Community. Band.
Board Members
Jeremy Ragan
President, Musical Director
A graduate of Reinhardt University, Jeremy began directing APWinds in May 2012. Mr. Ragan is an enthusiastic young conductor dedicated to the best possible performance of the music. He believes that performing to the best of one's ability lends honor to the music, the musicians, and the audience.
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Mr. Ragan currently teaches band at South Paulding Middle School in Dallas, GA. Past teaching assignments include: Dallas Elementary School, Orchestra and Chorus Director at Kendrick Middle School in Clayton County. He has also worked as a clinician at Paulding Co. HS, Herschel Jones MS, Etowah HS, Pope HS, Flowery Branch HS, Roswell HS, Mill Creek MS, Elkins Pointe MS, and Holcomb Bridge MS.
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Mr. Ragan has taught private lessons on trombone and euphonium and his students have performed in GMEA All-State ensembles. His performance degree was focused on Bass Trombone. He has performed with Red Top Brass Quintet, Georgia Wind Symphony, Tara Winds, Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps, Atlanta CV, and multiple ensembles at Reinhardt University. He has also subbed with Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra, Georgia Symphony Orchestra, and the Etowah Jazz Society.
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You may contact Jeremy at apwinds@gmail.com.
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Michael Watanabe
Vice President, Assistant Director
Mr. Watanabe has taught at Valor Christian Academy (formerly Bridgeway Christian Academy and Legacy Community Academy) since 2016. He currently teaches P-8 music, beginning band, and concert band. Michael graduated from the University of Georgia and was a member of the UGA Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, and Redcoat Marching Band.
Michael was inspired by the unique community that is APWinds when he joined out of college in 2014. The range of experience levels represented in the band — from beginners to music majors, from middle school students to retired adults — serves as a model for the student mentorship plan in the VCA band program. Mr. Watanabe is passionate about teaching beyond the music, digging into the background and content of a piece and the composer’s intent, in order to build personal connections to the music and to fellow musicians. All music has a story to tell, and the message is all the more meaningful when the performers are invested as the storyteller.
Michael has previously guest conducted APWinds and continues to play trumpet in the band, as well as with the Georgia Wind Symphony and the Red Top Brass Quintet. His private instruction has ranged from his own beginning clarinet and guitar students to prospective college trumpet students, and he stays active during the summer serving as the Technical Director at Highland Day Camp in Roswell.
Anna Ragan
Secretary
Anna Ragan is currently the music program director at The King’s Academy in Woodstock, Georgia, teaching elementary music, choir, and serving as musical director for the drama program. She graduated from Reinhardt University with Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees. She has also served as a flute clinician, woodwind instructor, and guest conductor in Cobb, Cherokee, Dawson, Pickens, Bartow, Barrow, and Paulding counties. Under her direction from 2010-2014, the North Georgia Home School Band became the first home school band in Georgia to attend the GMEA sponsored Large Group Performance Evaluation and received Excellent and Superior ratings. Anna has served as guest conductor for American Patriot Winds in the past and currently serves as Secretary and principal flute in that ensemble. She also serves as Secretary/Personnel Manager and flute Section Manager for the Georgia Wind Symphony. She has performed in Italy in collaboration concerts with Italian bands (2012) and on tour with the Georgia Wind Symphony/Alabama Winds (2016). She is a member of Alpha Chi (academic)and Pi Kappa Lambda (music) honor societies, and her professional affiliations have included Professional Association of GA Educators, National Flute Association, Georgia Music Educator’s Association and the National Band Association.
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Blake Hughes
Treasurer/Public Relations Coordinator
Blake is a graduate of Tift County High School where he was awarded the John Philip Sousa and Louis Armstrong Awards. Blake has been playing low brass since 2003 and has given lessons and been a low brass instructor in multiple high schools and middle schools in Georgia. Blake has performed with Atlanta CV Drum and Bugle Corps and is a current member of the Georgia Wind Symphony. Blake is a General Manager for RaceTrac and currently resides in North Georgia with his wife and two children.
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Sharon Lemire
Librarian
Sharon began playing clarinet in Ohio while in the fourth grade and played throughout high school. In college, she performed in the pep band at Centre College of KY where she earned a B.S. in Chemical Physics. After college, she performed in community bands in VA, FL and SC; and studied clarinet privately in VA and SC. When she moved to Kennesaw in 1992, she was unable to find a nearby community band and thus did not play for 23 years. During that time, she earned a doctorate in Analytical Chemistry from GA Tech and was employed as a Research Chemist at the Centers for Disease Control for 18 years. After retiring from CDC, Sharon joined APWinds and the Cobb New Horizons Band in January 2016. In August 2017, she joined the Atlanta Musicians Orchestra where she discovered that the Music Director was in the same class at Centre! In 2018, Sharon joined the Southern Winds Concert Band. Sharon has been married for over 40 years to John, and they have two four-legged furry kids (aka cats). They lived in Sicily for two years and enjoy traveling and hiking in the mountains. When not in rehearsals or practicing, she enjoys running, biking, swimming, gardening, or reading.
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Dave Saucier
Founder
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Mr. Saucier served in the United States Air Force and was a member of the 561st Air Force Band. He was also a vocal soloist at his church. He worked at IBM before retiring and becoming a long-time resident of Marietta. Mr. Saucier devotes much of his time these days to the band, his brainchild. He founded APW in July 2009 to touch the hearts and minds of as many people as possible, encouraging Americans to stand up for their beliefs and convictions. Dave tirelessly sustained and supported the band from 2009 to 2015, and for that we will always be grateful.
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