Directors

 
Ms. Cathie Hudnall and Dr.Gregory Pritchard
 

Dr. Gregory Pritchard, Director of Orchestras

Education... Doctor of Musical Arts, Michigan State University (1996); Master of Music Performance, Michigan State University (1993); Bachelor of Music Education, Michigan State University (1991)

Teaching Experience... Dr. Pritchard’s technical brilliance and natural rapport with audience and orchestra alike have afforded him many opportunities over the last fifteen years. In addition to serving as Director of Orchestras at Brookwood High School since 1999, he also currently serves as Music Director of the Gainesville Symphony Orchestra (GA). He previously served as Music Director of North Georgia Symphony and Opera Company of Mid-Michigan for three seasons each. His acclaimed opera performances include La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, Don Giovanni, Don Pasquale, The Bartered Bride, The Old Maid and the Thief, and Faust. He has held faculty positions at Georgia State University, University of Evansville (IN), Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University (IN), Konservatori Seni Halus (Fine Arts Conservatory, Penang, Malaysia), and Hope College (MI). Additional conducting positions include Associate Conductor of the Kokomo Symphony Orchestra (IN), Music Director of the Holland Area Youth Orchestra (MI), Music Director of The Gwinnett Orchestra (GA), Music Director of the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony (GA) and Assistant Conductor at the Music Festival of Arkansas and Southeastern Music Center (GA). His engagements around the globe as a bassoonist and saxophonist include the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (GA), Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic (IN), Charleston Symphony Orchestra (SC), Penang State Symphony (Malaysia), and Grand Rapids Symphony (MI).

Awards... Dr. Pritchard has also amassed an impressive array of awards and accolades. In 1990, as Assistant Conductor of the Blue Lake International Youth Symphony Orchestra, he conducted performances in Germany, Austria, Hungary, and France, and was selected to perform a private concert for the Chancellor of Vienna. In 1997 the Lansing State Journal named him “Exceptional Music Director” for his work at the Riverwalk Theater (MI). Also in 1997, he was appointed the first ever Fellowship Conductor of the Grand Rapids Symphony, conducting Family and Special Event performances and cover conducting educational and pops programs. He has guest conducted several ensembles throughout the United States, including the Dearborn Symphony (MI), Southeastern Ohio Symphony, Grande Ronde Symphony (OR), Atlanta Wind Symphony, Miami University Orchestra (OH), Alma Symphony (MI), and Wayne State University Symphony (MI). In 2004 he won first prize at the International Conductors Workshop in Macon, Georgia and the Advanced Conducting Workshop in St. Petersburg, Russia. Also in 2004 he was named a Semifinalist for the National Conducting Institute in Washington D.C. In October 2005 he guest conducted the St. Petersburg Philharmonic Congress Orchestra, the orchestra of the Russian Ballet, as a result of his competition win the previous year. Dr. Pritchard is deeply committed to education and shares his infectious love of music with his students as Director of the Orchestral Program at Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia. He made his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in April 2002 with the Brookwood Philharmonic.

Catherine Hudnall, Director of Orchestras

Ms. Hudnall received her bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of music in 1983.  After  graduating, she founded and directed the Orchestra program in Pickens County, SC, where she taught for three years.  She moved to Atlanta in 1986 and has taught in Gwinnett (and one year in Hawai’i) since then. She studied cello with Martha Gerschefski and received her Master’s degree in Music Performance from Georgia State University in 1990. She received her Educational Specialist’s Degree in Leadership and Administration in 2004.   
Ms. Hudnall has taught at Norcross High School since 1992 and she was the Teacher of the Year in 2001. In 1997, she was chosen to teach at
the Lolani School in Honolulu, Hawaii.   She is a regular conductor and clinician for honor ensembles throughout the Atlanta Metro Area and was the conductor of the SC All-State String Orchestra in 2002 and the Mississippi All-State Orchestra in 2005.  Her students have been invited to perform for
the State Music Educators conference in 1995 and 2006. She was invited to guest conduct the Gwinnett Philharmonic Orchestra in 2004 and 2006. In 2006, the Norcross High School Philharmonic Orchestra won the National Championship High School String Orchestra at the American String Teachers Association conference in Kansas City. In 2006, they were invited to perform at Carnegie Hall.  She is the co-director of the Gwinnett County Youth Symphony. Ms. Hudnall is a member of the National Music Educators Association and the American String Teachers Association.   As a cellist, she performs with the Gwinnett Philharmonic Orchestra and the Candler String Quartet.  She has performed with the 1^st International Cello Congress Cello Choir, the Maui Symphony, the Florence Symphony, the Columbia Philharmonic Orchestra, the Charleston Symphony, the Augusta Symphony, the Spartanburg Symphony, the Gainesville Symphony, and the Brevard Music Center Festival Orchestra.  She teaches private cello lessons in her home and has four, four-legged children.