director of Bands

Jami Fennell is originally from Walterboro, South Carolina. He attended Western Carolina University where he studied percussion with Dr. Mario Gaetano. While attending WCU he performed in the percussion, jazz, wind and gamelan ensembles. He was also a member of the Pride of the Mountains Marching band where he served as the section leader and was Most Outstanding Performer for the 2001 season. Jami was also a member of the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps from 1999-2001, and in 2001 he was named Most Outstanding Performer. Jami also attended Jacksonville State University where he studied with Clint Gillespie and Tracy Tyler. While attending JSU he was a member of the Marching Southerners and the JSU PASIC line, and was the 2003 Most Outstanding Performer. Jami holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in music from JSU.  He has also taught several highly respected drum lines throughout the South including: Spirit of JSU, Jacksonville State University, Kennesaw Mountain High School and Lassiter High School. From 2008-2010 he worked in Birmingham, Alabama as a member of the DoubleStop Percussion team. Currently Jami lives in Atlanta where he is the Percussion Coordinator for the Georgia State Marching Band and of course the Collins Hill Bands.

 

Mr. Austin Coker

Associate Director of Bands

Austin Coker grew up in Lawrenceville, GA and is a proud 2016 alumnus of Collins Hill High School and its Band Program. During his time at CHHS he performed in the Symphonic Band and Symphonic Winds, The Screaming Eagle Marching Band, Jazz Band 1 and 2, and the Basketball Pep Band. While there, he received the John Philip Sousa Award and served as the Logistics Team Captain. Austin received his Bachelor’s Degree of Music in Music Education from Kennesaw State University in May of 2022 where he studied trombone with Dr. Tom Gibson and Dr. J.D. Handshoe. During his time at KSU, he performed in multiple ensembles, including the KSU Wind Symphony, Jazz Ensembles 1 and 2, “The HOO” Basketball Band, Trombone Ensemble, and the KSU Choral Men’s Ensemble. He was also a member of the KSU Marching Owls where he served as a Trombone Section Leader for 4 years and was a member of their Truck Crew. From 2021-2022, Austin student taught at Wheeler High School in Marietta, GA under the direction of Mr. Mark Hoskins. During the 2022-2023 school year, Austin served as the Director of Bands at Ridgeland Secondary Academy of Excellence in Ridgeland, SC. Austin is a Member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, as well as an Honorary Member of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. Austin lives in Gwinnett County with his wife and music educator Rachel who is also an alumnae of CHHS and its Band Program.