We want to make it easy for you to find the information you need! We attempt to answer as many questions as possible through Charms communication and the website but if you need to contact a Director or member of the board we want to make it easy for you.
Director of Bands Nick Garofalo garofalon@fultonschools.org
Associate Director of Bands Matt Crisman crismanmr@fultonschools.org
Band website: ChattBand@gmail.com
President of the Booster Association Stacy Bailey stacey@jetdental.com
Co-Treasurer of Booster Association Susan Willard Howell susanwillardhowell@yahoo.com Amee Gupta chsbandfinance@gmail.com
Secretary of Booster Association Grace Coyne gracecoyne@hotmail.com
VP Uniforms Leah Haber leah.haber@me.com
VP Operations/Logistics Amanda Jones amandajonesart@gmail.com
VP Events Cheryl Akins luv_is_free2003@yahoo.com
VP Concessions Chuntiel James ccanady45@hotmail.com
Charms Office is a tool that we use to track finances and communications with the students and parents. Please keep this information updated. You may check your finances anytime in your Charms account.
How to access parent/student information in Charms:
Log on to www.charmsoffice.com, and click “ENTER / LOG
IN” in the upper right corner.
Locate the “PARENT/STUDENT/MEMBERS LOGIN” section of the web
page.
Login to your student’s program account using the following
School Code:
Chattahoocheeband
This will bring up the main “Public” page. This
will allow you to look at the “public” calendar for your organization,
event list, and handouts and other “publicly shared” files, as well as a
few other options.
The first time you go here, enter your child’s ID
NUMBER (created at registration) into the Student Area Password
field. You will be directed to the Change Password screen, to set a
personal password different from the ID, for future use. You may
also be directed to create both a unique Username and Password for the
student. There are also mechanisms to recover/reset a lost
Username/Password – when you create your new password, create a “hint” as
well.
Whenever you enter using this Username/password,
another more detailed screen appears, with various button options for you
to access areas in the Charms account.
Two areas in which you can help the
director/administrator maintain his/her records:
Update Personal Information – you may help make changes to your and your child’s
student information page (such as updating phone numbers / cell carriers
and email addresses if they change) to help them communicate with you
more effectively. You may also be able to indicate which parent
volunteer/resource groups you would like to participate in, if this
feature is activated. Click Update Info to save changes.
If your program has set up online credit card
payments, you can make credit card payments for fees, trips and deposits
to your student’s account.
Click Finances — if credit card payment is activated, you
will see blue buttons in the four main areas of the financial statement
indicating your ability to make online payments.
Most importantly, the parent page assists both you and
the teacher to communicate with each other. Stay up to date on
what’s going on with your student!
You can also download the Charms App to your smartphone
– search your App Store for “Charms Parent/Student Portal” (or “Charms
Blue”). It’s the way to stay in touch on the go!
This calendar is kept up to date as we get information. It can and does change! The best way to keep up to date is through the newsletter and checking this calendar periodically. The side bar on the home page will also have updated events.
To add the CHS Band calendar to your Google Calendars click +GoogleCalendar at the bottom right.
What can you do to get involved? Here is a partial list of all the things we need help with. Pick what looks interesting to you and use the contact form below to let us know how you would like to be involved with this incredible program.
Sign up to volunteer throughout the season with this link!
Truck Drivers – no experience or special license needed
Unfortunately, high school music programs across the country have seen a dramatic cut in funding in the past decade. As a result, the cost of participating in the band program comes from participant fees. Chattahoochee High School provides numerous opportunities to offset these costs through industrious fundraising activities. Band members can directly lower the cost of participating in the band program through programs like ShopWithScrip.com, working at the Amerris Amphitheater , CHS Concessions Stand, and various other fundraisers offered throughout the year.
Shop with Scrip
Scrip is a service the sells gift cards (digital and physical) for a large variety of retailers. When you buy a gift card from Scrip a percentage of the amount you spend is redirected back to the band and your fees are reduced. Each retailer offers a different percentage rate.
Orders for physical cards are placed around the holidays. Watch the calendar for dates. If you need to order physical cards for gifts, contact us using the form below.
CHS 2019 Fall Concessions
It’s Friday Night Lights time!! Fall Football season is here and the band operates the concession stand as a fundraiser for Band, Orchestra, and Chorus. Working the concession stand is a great way to offset the cost of your child’s participation in the Fine Arts Programs. We will be opening the concession stands for all Varsity and JV Football games this season.
Click this link to view the schedule and sign up. No training necessary.
Ameris Amphitheater Concession Stand
This is a great opportunity to earn money toward your student’s band fees. This year we will be working in the Lower West Good Libations area. This stand should be open at all events. We will be serving gourmet food treats, beer, and frozen drinks. We will also work the new Snack Shack. We will need 14-20 volunteers per event (5 can be students). Priority will be given to those adults that have completed the alcohol training and to students for the food handling positions. At this point we are being told the alcohol training will be strictly enforced this season. If you haven’t completed it, you can’t volunteer at the stand in a position where you serve or take money for drinks. Check in times and final gate lists will be confirmed closer to each show date but are typically 3-4 hours before the show starts. When signing up please fill out all of the required sections. The list of events will be updated as shows are added to the venue’s calendar, check back often.
Ameris is also requiring each person go through a training session. There are 2 additional sessions being offered in early May and Legends is planning to offer training once a month throughout the season. Training is valid for 3 seasons. If you think you have completed it in the last 2 seasons or would like to sign up, please contact chattfundraising@gmail.com.
All profits from the sale of Band DVDs go into the Scholarship Fund. Order yours today!
Sponsor a commemorative shelf in your name!
For only $20.00 you can have a shelf sponsored by you, engraved with your name or student’s name, class and instrument. Great idea for students, parents, Seniors, and even sections. Download theOrder Form and more details here.
n what’s going on with your student!
You can also download the Charms App to your smartphone – search your App Store for “Charms Parent/Student Portal” (or “Charms Blue”). It’s the way to stay in touch on the go!
Originally from the Metro-Boston area, Nicholas A. Garofalo completed his bachelors of music education at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga in May of 2006. Mr. Garofalo has arranged, adjudicated and instructed many high school bands in the Tennessee and Georgia region including: East Ridge High School, Notre Dame High School, Red Bank High School, The McCallie School, Warren County High School, Model High School, Northview High School, and Hixson High School.
After graduating from The University of Tennessee, Chattanooga; Nicholas became the Assistant Band Director and Percussion Specialist at Chattahoochee High School and Ocee Elementary School in Alpharetta, Georgia. After numerous budget and financial situations Nicholas recently became the Director of Bands and no longer teaches at Ocee Elementary.
In 2006 Nicholas was the Front Ensemble Director for the Chattanooga Independent Percussion Ensemble based out of Chattanooga, Tennessee placing 4th at Winter Guard International World Championships for there inaugural year. After his work with Chattanooga, he became an instructor for Atlanta Quest Indoor Percussion ensemble from Atlanta, Georgia with yet another World Finalist title in W.G.I. In the summer of 2007 Mr. Garofalo joined the instructional staff of the Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps. During 2008 he assumed the Music Director position for the drum corps leading the ensemble to a Gold Medal in the “A Class Division” at the Drum Corps Associates Championships.
Mr. Garofalo is a currently a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Georgia Music Educators Association, Winter Guard International, Member at Large for the Southern Association for the Performing Arts and The Music Educators National Convention. Nicholas is a percussion and music ensemble adjudicator through the United States Scholastic Band Association and is also a Vic Firth Educational Team Member
In 2006 Nicholas was the Front Ensemble Director for the Chattanooga Independent Percussion Ensemble based out of Chattanooga, Tennessee placing 4th at Winter Guard International World Championships for there inaugural year. After his work with Chattanooga, he became an instructor for Atlanta Quest Indoor Percussion ensemble from Atlanta, Georgia with yet another World Finalist title in W.G.I. In the summer of 2007 Mr. Garofalo joined the instructional staff of the Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps. During 2008 he assumed the Music Director position for the drum corps leading the ensemble to a Gold Medal in the “A Class Division” at the Drum Corps Associates Championships.
Mr. Garofalo is a currently a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Georgia Music Educators Association, Winter Guard International, Member at Large for the Southern Association for the Performing Arts and The Music Educators National Convention. Nicholas is a percussion and music ensemble adjudicator through the United States Scholastic Band Association and is also a Vic Firth Educational Team Member.
Assistant Director of Bands, Matthew Crisman
Matthew Crisman is an educator, performer and conductor from Alpharetta, Georgia. Crisman has obtained a bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Georgia and a Master’s of Music in Saxophone Performance from Texas Tech University. While enrolled at UGA, Crisman was a teacher for the Clarke County After School Band Program, a competitor in the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Competition, President of the UGA Saxophone Society, Leadership member and Derby for the UGA Redcoat Band, and a participant in various large and chamber ensembles. During his time in Texas Tech, Crisman continued his competitive saxophone career, advancing through the Texas Tech Concerto Competition, Music Teacher’s National Association Chamber Music Competition, and the Fischoff Chamber Music Competition at Notre Dame University in Indiana. While competing, Crisman was also an active advocate of music in secondary and collegiate outreach programs. Crisman has presented at regional and national North American Saxophone Alliance conferences and was the coordinator for the first ever NASA High School Ensemble.
Since completing his terminal degree, Crisman has been a private lessons instructor, masterclass clinician, visual movement coach and guest performing artist for several Atlanta area middle and high schools. In 2018, Crisman was awarded the visiting guest conductor position at Chattahoochee High School and joined Nicholas Garofalo as the assistant for every curricular ensemble, Jazz Band and Marching Band. Subsequently, Crisman was on staff with Alpharetta High School and Webb Bridge Middle School. In the fall of 2020, Chattahoochee High School determined that a permanent assistant position was warranted and Crisman returned to fill the position. Crisman maintains membership with Kappa Kappa Psi music fraternity, the North American Saxophone Alliance, and the National Association for Music Education, and the Georgia Music Educator’s Association.
Director of Percussion, Robert Dickens Jr.
Robert Dickens Jr. is an educator, arranger, and designer from Dothan, AL. He received his Bachelors in Music Industry from Troy University. During his tenure there, he performed with a myriad of collegiate ensembles as well as the DCI World Class Finalist GLASSMEN Drum & Bugle Corps.
Robert currently resides in Atlanta, GA. In addition to providing percussion education products and services through FXE™, he serves as snare technician for DCI Open Class Finalist Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps. He is a member of the Salyers Percussion Education team and endorses their products exclusively.
Wind Instructional Staff, Brandon Soloff
Brandon Soloff has been Co-Director of Bands at Taylor Road Middle School in Johns Creek, Georgia since 2017. He co-leads the Taylor Road Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensemble, and Little “Big” Band. Mr. Soloff maintains a busy teaching and performing schedule in his private studio, and serves on staff with the Chattahoochee High School Marching Band. At age ten, Soloff began his study of trumpet and has since studied with Thomas Hooten (Principal Trumpet of the LA Philharmonic), Robert Murray, and the late Lew Soloff.
Mr. Soloff graduated Magna Cum Laude from Columbus State University’s Schwob School of Music in Columbus, GA with a Bachelor of Music Education degree. Mr. Soloff has performed at the College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center in Nashville, TN in 2015 with the Schwob Wind Ensemble. In addition to the Schwob Wind Ensemble, he also participated in the Schwob Philharmonic, Schwob Jazz Orchestra, Columbus State University Trumpet Ensemble (National Trumpet Competition Ensemble Semi-Finalists 2014-2016).
Mr. Soloff’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Educators, Georgia Music Educators Association, and the International Trumpet Guild. He is a member of the Cobb Wind Symphony.
Soloff resides in Norcross, Georgia with his lovely wife Bethany and cat, Ellie. In his spare time, Mr. Soloff enjoys cheering on his favorite sports teams.
Wind Instructional Staff, Mackenzie Newell
Mackenzie Newell is a French hornist and educator based in Atlanta, Georgia. She began her career in Boston where she performed with the Boston Pops, the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, and Andrea Bocelli in concert.
She holds a Bachelor of Music from Boston University and a Master of Music from the New England Conservatory of Music. Additionally, she spent time in London at the Royal College of Music. She also attended the Aspen Music Festival studying with Andrew Bain and members of the American Brass Quintet. During her undergraduate studies she performed in Carnegie Hall, the Concertgebouw, and across Europe with the Boston Philharmonic Youth Orchestra.
Since moving to Georgia, she has played regularly with the Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and teaches horn players around the area. Mackenzie is currently on faculty at University of North Georgia and is an Artist Affiliate at Reinhardt University.
Our program welcomes photos from all families! If you would like to submit pictures you take at an event please contact Sandra Nunez at syn1207@gmail.com. We appreciate those of you who have been contributing to our photo and video collection so far.
2019-2020 Marching Band Video
Summer Camp 2019 Here is a link to some of the pictures taken during Summer Camp 2019. A few pictures from the drive:
Spring Camp May 2019 Here is a link to pictures taken during Spring Camp 2019. A few pictures from the drive:
