UGA Music Education

Congratulations Lauren! Go Dawgs!

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Lauren Covington is a passionate music educator, performer, and mentor dedicated to shaping the next generation of young artists into confident, disciplined professionals. As the proud 2026–2027 Teacher of the Year, she is known for creating a classroom environment where excellence, creativity, and character are cultivated daily.

At Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts, Lauren serves as a dynamic music director. Under her direction, her choir program consistently earns Superior ratings at Large Group Performance Evaluation, reflecting her unwavering standard of excellence and her students’ dedication.

Beyond the classroom, Lauren is an accomplished performer in her own right. She has graced prestigious stages such as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, and has appeared in various theatrical productions, bringing depth and authenticity to every role she embodies. Her work as an artist deeply informs her teaching, allowing her to pour real-world experience and passion into her students.

Rooted in service and community, Lauren is committed to impacting lives far beyond the stage. She believes that music is not only an art form, but a vehicle for confidence, discipline, and purpose. Through her work, she continues to inspire young people to find their voice, own their story, and step boldly into their future.

Let’s congratulate Ms. Lauren Covington, Class of 2017 Alumna, on becoming Martha Ellen Stilwell School of the Arts 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year! Well deserved! 🌟

We were honored to have Robert Davidson & Jessie Matthews speak at our monthly music education seminar. They are co-directors of the band program at Trickum Middle School and alums of the UGA music education program! Thank you for sharing your expertise and passion for music teaching with the next generation of music educators!!
Thanks, also, to our CNAfME chapter for organizing this opportunity!

Go Dawgs! Congrats to all of you!! Online Master of Music Education students get to meet in person!

We’re so excited to kickoff our brand new ensemble for tenor and bass voices, grades 6-12, with this fun holiday sing! We have folks joining us from UGA Glee Club, First Baptist Athens, Athens Master Chorale, UGA choral professor Dr. Mann, and even GCC board member Daniel Chamberlain! Many thanks to Dr. Rebecca Atkins for directing and Tom Granum for accompanying on this special Saturday morning! #georgiachildrenschorus #gccfamily #athensga

We can't wait to see how Yash -- and all our MusEd majors -- will inspire their future students!

Thanks for coming to visit, GMEA: Georgia Music Educators Association!!

We are excited to share this Choralosophy podcast episode featuring Dr. Rebecca Atkins and UGA Music Education alumnus, Craig Hurley!

🎶 Why wait until week 3 to teach artistry?
What if your singers could connect to emotional expression on day one?

In this episode of The Choralosophy Podcast, I sit down with Craig Hurley and Rebecca Atkins to unpack their research-backed strategies for making musical expression part of the DNA of your rehearsals from the very start.

🔥 We cover:

Using movement to teach dynamics and nuance

Harnessing auditory cues for deeper engagement

Building emotional connection from the first rehearsal

Stories that will inspire you to rethink how you start the year

Whether you’re leading a beginner choir or working with seasoned singers, these ideas can transform your ensemble’s sound and connection to the music.

🎧 Listen now: https://bit.ly/Choralosophy256
💬 After you listen, tell me—do you frontload expression in your rehearsals, or build it later?

Congratulations to Rebecca Atkins and Brett Bawcum! There are a bunch of Dawgs on this list along with some great mentor teachers to our UGA students!

Congratulations to the following Georgia Music Educators for their recognition as quarterfinalists for the Grammy Awards 2026 Music Educator of the Year! is rooting for you as you move on to the next round! 🎉🎼

Rebecca Atkins, UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music
Barbara Baker, McIntosh High School
Brett Bawcum, UGA Hugh Hodgson School of Music
Alisha Bowden, West Jackson Middle School
Mindy Forehand, Ola High School
Samuel Holmes, Garden Hills Elementary School
Adria Smith, Bear Creek Middle School
Vincent Sneed, Central Gwinnett High School
Jared Duncan, DeKalb School of the Arts
Elise Witt, Global Village Project
Victoria Warnet, Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University
Lenae Rose, Morgan County High School
Anthony Pickard, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. High School
Rachael Heffner, Brookhaven Innovation Academy
Tony Aaron Hambrick, Jessye Norman School of the Arts

Friday funny 😆 Don’t let your bass get out of control!

Invasive species can have a devastating impact on nature’s delicate balance. Species like the smallmouth bass can destabilize an ecosystem and outcompete native species. That said, a recently discovered bass problem threatened, dare we say, a far more jazzy impact.

Congratulations Scott Martin!
So well-deserved!
Masters in Music Education! 2012

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A Cherokee County School District teacher has been named the state’s top music educator! Creekview High School Choral Director Scott L. Martin received the Georgia Music Educators Association’s Music Teacher of the Year award, which was presented at organization’s annual conference recently held in Athens. It is the highest honor awarded by the association and is presented annually to only one music educator of the more than 3,000 statewide. Learn more: https://www.cherokeek12.net/post-detail/~board/ccsd-comms/post/ccsd-teacher-earns-statewide-music-teacher-of-the-year-award