Matt Leff~Director

        Band Director Matthew Leff is new to the Rebel Regiment this year. Prior to his appointment at ECHS, Mr. Leff was the Head Director at South Effingham Middle School, and an assistant director with the SEHS Marching Mustangs since 2004. During his tenure at SEMS, enrollment in the band program  increased to well over 300 students. Under his direction, all ensembles at SEMS consistently scored superior and straight superior ratings in Jazz and Concert performances. Mr. Leff has also served as the Associate Band Director at Stephens County High School in Toccoa, GA.

Mr. Leff received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education at Toccoa Falls College in 2003. This summer he completed his Master's Degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia.

Mr. Leff is a member of the National Association for Music Education, the National Band Association, and serves the Georgia Music Educators' Association as the District One Band Chairman. He also represents Southeast Georgia on the state band council. A native of the Northeast Georgia Mountains, Mr. Leff now lives in Guyton with his wife, Nycole, and their very busy toddler, Andy.

Assistant Director: Will Alford

  ( I "borrowed" this picture from Facebook :}

       This is Mr. Will Alford's 2nd year on the band staff. Mr. Alford is recent graduate of Columbus State University. While at CSU, he was a member of the Jazz Band, Trombone Choir, multiple chamber ensembles and large group ensembles as well as a member of the CMENC, National Society for Collegiate Scholars, and Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity. Originally, from Warner Robins, Ga, Mr. Alford graduated from Houston County High School. While in high school, he participated in symphonic band, jazz band, marching band, and multiple honor bands. He is a trombone player. Mr. Alford began his band directing career here at ECHS.

Assistant Director: Tony Murray

Mr. Murray attended school in Effingham County , where he marched in the Effingham County High School Rebel Regiment for 2 years, and in 1997 went to South Effingham High School and marched with the Marching Mustangs, graduating with honors at SEHS in 1998. He played saxophone in the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Band, marched sousaphone in the Rebel Regiment/Marching Mustangs, and also participated with the Basketball Pep Band.  Mr. Murray was sousaphone section leader and brass captain while in his high school marching band program.  In 1998 he was a recipient of the John Philip Sousa Award, the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, and was named STAR Student of Effingham County.

He received his BA in Music Education from AASU in 2003, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.  He studied saxophone and composition/arranging with Dr. Randy Reese and also studied jazz theory and improvisation with Dr. Stephen Primatic.

While at AASU he participated in all musical ensembles including University Chorale, Chamber Choir, Percussion Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble and Saxophone Quartet.  He also participated in various jazz combos and was a saxophone soloist on many occasions with various faculty led projects.  He also coordinated and led the AASU Basketball Pep Band.

He is in his 10^th year as a member of the Savannah Jazz Orchestra.  They function as Savannah’s premiere big band jazz orchestra and released a CD in 2001 titled "Satin Doll".  In 2003 he performed on stage with the world famous group "The Temptations." 

Mr. Murray is presently in his 7^th year as Director of Bands at

Mr. Murray is a member of the National Music Educator’s Association, the National Band Director’s Association, and the Georgia Music Educator’s Association.  He is presently the Organizing Chair for the District One Middle School Honor Band.  He is currently working on his Master’s of Music Education degree from the University of Georgia which he plans to complete in July of 2010. 

In his spare time he enjoys fishing and camping on the rivers of South Georgia .

Mr. Murray lives in south Guyton with his wife, Kenza, who currently serves as Director of Bands at Ebenezer Middle School.

     We are proud to welcome ECHS alumnus Michael Thomas to our Rebel Regiment staff this year. Mr. Thomas is currently a full time marching band show designer and arranger. Born in southern Florida in October of 1977 to his parents Greg and Karla Thomas,  he grew up near Rockford, Illinois and was exposed to marching pageantry throughout his childhood.  

Mr. Thomas started his career in Drum and Bugle Corps at the early age of thirteen.  Shortly after moving to Georgia he joined the Army National Guard Band in Atlanta, GA.  The military band allowed him to attended Georgia Southern University in the fall of 1995 in pursuit of his Mechanical Engineering Degree. He marched with the Division I Champions, The Cadets of Bergen County in 1998.  After Graduating in fall of 2000, Mr. Thomas spent the next eight years working at Gulfstream Aerospace in Savannah, GA.

In 2001, he joined the Air Force National Guard Band of the South in Marietta, GA.  During his time in the Air Force, he has been deployed to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  His deployment took him to seven different countries playing music for hundreds of troops at several different bases.  He also has spent the last five years designing and teaching the marching band program part time at Richmond Hill High School where they have won several competitions and performed at Bands of America in Atlanta, GA.  In 2006 Mr. Thomas began a partnership with Stephen Hendricks which ultimately has led to the creation of CounterMotion, Inc, a complete show design based company.

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"Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song" Psalm 95:2