Band Directors
Director of Bands
Mr. Tarik Rowland is in his seventh year as Director of Bands at Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia and his twelth year as a music educator.
An Atlanta native, Mr. Rowland attended Riverwood High School. His undergraduate work was completed at Georgia Southern University and graduate work at Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia. Mr. Rowland is currently completing his Doctorate in Music Education at The University of Georgia.
During his undergraduate career, Mr. Rowland was a member of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Band, the Georgia Southern University Wind Ensemble, the Georgia Southern University “Southern Pride” Marching Band, Lead Trumpet player for the Jazz Ensemble, and the Principal Trumpet for the Georgia Southern-Statesboro Symphony Orchestra. He studied undergraduate conducting with Dr. Daniel Pittman and graduate conducting with Dr. Scott Nelson and Colonel L. Bryan Shelburne, Jr. of The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own”.
Under Mr. Rowland’s leadership, the Tri-Cities Band Program has grown from 45 members to 145. The Wind Ensemble (performing level VI music) and the Symphonic Band (level IV) along with the Marching and Jazz Bands consistently earn superior ratings at all adjudicated events. His bands have performed in Disney’s World’s Magic Music Days and Southern Star Invitational and for MTV’s Boost Mobile Rock Corps; and have been invited to perform at the Lincoln Center for Performing Arts and to participate in the Pre-Olympic Ceremonies in Beijing, China for the 2008 Olympics.
Mr. Rowland’s professional affiliations include the Georgia Music Educators Association, MENC, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Music Fraternity, the International Trumpeters Guild, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Mr. Rowland resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his beautiful and loving wife, Alva, who is an operatic performer and elementary music specialist, along with their six-year-old son, Tarik Jr. “TJ”; their three year-old daughter, Tarin; and their golden retriever, “Bach”.
Associate Director of Bands
Aaron L. Johnson is the Associate Director of Bands at Tri-Cities High School in East Point, GA. Mr. Johnson has loved music ever since he can remember. He began playing the trumpet at the tender age of 9 under the baton of Mr. Raymond Malone. His matriculation through education led him to Tri-Cities High School under the leadership of Mr. Leon Daughrity. During this time, his love for music grew and developed into a ferocious passion. After becoming an All-State participant in both symphonic and jazz bands, Mr. Johnson was awarded numerous music scholarships and other music and academic opportunities. He attended Tennessee State University, where his craft was further honed under the tutelage of trumpet instructor Freddie T. Holt. While at TSU, he studied orchestral conducting under Dr. Reginald McDonald. Mr. Johnson credits Dr. McDonald with developing his skills as a conductor and instilling a love for that aspect of music as well. Sitting first chair in each ensemble, including marching, jazz, symphonic and chamber ensembles, afforded Mr. Johnson opportunities to perform all over the country as a student and professional musician. Some of the places where Mr. Johnson has performed include Las Vegas, New York City, The Ryman Auditorium (Grand Ole Opry) and The Country Music Hall of Fame, just to name a few. A classically trained musician, Mr. Johnson is now furthering his music education, studying jazz and improvisation with jazz great Danny Harper. Now a math teacher and associate director of bands at TCHS, he loves nothing more than developing and inspiring young musicians at the very place that helped him find his love for the arts. It is his hope that through teaching, his students are able to enter into a world of endless possibilities, both tangible and intangible, that without music they may not otherwise have known.
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Assistant Director of Bands/Low Brass Instructor & Arranger
Michael Kirtdoll is an educator and musician born in Chicago, Illinois. Michael grew up hearing horn players from bands such as Earth Wind and Fire, Heatwave, The Ohio Players, and Kool and the Gang, and began taking piano lessons at the age of 3. However, due to crime, drugs, and community violence, the Kirtdoll family decided to relocate to Marion, Alabama in 1990. Michael picked up the alto saxophone in the 6th grade and had switched to the trombone by the 10th Grade.
Upon graduating from Francis Marion High School, Kirtdoll received a full-paid scholarship to Clark Atlanta University as a trombonist and music arranger. In 2005, Kirtdoll transferred to Mississippi Valley State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education in 2007. Michael Kirtdoll entered into the teaching profession in the fall of 2007 as director of bands at Renaissance Middle School. Known equally as well for his performance skills, Kirtdoll has performed with the Vickie Baker Blues Band, Lil Kim, B.B. King, Kirk Franklin, Smokie Knorful, Sandi Patti, Marvin Sapp, Bishop P. Morton, Grant Green Jr., and The Impressions.
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Percussion Director
Victor Pons is a freelance percussionist and educator. Currently Victor is working on his Masters in Music Performance under the direction of Dr. Stuart Gerber at Georgia State University. He is an active educator in the Atlanta area and is currently the percussion director for Tri-Cities High School and Tri-Cities Indoor Percussion.
Victor Previously lived in Tampa, Florida where he completed his Bachelors in Music Performance under the direction of Robert McCormick at the University of South Florida. In Tampa he founded, directed and arranged for Synergy Indoor Percussion in their inaugural 2010-2011 Season. Also he previously directed and arranged percussion at Bloomingdale High School located in Valrico, FL. Here he taught for the five consecutive years and under his instruction/arranging his groups have played in events such as Super bowl XLIII, the London New Years Day Parade. Bloomingdale was also featured in a commercial series and televised game for the Tampa Bay Rays major league baseball team in conjunction with the H.B. Plant High School drumline. Victor was also the Percussion caption-head and co-arranger of percussion at H.B. Plant High School in Tampa, FL. In his first year they rose from an FMBC finals score of 80.0 in percussion to a 92.6. Victor also taught and co-arranged marching percussion at Northside Christian School in St. Petersburg, FL for their 2009 season where in his first year they took 2nd place at FMBC finals (94.2 perc. score from a 44.2 previously) and 1st place at FFCC Indoor Percussion finals playing his arrangements.
Aside from teaching Victor is an active musician and freelance percussionist that was hired at Walt Disney World as a performer and participates in various music festivals, including the annual McCormick Marimba festival. Victor holds endorsements with VicFirth, Evans, and the Avedis Zildjian Company. He is also a member of the VicFirth education team, the Percussive Arts Society, and a consultant and percussion arranger for 1st Place Designs. Victor resides in Atlanta with his fiancé Tracye and two dogs: Jake and Burbs.
