THE AUGUSTA
MASS BAND
Directers & Staff of The AMB
The Augusta Mass Band has an eclectec team of qualified music educators. Each director teaches at a different school in the CSRA. The different teaching styles and methods allow the band members to learn in different ways. The individal expertise of each director along with the student's perserverance helps contribute to the AMB's success.
Marcus D. Chester
Richmond Academy
Mr. Marcus Dwayne Thomas Chester was born in Germany to a military family on November 30th, 1980. Traveling was part of the family description until his father retired and settled in Augusta, GA. Mr. Chester was a 1998 graduate of George P. Butler High School. Upon graduation, Mr. Chester attended Morris Brown College for one year, and transferred to Fort Valley State University in 1999. While at Fort Valley State University, Mr. Chester served as first chair trombone in the concert and jazz bands. He also served as section leader, drum major, and student director in the FVSU Blue Machine Marching Band. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music in May of 2006. Mr. Chester returned home to Augusta to serve as director of bands at Lucy C. Laney (2007-2009), and transferred to assume the director of bands position at the Academy of Richmond County (2009 – 2015). Mr. Chester is currently the assistant director at Lindley Middle School in Atlanta. He is a music arranger for high schools in the Atlanta area. He is also assitant director of bands/assitant arranger at Clark Atlanta University. Mr. Chester received his Masters of Music Education from the University of Georgia in the summer of 2012. He is married and a proud father of Madison Elizabeth Chester. Mr. Chester enjoys composing music, arranging music, music performance, and spending time with friends and family. Mr. Chester holds membership in GAE and Georgia Music Educator Association (GMEA). Mr. Chester is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and charter member of the Lambda Zeta Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity at FVSU. Mr. Chester was the 2013 All-County middle school clinician for Richmond County schools. He is also a 2012-2013 Golden Apple Award recipient.
Dwayne DuBose
Lucy C. Laney
A daily walk with GOD is essential to life. Whether things are good or bad, we all have to stop and remember that all things work out for the glory of GOD. D’Wayne DuBose, Jr, is originally from Coolidge, Georgia. Mr. DuBose has been teaching for nearly a decade and currently serves as the Director of Bands at Lucy C. Laney Comprehensive High School here in the Richmond County School System. In his music program, Mr. DuBose works hard to instills morals, values, and the fundamentals of comprehensive musicianship. Mr. DuBose’s Motto is simple: “I don’t just teach students, I create leaders”. Mr. DuBose also enjoys spending quality time with family, reading, composing music, arranging music, and laughing. He is married and has a son.He is a graduate of Thomas County Central High School (1998, college prep seal), Morris Brown College (2002, BA Music Business, Magna Cum Laude), Georgia State University (2004, Music Ed. Cert.), and the University Of Phoenix (2009, MA Curriculum & Instruction).
Lynell Lawrence
Hephzibah High
Mr. Lynell Lawrence is a graduate of George P. Butler High School. He the owner of Above & Beyond Construction. Mr. Lawrence is a proud father of Jaidyn Mykell Lawrence. Mr. Lawrence has been an assistant at Hephzibah High School since 2011. He is a man of GOD, and believes in his motto, "with GOD all things are possible."
Willie Hollins
Hephzibah High
Mr. Willie J. Hollins Jr. is from Macon, Georgia. He is 1991 graduate of Northeast High School. While at Northeast High he served as tuba section leader. Mr. Hollins then went on to Fort Valley State University where he was the band president and tuba section leader until he graduated in 1999. After graduation, Mr. Hollins was a member of the Fort Valley State University band staff for 15 years serving as the director of the pep bands, band announcer, arranger, and Videographer . Mr. Hollins then began working in Bibb County as an assistant band director and behavior intervention specialist at Southwest High School from 2004-2008. He later went to become the Director of Bandsin Vienna, Georgia, and now in Richmond County. Mr. Hollins holds professional membership in PAGE, GAE, and Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA). He also holds membership in Kappa Kappa Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, and IFAMM (International Free and Accepted Master Mason) Central City Lodge #139.
Joseph Wilson
McCormick High
Mr. Joseph T. Wilson is a native of Charlotte, N.C. Mr. Wilson currently resides in Martinez, GA. and is serving in his fifth year of teaching as the Director of Bands for the McCormick County School District located in McCormick, SC. He received his bachelor’s degree in Music Education in May 2009 from Winthrop University located in Rock Hill, S.C. While attending Winthrop University and studying the tuba which is his major instrument, Mr. Wilson has performed in numerous engagements with music ensembles such as the Winthrop Tuba Choir, Screamin’ Eagle Pep Band, and Winthrop University Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band. In all of the listed music ensembles, Mr. Wilson never sat below second chair which is a high honor in the band arena. He has also worked with many distinguished band programs in South Carolina while attending Winthrop University. Mr. Wilson served as the Low Brass Instructor for both South Pointe High School located in Rock Hill, S.C. and York Comprehensive high school located in York, S.C. He has also worked closely with Sullivan Middle School, Northwestern High School and Rock Hill High School which are all located in Rock Hill, S.C. Mr. Wilson is currently serving as the Minister of Music for Long Cane AME Church located in Abbeville, S.C. He is also a member of the National Association of Music Educators and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Justin Nowlin
McCormick High
Mr. Justin Nowlin is the assistant director with the Mighty Marching Chiefs, in McCormick, South Carolina. He is a 2007 graduate of McCormick High and attended South Carolina State University. There he became a member of The Marching 101 Band, playing the sousaphone. While at SCSU, Mr. Nowlin became a member of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. He was then selected to be the section leader for both the 2011 and 2012 season. Mr. Nowlin graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology, and is currently pursing a M.B.A. After his graduation, Mr. Nowlin volunteers his time to give back what he gained throughout his band experience, and teaching them how it has made him a better person. Mr. Nowlin’s goal is to implement band as an experience, which has taught him lifelong lessons. He believes that with hard work and dedication, anything you do in life is possible.
