53. Interview with Dr. Gregory Jackson, South Cobb High School

Greg Jackson is the Director of Orchestras at
South Cobb High School in Austell, Georgia, outside of Atlanta.
He is currently on staff at Southwind Drum & Bugle Corps as
an Ensemble Specialist. From 2017 until 2020 Dr. Jackson was
Director of Bands at Saint James School. He was the Associate
Professor of Percussion studies at Alabama State University for
ten years. He received the Bachelor of Science degree in
Performance, Specialization in Music Composition from Austin Peay
State University, the Master of Music degree in Music
Theory/Composition from The University of Alabama, the Master of
Music Education with emphasis in Conducting from the University
of Georgia, a Cerrtificat in Advanced Graduate Studies in
Orchestral Conducting, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in
Percussion Performance at the University of Alabama. Greg is the
Vice-Chair of the Mentoring Committee for American String
Teachers Association. Several of his compositions were premiered
at the ASTA National Conference in 2022. Although his primary
performing instrument now is violin, Jackson had a long career as
a percussionist. In the Percussive Arts Society International
Collegiate Snare Competition, he placed in the top 10 four
consecutive years and top 4 two years. He has also been
associated as a consultant with four Drum Corps International
Individuals champions and 1 PASIC Individuals champion. Greg has
performed with numerous artists including Tito Puente Jr., Sō
Percussion, Son Caliente, Nancy Zeltsman, Michael Burritt, Tomas
Cruz, Sandip Burman, Bob Mintzer of the Yellow Jackets, Tom
Wolfe, Ken Watters, Skyler Foster, and Downright. He is also the
author of Mephisto's Spree Op. 84, Etudes Op. 56, The Synergy
Method for Drumming volumes 1 and 2, The Synergy Method for
Marimba, Phenom: Excellence of Execution, Pandora, Legendary Op.
44, The Well-Tempered Marimbist Op. 46, Etudes Op. 48, Jackson's
Rudiment Dictionary and Congas Full Circle. His marimba solo,
Requiem for 9/11 Op. 45, received a special acknowledgement from
President Obama. Jackson travels across the country presenting
clinics/masterclasses and conducting, in addition to composing.
He is a member of the Georgia Music Educators Association,
International Conductors Guild, American String Teachers
Association, National Association for Music Education, National
Band Association, Alabama Bandmasters Association, Kappa Alpha
Psi, Fraternity Inc., Collegiate Society of Musicians, Percussive
Arts Society, Society of Composers Inc., BMI, and Bujinkan. Greg
proudly endorses Remo Inc., Innovative Percussion, Pearl
Percussion and Adams. https://inner3.com/