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Ira Jenkins (Atlanta, GA) is the Director of Bands at Decatur High School and formerly served in the same role at Alpharetta High School in Georgia. His marching bands have consistently earned finalist placements at local competitions, Bands of America Championships, and Music for All Affiliate Festivals. Each year, many of his students are selected for District Honor Band and All-State Band.
The Decatur and Alpharetta Wind Ensembles have performed as featured ensembles at Troy University’s Southeastern United States Clinic and Honor Band, as well as the Southeastern Regional Concert Festival, a Music for All Affiliate Regional Music Festival. While at Alpharetta, his students also performed at the GMEA In-Service Conference, UGA’s JanFest, Carnegie Hall’s Festival of Gold, and other prestigious events.
Alpharetta’s Indoor Percussion Ensemble won state titles through the Georgia Indoor Percussion Association and became WGI regional champions. His winter guard programs have earned multiple SAPA championship medals and have made numerous WGI Regional and World Championships finals appearances.
Jenkins has taught at all grade levels in Atlanta Public Schools, Cobb County, Fulton County, and in districts in New York (Westchester County) and New Jersey (Bergen County). His middle school bands consistently received superior ratings at performance evaluations.
He has held leadership roles, including District 5 Band Chair and District Chair for GMEA, and served as Vice President of SAPA. Jenkins is an active adjudicator for WGI, BOA, DCI, and other circuits across the country. He is a member of Georgia Music Educators Association, National Association for Music Education, and the National Band Association.
He studied at Florida A&M University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of Georgia, completing his Ph.D. at Georgia State with research focused on student leadership in high school band.