Carlos Franco
Director of Bands
Mr. Franco is entering his 14th year of teaching as our Director of Bands. Previously, he was appointed as the Director of Bands at Hialeah Gardens Senior High School in Miami, FL. During this appointment, Mr. Franco was responsible for conducting the Wind Orchestra, Symphonic Winds, Jazz Ensemble 1 and 2, and The Gladiator Outdoor Performance Ensemble, and coordinated all chamber music ensembles, and the winter guard. Under his direction, all facets of the program earned consistent superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association district and state levels of evaluations, as well as earning multiple accolades in competitions throughout the state of Florida. The Wind Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble 1 at Hialeah Gardens are nationally-recognized ensembles. The W.O. specifically: performing and premiering works for wind band and earning top awards at Heritage Festivals in Orlando, FL., Atlanta, GA., and winning the Grand National Adjudicator’s Invitational in Gatlinburg, TN. in 2018.
Born in Caracas, Venezuela he began his musical training in the Venezuelan System of Youth Orchestras. He and his parents immigrated to the U.S. in 2003 and he completed his High School education at Charles W. Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, FL. He attended The University of Florida and graduated magna cum laude in 2011 with a bachelors in Music Education. As a performer, Mr. Franco has experienced the full spectrum of a professional musician: performing with The UF Gator Marching Band; The UF Wind Symphony; The UF Symphony Orchestra; The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps (2006-07) and The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps (2008-09). Mr. Franco has also toured the country with the salsa-afrocuban-funk fusion group: The Umoja Orchestra, and has performed with various jazz and pop musicians such as Michael Dease, Roy Hargrove, Christian McBride, Butch Thomas, Ramiro Malagon, Gilberto Santa Rosa, and more.
Mr. Franco is a professional certified educator in Florida and Georgia; holds a Clinical Supervising Educator Certification, and his professional associations include: Florida Bandmasters Association, National Association for Music Education, Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), and National Band Directors Association (NBA).
Mr. Franco and his family—Katie, Evan and their dog, Captain—live in Lilburn.
Class Schedule for Mr. Franco
1st Period: Beginning Guitar
2nd Period: Planning
3rd Period: Co-Teach Wind Ensemble w/Brown
4th Period: Co-Teach Concert Band w/Brown
5th Period: Co-Teach Wind Symphony w/Brown
6th Period: Planning
7th Period: Planning
Mikala Brown
Associate Director of Bands
Mikala Brown is currently in her second year of teaching as the Associate Director of Bands at Parkview High School. In this role, she serves as the primary director of the Wind Symphony and the Jazz Band. Additionally, she co-teaches the Marching Band, Concert Band, and Wind Ensemble.
Ms. Brown is a graduate of The University of Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education. She also pursued minors in classical and jazz piano. While studying at UGA, she received instruction from esteemed educators such as Dr. D. Ray McClellan for clarinet, Dr. Grace Huang for classical piano, and Dr. David D’Angelo and Professor James Weidman for jazz piano.
Throughout her time at UGA, Ms. Brown held various leadership positions. She served as the band captain of the Redcoat Marching Band for two years and fulfilled the role of music chair for the Iota Zeta chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. Additionally, she served as treasurer of the UGA chapter of the Collegiate National Association for Music Educators.
Ms. Brown actively participated in several musical groups during her time at UGA, including the UGA Wind Ensemble, Women’s Glee Club, Jazz Band, and UGA Repertoire Singers. Her professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, Georgia Music Educators Association, and American Choral Director’s Association.
Currently, Ms. Brown resides in Duluth, Georgia. She enjoys hiking, reading, and making time for her friends and family in her free time.
Class Schedule for Ms. Brown
1st Period: Beginning Music Technology
2nd Period: Planning
3rd Period: Co-Teach Wind Ensemble w/Franco
4th Period: Co-Teach Concert Band w/Franco
5th Period: Co-Teach Wind Symphony w/Franco
6th Period: Planning
7th Period: Co-Teach Percussion w/Baltzer
Matthew Baltzer
Percussion Director
An Ohio native, Mr. Baltzer studied Music Education with a focus on Percussion at Capital University in Bexley, Ohio. While at Capital, he participated in the Chamber Percussion Ensemble, Symphonic Winds Ensemble, Jazz Percussion Ensemble, and Steel Band as well as playing for multiple community and professional bands and orchestras. Mr. Baltzer taught in many facets around central Ohio, as a private lessons teacher, percussion director at Delaware Hayes High School, percussion coach for Capital University’s Junior Winds and Cadet Band honor ensembles, as well as a guest soloist/clinician for area schools. Upon moving to Atlanta, Mr. Baltzer taught at Villa Rica High School as both a percussion instructor and an assistant band director. At Parkview, Mr. Baltzer creates and teaches the percussion curriculum as well as directs the indoor percussion program. Along with his Parkview duties, Mr. Baltzer also teaches all facets of percussion and the jazz band at Trickum Middle School.
