Charles Westman, Director of Bands
Burke County High School

Charles Westman is a native of Acworth Ga. located in the North Atlanta suburbs. He attended Berry College then transferred West Georgia College where he received a Bachelor of music degree. Upon completion, he was named the Principal trombonist in the Festival Orchestra of Rome, Italy. Later, he was selected as the Graduate fellow in trombone performance at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where he received a Master of music degree. In 1987 Mr. Westman was named the Principal Trombonist of the United States Band of the Air Force Reserve in Warner Robins Ga. He spent four years touring the World in one of the Air Forces premier performance ensembles.

Mr. Westman began his Band Directing career in 1991 at Warner Robins High School. Over the next six years the band won many local, state and national awards. He continued directing in Texas, where he spent six years; there his bands gained national recognition as they won three first place awards in national contests including: San Antonio, Tx. Vail, Co. and Panama City, Fl. Returning to Georgia to be near family in 2003, Mr. Westman located in the Savannah area; while at Richmond Hill his band won over 100 awards including several class championships, one Grand Championship in marching band, and were grand champions at the 2005 Festival National Concert contest in Atlanta. Recently, Mr. Westman received a Specialist degree in Educational Leadership at Argosy University in Sarasota, Fl.

He is a member of Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Texas Music Educators Association, and Texas Bandmasters Association. Three times he has been selected Who's Who Among American teachers. Mr. Westman is an adjudicator for marching and concert bands and an active clinician, working with many schools throughout the Southeast as well as Texas. Mr. Westman has two daughters: Brittainy, junior music major at Georgia Southern; and Courtney, senior at Burke County High School.

Susan Juker, Assistant Band Director BCHS, Director of Bands BCMS

A native of Augusta, GA, Susan Juker is a graduate of Westside High School, Augusta, GA. She attended the University of Georgia and was a member of the Red Coat Marching Band for one year before coming back home to attend Augusta State University. Mrs. Juker received her Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Augusta State University where she served as principal flute and was the recipient of the Grover C. Maxwell Music Scholarship and jazz scholarship at ASU. While there she performed in many instrumental ensembles, including; Jazz Ensemble I, Chamber Winds, ASU Flute Choir, Musical Orchestra, Augusta State Choir and Wind Ensemble.  She also attended the University of Mississippi- Hattiesburg where she earned her Master of Music Education Degree. In 2002, Ms. Juker completed the Educational Specialist Degree in Music Education from the University of Georgia, in Athens, GA. While attending the University of Georgia her research project titled Metacognition in the Music Classroom , was submitted and approved for publication in the state music journal, Georgia Music News (Vol. 63, Number 4 Summer 2003).

Mrs. Juker is currently in her 8 th year as Director of Bands at Burke County Middle School where the band program has consistently received Excellent and Superior ratings and has grown from an enrollment of 85 members to the highest enrollment of 205 members in grades 6-8. She has also received TSS (Teacher Support Specialist) endorsement and PDS Master Teacher endorsement from ASU. Before accepting her present placement, she served as general music teacher and Chorus Director at S.G.A. Elementary in Sardis, GA for eight years. While there she earned her certification in Orff Level 1 and Kodaly Level 1. One of her many accomplishments while there, was bringing the Yamaha Music In Education Program to the school. Her choruses were very active in performances throughout the community and surrounding counties .

Mrs. Juker has served in the past as a board member for the Augusta Concert Band and as a Member of the Augusta Choral Society. She is active as a member of the Augusta Concert Band which performs at many community events and in which she has appeared in the past as guest conductor. In her spare time she loves to spend time outdoors with her husband John, two dogs (Sassy and Jazzy) and cat (Spike). She is presently learning how to knit. Her favorite activities include reading, hiking, camping and fishing.

Her professional affiliations include MENC, GMEA, NFA, WBDI and PAGE.

Jacques Jones, Brass Instructor, Assistant Band Director BCMS

Mr. Jones is currently in his first year as assistant band director at Burke COunty Middle School.  He graduated from Burke County High School in 2003, where he served as the Band Captain and principal euphonium.  Mr. Jones attended Georgia Southern University and served as baritone section leader in the Southern Pride Marching Band, was a member of GSUSWE, and principal of the tuba/euphonium quartet.  He later transferred to Augusta State University and was principal euphonium in the wind ensemble, played trombone and tuba in the orchestra, jazz band and pep band.  Mr. Jones earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music with a minor in Communications Studies in 2008.  He is currently enrolled in the Masters Program for Music Education at Augusta State University. Mr. Jones is the director of the BCMS Concert Band, Beginning Band, and Steel Drums Ensemble. His professional affiliations include MENC, GMEA, and PAGE.

Nakita has a love and desire to work with children. She is currently a first grade teacher at Waynesboro Primary School(WPS). This is Nakita's 4 th year at WPS School. This is also Nakita's 4 th year working with the Pride of Burke County Band under the direction of Mr. Charles Westman. A self-taught flag performer, Nakita took her pass experiences as a dancer and incorporated comfortable moves that was easy to learn. Under her instruction, the Pride of Burke County Color Guard has made superior two years in a row and Best In Class. Color Guard participates in community activities, Buddy Readers at WPS, and volunteer services. Nakita has one daughter, Mackenzie Robinson that is destined to become a great dancer and colorguard performer.